This entry 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. This position is aligned with the Suicide Prevention Program.

Duties

The incumbent is responsible for coordination and monitoring of services provided to veterans designated as being at a high risk for suicide, and acts as the transitional coordinator of care for these patients under immediate supervision of a Supervisory Social Worker or designee. The determination of risk level is based on clinical evaluation and assessment of a veteran by an appropriate mental health care provider. The incumbent is 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 data collection, administrative record keeping, and monitoring patient or program clinical indicators, thresholds, and performance measurements. Expected to follow Veterans Affairs Central Office (VACO) guidelines with regards to management of patients at high risk for suicide. This includes data entry into the Suicide Prevention Application Network (SPAN). The incumbent, under clinical supervision, provides clinical psychosocial and case management services for eligible Veterans and their family members in the program. The incumbent interviews Veterans, families, and other significant contacts. The incumbent uses interviews to establish facts about the Veteran's condition, the environment, available support, eligibility, and impact of circumstances on the Veteran and recommends or makes referral to appropriate program(s) or directs Veteran to appropriate community resources. The incumbent conducts suicide risk assessments with Veterans which involve identification of known suicide risk factors, warning signs, psychosocial stressors, and protective factors. Provides counseling to the patient, caregiver(s), family members, and/or significant others assisting them in coping with the psychosocial stress related to illness and other stressors. Provides clinical/therapeutic intervention and individual, group, or family counseling. Assures 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. Responds to consults from the National Veteran Suicide Hotline, assuring that consults are completed and appropriate follow up is made within one business day. Initiates emergency interventions appropriate to the situation, including but not limited to, escorting Veteran to VAMC ER for evaluation or calling VAMC station police to initiate a wellness check if Veteran is off station. Responds to requests from VA staff as well as Veteran and/or family members regarding problem/situation resolution. Responsible for contacting the primary therapist for Veterans identified as being high risk for suicide to coordinate monitoring activities, tracking appointments, and coordinating enhanced care as needed. Maintains awareness of suicide treatment options and makes recommendations to the patient's provider when new options become available. Assists the Suicide Prevention Coordinator (SPC) with provision of ongoing Guide Training program (Operation SAVE) or other suicide prevention awareness training with clinical and 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. Establishes a continuing relationship with the Veteran, evaluating progress towards goals and adjusting the treatment plan as appropriate. Makes recommendations for care and changes to interdisciplinary treatment plan. Documents in the medical records utilizing paper and/or electronic formats, diagnostics, treatment, progress notes, follow up and referral. Responsible for assuring timely and accurate documentation, using appropriate notes and templates as defined within the facility Suicide Prevention Program, as well as Mental Health. Performs other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: 8:00am - 4:30pm Monday - Friday Telework: Not Eligible for Telework 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: 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). 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/. 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 to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. Social Worker, GS-9 Experience, Education, and Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Ability to work with Veterans and family members from various socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other diversified backgrounds utilizing counseling skills. 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. 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. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients, staff, and representatives of community agencies. 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. 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. NOTE: For appointment licensure or certification at this level please refer to Basic Requirements for Licensure. 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. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Knowledge of community resources, how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services, and ability to coordinate services. 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. 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. 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. 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. References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G39. 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-GS11. 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). The work may be performed in a well-lit and temperature-controlled office environment or in Veteran's homes. With patients who may suffer with mental illness, there is occasional risk of violence requiring the use of good judgment and safety precautions. The incumbent will be required to make site/home visits on a routine basis, which may require driving. The incumbent must possess a valid state driver's license.

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]