The full-time Mental Health Social Worker Case Manager position will work within the Workplace Violence Prevention Program (WVPP) to assist in the delivery of evidence-based care for patients who have patient record flags for disruptive behavior. The identified role is a WVPP case manager. The case manager provided education and interventions to patients and VA staff, monitors response to and outcomes of intervention.

Duties

VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU This position is located in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), Southeast Network (VISN 7), VA Augusta Healthcare System in Augusta, Georgia located in the Mental Health Service Line in the Workplace Violence Prevention Program. The VA Augusta Health Care System (VAAHCS) is a Complexity Level 1b facility and provides extensive primary, secondary, tertiary, ad quaternary care in inpatient, residential and community settings. VAAHCS is a multi-site health care system that includes two major facilities in Augusta Georgia and Community Based Outpatient Clinics in Athens and Statesboro, Georgia and Aiken, South Carolina. VAAHCS is an academic health care system with significant teaching and research programs. The full-time Mental Health Social Worker Case Manager position will work within the Workplace Violence Prevention Program (WVPP) to assist in the delivery of evidence-based care for patients who have patient record flags for disruptive behavior. The identified role is a WVPP case manager. The case manager provided education and interventions to patients and VA staff, monitors response to and outcomes of intervention. Case manager collaborates with patients/VA Staff with the goal of assisting those Veterans in modifying behaviors so that their flags can be removed after required 2-year period. Incumbent will be responsible for monitoring patients who have behavioral flags and/or may be at risk for becoming flagged for disruptive behavior, providing education and support to patients, caregivers, and staff regarding best practices to mitigate risk for increased violence, and collaboratively making appropriate case decisions using the lens of evidence-based threat management practice. Additional duties involve assisting Veteran with navigating VA services and with coordination of care with various department throughout the medical center and community partners as appropriate. Incumbent functions as a treatment advocate ad guide, consultant, counselor, and educator while providing integrated health care to outpatients in Primary Care. The assessment and collaborative care provided by this case manager is performed primarily via telephone contact but may include use of other clinical technologies. The duties and responsibilities of the Social Worker Case Manager include but are not limited to the following: Learns the use of evidence-based methods of threat management. This includes use of evidence-based threat assessment tools and understanding how to apply the outcome of those tools to mitigate risk for disruptive behaviors. Learns how to document in the Disruptive Behavior Reporting System (DBRS) Completes structured diagnostic and clinical assessments for patients. This requires knowledge of medical terminology, diagnostic categories, and chart review. 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. Opens new cases in the DBRS in a timely manner according to policy. Provides patient education in areas specific to behaviors that are considered as disruptive, and how it may impact care. Provides focused interventions to Veterans who have patient record flags. Participates in the multidisciplinary team meetings for the Disruptive Behavior Committee. Appropriately documents interventions. 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, JCAHO, 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. Assists WVPP with planning and promoting program. Supports the Prevention Management of Disruptive Behavior Program by serving as a PMDB facility trainer. Performs additional duties as assigned by WVPP Manager in efforts to support WVPP needs. Work Schedule: Telework: Ad-hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 54165F/54166F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

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-11Experience 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. All qualifying experience you possess must be clearly described in your application package. We will not make assumptions when reviewing applications. Failure to demonstrate your experience in your resume may result in disqualification. Preferred Experience: Case Management Experience References: VA Handbook 5005/23, 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-9 to GS-11. Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary. 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).

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]