This advanced practice level position is located within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Health Administration (VHA), VA Mid-Atlantic Health Care Network (VISN 6), Hampton Veterans Affairs Medical Center (HVAMC), under the Mental Health and Behavioral Sciences Service Line (MHBS). This position is aligned with the Suicide Prevention Program.

Duties

The Senior Social Worker is a professional social worker whose duties and responsibilities center on the care management of Veterans that are at high risk for suicide. This senior social worker will be a member of the Suicide Prevention Team at VAMC Hampton but will provide consultation and guidance to colleagues across Mental Health programs as well as Medical programs at the Hospital. The incumbent will provide individual and group psychotherapy as well as case management services to veterans at risk for suicide. He/she will also provide short-term crisis interventions to veterans that are on our inpatient units, in specialty medicine clinics, and in the Emergency Department. In addition to the care management of Veterans in the aforementioned areas, the incumbent will also provide clinical oversight of the case managers in our Suicide Prevention Program. Responsible for coordinating the care of high-risk patients, providing case management-based services (directly or through referral) necessary to ensure that veteran care is coordinated within the VA Medical Center, Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOC's) and/or appropriate community agencies. Responsible for monitoring clinical dashboards that alert the medical center to Veterans that need follow-up who are at risk of suicide. Serves as a point of contact for internal and external providers for initial screening assessment of veterans for risk of suicide. Involved in the transition of care or referral to appropriate placement alternatives. Consults with multiple interdisciplinary teams as needed and is primarily responsible for assessment and completion of the psychosocial assessment. Responsible for active participation in consultation with interdisciplinary treatment team meetings regarding care of Veterans identified. This may include Emergency Department, Mental Health Intensive Case Management, Outpatient Mental Health clinics BHIP, Primary Care, inpatient medical unit, Domiciliary, Inpatient Mental Health, as well as other departments within the medical center. Incumbent is in contact with community organizations that benefit the wellbeing of Veteran which may include care coordination, and patient-centered care planning. Incumbent facilitates groups in the Inpatient Mental Health Unit and provides group psychosocial educational support to Veterans in the Domiciliary. Directs/coordinates clinical and psychosocial services and is accountable for the overall effectiveness of the services provided. Modifies services to best meet the treatment needs of Veterans and to promote efficient practice. Coordinates Social Work services with other services offered in the treatment program assuring such services are complementary and comprehensive. Directs activities to maximize effectiveness, efficiency, and continuity of care for Veterans. Provides case management services to those Veterans at high social or medical risk, serving as the liaison to other treatment programs. Represents the program in contacts with other agencies and the public. Provides orientation and on-going training to Social Workers and interdisciplinary team members. Conducts staff development programs for Social Workers and takes responsibility for providing opportunities to help staff update their Social Work practice skills and acquire new knowledge in contemporary treatment modalities. Serves as a mentor to other Social Workers, particularly those at the entry level. Provides clinical supervision for unlicensed Social Workers and for Social Work associates. Is viewed by Social Workers and interdisciplinary team members as a senior clinician with advanced practice skills and expertise. Provides training to students, residents, interns, and fellows from other disciplines. Instructs them on psychosocial treatment and on the services available from Social Workers. Helps them understand family dynamics and the impact of psychosocial issues and problems on the Veteran's health and response to treatment. Conducts formal workshops and classes for staff. Offers patient and family/significant other educational services. Takes responsibility for identifying the health education needs of Veterans and working with interdisciplinary team members on a plan to address those needs. Teaches health education classes. Performs other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: 8:00am - 4:30pm Monday - Friday Telework: Yes. At the discretion of management. Virtual: This is not a virtual position Functional Statement #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required.

Requirements

Qualifications

Applicants must have completed their education and obtained their certification/licensure requirements to be referred and tentatively selected. 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. 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. 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. Current state requirements may be found by going to http://vaww.va.gov/OHRM/T38Hybrid/. (1) 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. For the GS-11 grade level and above, the candidate must be licensed or certified. At the time of appointment, the supervisor, chief social work or social work executive will provide the unlicensed/uncertified social worker with the written requirements for licensure or certification, including the time by which the license or certification must be obtained and the consequences for not becoming licensed or certified by the deadline. (a) For appointments at the GS-9 grade level, VHA social workers who are not licensed or certified at the time of appointment must become licensed or certified at the independent, master's level within three years of their appointment as a social worker. Most states require two years of post-MSW experience as a prerequisite to taking the licensure/certification exam, and VHA gives social workers one additional year to pass the licensure/certification exam. In states such as California, Washington, and others where the prerequisites for licensure exceed two years, social workers must become licensed at the independent, master's level within one year of meeting the full state prerequisites for licensure. (b) A social worker who does not yet have a license that allows independent practice must be supervised by a licensed independent practitioner of the same discipline who is a VA staff member and who has access to the electronic health record. (c) Different states have different levels of licensure or certification, making it difficult for VHA staff to determine the independent practice level. Each state, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia completed surveys identifying the level of licensure or certification allowing independent practice. Copies of the surveys are on file in the VHA Office of Care Management and Social Work Services, and a summary spreadsheet of the levels of licensure or certification is available to social work professional standards board members for purposes of determining whether the social worker's level of licensure or certification meets the VHA qualification standards. All states except California use a series of licensure exams administered by the ASWB. Information can be found at https://www.aswb.org/. The ASWB is the association of boards that regulates social work. ASWB develops and maintains the social work licensing examination used across the country and is a central resource for information on the legal regulation of social work. The ASWB offers three examinations. The master's examination is generally used by states for the independent practice level of licensure or certification, while the advanced generalist and the clinical examinations are used for the advanced practice level of licensure or certification. Differences between the master's and the advanced exams demonstrate the expectation that advanced practice social workers will have a more sophisticated knowledge of practice theory and its application. 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: Experience/Education. One year of experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level. Experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills in a specialty area or in administration demonstrating progressively more professional competency and judgment. Candidate may have certification or other post-master's degree training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university that includes a defined curriculum/course of study and internship, or equivalent supervised professional experience. Licensure/Certification. Individuals assigned as supervisory social workers must be licensed or certified at the advanced practice level, and must be able to provide supervision for licensure. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Ability to independently organize work, set priorities, and meet multiple deadlines. (b) Knowledge of supervisory duties which includes clinical supervision, consultation, negotiation with other departments and quality improvement. (c) Ability to ensure provision of clinical social work services. (d) Ability to provide staff training and development. (e) Skill in interpersonal relationships in dealing with employees, team leaders, and managers. References: September 10, 2019 VA HANDBOOK 5005/120 PART II APPENDIX G39 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Services. The work is primarily sedentary. The employee may sit comfortably in an office or clinic to perform the work. However, there may be some walking, standing, stooping, bending, and carrying light items such as papers, books, etc. It may require some lifting (10-20 lbs.) occasionally. Reaching above shoulder; Frequent keyboarding (4-7 hours per day); Sitting (4-7 hours per day); Walking up to 6 hours per day); Standing (up to 8 hours per day); Infrequent climbing/descending of stairs; Some bending; Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; Correctable near sighted and far-sighted vision; Hearing (Aid permitted). With patients who may suffer with mental illness, there is occasional risk of violence requiring the use of good judgment and safety precautions. The work performed will be both within the medical center and within the community as needed. The environment involves everyday risks or discomforts which require normal safety precautions typical of offices, patient rooms, and in general, the medical center.

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 Hampton VA Medical Center 100 Emancipation Drive Hampton, VA 23667 US
• Name: Antonio Deans
• Phone: 951-234-6167
• Email: [email protected]