This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.

Duties

VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU Incumbent will work within the Primary Care-Mental Health Integration program to assist in the delivery of evidence-based care for mental health patients identified with a variety of emotional and psychiatric problems. The identified role is a Behavioral Health Specialist (BHS) or care manager. The incumbent provides education and brief interventions to patients, monitors response to and side effects from treatment, and provides education and support to patients. Incumbent is responsible for monitoring patients, influencing adherence to guidelines by providing "on time, on target" information to primary care physicians, and collaboratively making appropriate care decisions. Additional duties involve coordination of care with integrated behavioral health co-located staff and the rest of the primary care team. Incumbent functions as a treatment advocate and guide, consultant, counselor, and educator while providing integrated health care to outpatients in Primary Care. The assessment and collaborative care provided by this care manager is performed primarily via telephone contact but may include use of other clinical technologies. Other qualifications include a demonstrated ability in the areas of interpersonal relations, critical thinking, and problem-solving and conflict resolution; knowledge of current treatment for mental illness and the key symptoms of common psychiatric illness such as depression, GAD, PTSD, and Panic disorders; knowledge of psychosocial assessment and clinical management of patients; knowledge of medications prescribed for patients with depression, including patient responses and possible adverse reactions; ability to use VA computer systems, CPRS, BHL, Excel and VISTA-based clinical informatics.Major duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to: The incumbent will learn the use of Behavioral Health Laboratory (BHL) software for interviewing participants. This includes determining the appropriate level of care for treatment and the ability to understand the variety of clinical options available through the medical center and local community. Completes structured diagnostic and clinical assessments for participants. This requires knowledge of medical terminology, diagnostic categories, and chart reviews. Reviews assessments completed by others, and obtains missing information from providers, patients and medical records. Contacts patients through written correspondence and telephone calls, and conducts follow up interviews. This requires substantial communication skills and the ability to remain organized. Responds to referrals from Primary Care Providers (PCPs) in a timely manner. Provides focused clinical interventions to Veterans. Provides follow up of patient progress and treatment adherence with assessments and communication with their primary care team. If needed, assesses patients for use of appropriate telehealth devices. Appropriately documents interventions. Works closely with PCMHI supervisor and other PCMHI staff, including supporting other PCMHI programs as needed. Continually evaluates and re-evaluates patient outcomes for an individual or on an aggregate basis. Participates in interdisciplinary teams, as needed, to improve organizational performance. Self-directed in evaluating progress toward professional career goals. Participates in performance improvement activities related to the service quality improvement process. Evaluates practices of self and colleagues against standards of practice and relevant regulations (i.e., professional SW and case management organizations, OMH, JC, OSHA) and acts to improve compliance. Conducts self in a professional manner in clinical and administrative settings. Position requires general knowledge of regulations, policies, and procedures of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; 8am - 4:30pm Telework: Not Authorized. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 51971F Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Salary Range: GS-9: $59,569 - $77.437 GS-11: $72,073 - $93,691

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: Qualifications: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Education: 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 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 master's degree in social work. Licensure: Full, unrestricted license or certification by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level. EXCEPTION: VHA may waive the licensure or certification requirement for persons who are otherwise qualified, pending completion of state prerequisites for licensure/certification examinations. This exception only applies at the GS-9 grade level. English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f). 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: Social Worker, GS-09 Experience: None beyond the basic requirements listed above.In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:(a) Ability to work with Veterans and family members from various socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other diversified backgrounds utilizing counseling skills.(b) Ability to assess the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and their family members, and to formulate and implement a treatment plan, identifying the Veterans problems, strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and assistance needed.(c) Ability to implement treatment modalities in working with individuals, families, and groups to achieve treatment goals. This requires judgment and skill in utilizing supportive, problem solving, or crisis intervention techniques.(d) Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients, staff, and representatives of community agencies.(e) Fundamental knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities, and treatment procedures. This includes acute, chronic, and traumatic illnesses/injuries; common medications and their effects/side effects; and medical terminology. Assignment: Individuals assigned as GS-09 grade level social workers are considered to be at the entry level and are closely supervised, as they are not yet functioning at the independent practice level conferred by independent licensure or certification. Social workers at the GS-09 entry level are typically assigned to program areas that do not require specialized knowledge or experience. Duties may include but are not limited to: identifying behaviors or symptoms of abuse, neglect or exploitation; providing education on advance directives and advanced care planning; providing social work case management; acting as an advocate with appropriate VA and community service providers/agencies when it serves the best interest of the Veteran and family members/caregiver; assessing the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and their family members identifying the Veteran's strengths, weaknesses, coping skills and psychosocial acuity, in collaboration with the Veteran, family, and interdisciplinary treatment teams; maintaining a current network of internal and external resources to educate the Veteran and/or family members/caregivers and assist with the appropriate referrals. Since social workers at this level are not practicing at an independent level, they should not be assigned to program areas where independent practice is required, such as in a CBOC, unless there is a licensed social worker in the program area who can provide supervision for practice. GS-09 social workers provide psychosocial services in the assigned area under supervision. Social Worker, GS-11 Experience and Licensure: Appointment to the GS-11 grade level requires completion of a minimum of one year of post-MSW experience equivalent to the GS-9 grade level in the field of health care or other social work-related settings, (VA or non-VA experience) and licensure or certification in a state at the independent practice level. OR Education: In addition to meeting basic requirements, a doctoral degree in social work from a school of social work may be substituted for the required one year of professional social work experience in a clinical setting. AND Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:(a) Knowledge of community resources, how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services, and ability to coordinate services.(b) Skill in independently conducting psychosocial assessments and treatment interventions to a wide variety of individuals from various socio-economic, cultural, ethnic, educational and other diversified backgrounds.(c) Knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities and treatment procedures (i.e. acute, chronic and traumatic illnesses/injuries, common medications and their effects/side effects, and medical terminology) to formulate a treatment plan.(d) Skill in independently implementing different treatment modalities in working with individuals, families, and groups who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric, medical, and social problems to achieve treatment goals.(e) Ability to provide consultation services to new social workers, social work graduate students, and other staff about the psychosocial needs of patients and the impact of psychosocial problems on health care and compliance with treatment. Assignments: This is the full performance level. Social workers at this level are licensed or certified to independently practice social work. Incumbents are assigned to all program areas, including but not limited to: inpatient or outpatient medicine, surgery, mental health, neurology, rehabilitation medicine, and geriatrics. Employees provide professional, independent social work services in the assigned area. Duties include but are not limited to: assessing and documenting identified behaviors or symptoms of abuse, neglect, exploitation and/or intimate partner violence; use of clinical social work skills and knowledge to maintain Veteran privacy and confidentiality per policies, handbooks, or directives; and acts as an advocate with appropriate VA and community service providers and agencies when it serves the best interest of the Veteran and family members/caregiver. Incumbent independently assesses the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and their family members, identifying the Veteran's strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and psychosocial acuity. Preferred Experience: Minimum of 1-3 years of experience as a licensed Social Worker (LMSW, LISW, LCSW) working with active duty/Veteran clientele and interdisciplinary teams. References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G39 dated September 10, 2019.The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-09 to GS-11. Physical Requirements: The work requires the social worker to be mobile throughout the medical center as needed, involving standing, walking, bending, pushing, and lifting (moderately heavy). The social worker should be capable of prolonged standing/walking and be physically capable of pushing equipment, wheelchairs, and patient stretcher.

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 Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center One Freedom Way Augusta, GA 30901 US
• Name: Leslie Hawkins
• Phone: 210-439-6422
• Email: [email protected]