The senior social worker incumbent functions as the Case Manager for the Suicide Prevention program. The Suicide Prevention program serves to facilitate implementation of suicide prevention strategies at the Alexandria VA Medical Center and Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOC).

Duties

The senior social worker incumbent functions as the Case Manager for the Suicide Prevention program. The Suicide Prevention program serves to facilitate implementation of suicide prevention strategies at the Alexandria VA Medical Center and Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOC). Duties include, but not limited to: Serves in conjunction with the Suicide Prevention Coordinator and Suicide Prevention Team, providing individualized comprehensive case management, clinical services and crisis intervention to Veterans deemed at an increased risk for suicide. Must use a high level of skill in assessing and treating the complicated psychosocial problems of identified high-risk Veterans who are experiencing a wide range of complicated mental, emotional, behavioral, physical, psychosocial, and environmental problems. Works independently and collaboratively with other treatment team members, professionals, nonprofessionals, and others at the VA Medical Center and community agencies to assist Veterans in managing their mental health problems, psychosocial needs, barriers to treatment and mitigating risk factors related to suicide. Carries full responsibility for crisis intervention and case management including short- and long-term services. Assesses the psychosocial and environmental needs or dysfunction secondary to, or exacerbating the psychiatric problems which might contribute to the risk of suicide. Conduct weekly clinical contact for high-risk Veterans discharged from inpatient status for the first thirty days post discharge. Conduct monthly contact for Veterans deemed at high-risk for suicide following national guidelines, and those Veterans placed on the high-risk list. Evaluate the Veteran's situation, abilities, and capabilities, and arrives at a reasoned conclusion including an assessment of vulnerability and prioritization for emergency intervention. Assesses at-risk factors and develops a preliminary plan, involving the Veteran and family or significant others, if possible, and performs an insightful assessment of serious and complicated cases involving psychiatric illness which may also include, catastrophic medical condition, dementia, traumatic brain injuries, and other high risks diagnoses. Reviews all data, subjective and objective and makes a clinical assessment, identifying emergent needs. Establishes a continuing relationship with the Veteran, evaluating progress towards goals and adjusting the treatment plan as appropriate. Meets Veterans to assess accomplishments and re-establish goals and monitors Veteran's progress, maintains comprehensive documentation, ensures expert diagnosis and treatment of clinical disorders, and shows competent discretion in decision to adjust treatment. Identifies and tracks high-risk patients and monitors treatment to ensure that needed services are received. Participate in hospital committees and workgroups as assigned. May be required to work irregular tour of duty as needed. Work Schedule: 8:00am-4:30pm, Monday-Friday Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 502-00372-F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Education. Have a master's degree in social work from a school of social work fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). Graduates of schools of social work that are in candidacy status do not meet this requirement until the School of Social Work is fully accredited. A doctoral degree in social work may not be substituted for the master's degree in social work. Licensure. Persons hired or reassigned to social worker positions in the GS-0185 series in VHA must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level. May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria). Grade Determinations: Senior Social Worker, GS-12 Experience/Education. The candidate must have at least two years of experience post advanced practice clinical licensure and should be in a specialized area of social work practice of which, one year must be equivalent to the GS-11 grade level. Senior social workers have experience that demonstrates possession of advanced practice skills and judgment. Senior social workers are experts in their specialized area of practice. Senior social workers may have certification or other post-masters training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university that includes a defined curriculum/course of study and internship or equivalent supervised professional experience in a specialty. Licensure/Certification. Senior social workers must be licensed or certified by a state at the advanced practice level which included an advanced generalist or clinical examination, unless they are grandfathered by the state in which they are licensed to practice at the advanced practice level (except for licenses issued in California, which administers its own clinical examination for advanced practice) and they must be able to provide supervision for licensure. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Skill in a range of specialized interventions and treatment modalities used in specialty treatment programs or with special patient populations. This includes individual, group, and/or family counseling or psychotherapy and advanced level psychosocial and/or case management. Ability to incorporate complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice. Knowledge in developing and implementing methods for measuring effectiveness of social work practice and services in the specialty area, utilizing outcome evaluations to improve treatment services and to design system changes. Ability to provide specialized consultation to colleagues and students on the psychosocial treatment of patients in the service delivery area, as well as role modeling effective social work practice skills. Ability to expand clinical knowledge in the social work profession, and to write policies, procedures, and/or practice guidelines pertaining to the service delivery area. May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria). Preferred Experience: Experience with crisis intervention, particularly with suicidal persons. Experience facilitating training/education. Experience conducting community outreach. References: VA Handbook 5005 Appendix G39 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. Physical Requirements: May require standing, lifting, carrying, sitting, stooping, bending, pulling, and pushing. May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment. Driver's license and physical exam required to confirm ability to operate a government vehicle.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Contacts

• Address Alexandria VA Medical Center 2495 Shreveport Highway Pineville, LA 71360 US
• Name: Grace Jackson
• Phone: 725-780-8676
• Email: [email protected]