The Behavioral Health Care Line (BHCL) at New Mexico VA Health Care System (NMVAHCS) is one of the largest clinical care lines within the Southwest Region Veterans Integrated Service Network. The BHCL provides medical and mental health services to Veterans state-wide and the VA catchment area of SW Colorado. It is an affiliated training site for the University of New Mexico Campus and Medical School.

Duties

The Behavioral Health Care Line is seeking an experienced Social Worker licensed to practice at the advanced practice level in their State of Licensure for a position in the Suicide Prevention Program. VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU Position available include placement in the following program: Suicide Prevention Program Duties include, but are not limited to: Collaborate with inpatient treatment providers to support appropriate discharge planning following recommendations for treatment of patients at high risk for suicide. Assure that all veterans assigned to the facility high risk monitoring list are being followed for a time period not less than 90 days following hospitalization, or 90 days from the date of assignment to the high risk list. Monitor activities face to face and/or telephone contact with the veteran to assess their safety and ongoing compliance with treatment. Provide mental health care when the veteran is not assigned to other clinical providers, including evidence based psychotherapy. If the safety of a high risk veteran is unable to be established, or it is determined that the veteran is at imminent risk for self-harm, initiate emergency interventions appropriate to the situation, including but not limited to, contact veterans identified emergency contact, and/or calling 911. With patient's consent, contact family members and/or other identified supports to provide education and involve in patient's treatment and safety planning. Contact the veterans primary therapist to coordinate monitoring activities, tracking appointments and coordinating enhanced care as needed. Maintain awareness of suicide treatment options and making recommendations to the patient's provider when new options become available. Assist with provision of on-going Guide Training Program (Operation SAVE) with non-clinical frontline staff such as clerks and telephone operators to assure that they are aware of options for patients with whom they come in contact during crisis situations. Assist with outreach to community resources such as VSO's and other community groups to assure that they are aware of how to recognize veterans at risk for suicide and their options for getting these veterans assistance. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 am-4:30 pm Position Description Title/PD#: Senior Social Worker (Suicide Prevention)/PD000000 Compressed/Flexible:Not Available Telework: Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): 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: Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g this part). Licensure. Candidate 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. Education. Have a master's degree in social work (MSW) 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. Verification of the degree can be made by going to http://www.cswe.org/Accreditation to verify that the social work degree meets the accreditation standards for a masters of social work. 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: GS-12 Senior Social Worker Experience: In addition to the basic requirements, applicants 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. 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. The vacancy is GS-12 and is above the full performance level. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-12. References: VA Handbook 5005/120, Part II, Appendix G39 - Social Worker Qualification Standard. Additional information regarding the assignments above the full performance level can be found in the appendix referenced above. Physical Requirements: The work is divided between office and clinical ward settings and is primarily sedentary. May require prolonged standing, moderate walking, and manual dexterity. Requires carrying light items, such as books, files, or laptop computer. Work requires extreme patience and controlling ones emotions. The work may also require assisting physically disabled clients and may include lifting them.

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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address Raymond G Murphy Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center 1501 San Pedro Drive, Southeast Albuquerque, NM 87108 US
• Name: Tyrone Andrews-Bey-Beyah
• Phone: (313) 683-3807
• Email: [email protected]