The Social Worker (BHIP) independently provides clinical psychosocial and case management services at an advanced practice level to eligible veterans and their family members to meet biological, psychological, social, and environmental needs.

Duties

Interviews veterans and their family members/significant others to establish facts about the veteran's situation, presenting problems and their causes, and the impact of such problems on the veteran's functioning and health as part of a comprehensive psychosocial assessment Interprets and explains VA's treatment and benefit programs Reviews all data, subjective and objective, and makes a clinical assessment identifying needs and strengths Effectively utilizes professional skill, objectivity, and insight Uses advanced clinical training, insight, and experience to interpret data and to identify viable treatment options Assesses high risk factors, acuity, and need for services Serves veterans who tend to have frequent and severe crises, lack family or an adequate community support network, are poor at self-monitoring, frequently fail to comply with instructions and treatment, or have significant deficits in coping skills and require continuing professional psychosocial support Independently evaluates the client's situation, including the veteran's reaction and ability to deal with it, and arrives at a reasoned conclusion Assesses at-risk factors and develops a preliminary disposition plan involving the veteran and family or significant others Performs insightful assessment of serious and complicated cases involving psychiatric illness, catastrophic medical conditions, dementia and other high-risk diagnoses Makes independent professional decisions and recommendations for agency action Develops psychosocial treatment plans in coordination with interdisciplinary team members, including goals for psychosocial clinical treatment Provides independent consultation and makes recommendations to interdisciplinary team on course of treatment Coordinates screening of patients for specific mental health programs, such as MHICM, SAOP, HCHV, PRRC, PCT, and provides ongoing treatment per mental health program guidelines Evaluates his or her practice on an on-going basis through participation in professional peer review, case conferences, or other organized means Active in and accepts responsibility for the development and maintenance of professional standards of treatment Makes adjustments to the psychosocial treatment plan and interventions based on changing needs and response to interventions Initiates and effects changes in methods and interventions to promote efficient practice and improve patient outcomes Communicates confidence in the veteran's ability and worth, helping the veteran address problems utilizing large support systems as appropriate Participates in the assignment of veterans to treatment teams and programs, and consults with other specialists in planning treatment for veterans and with co-morbidities Provides clinical services to veterans and family members in support of the veteran's treatment; giving advice, guidance, emotional support, and other assistance Provides individual and group counseling services, including psychotherapy in some settings Assists and encourages veterans and significant others in facing problems, thinking them through, evaluating situations realistically, considering alternative courses of action, and arriving at plans for using resources to resolve problems Organizes community services on behalf of beneficiaries, developing and coordinating procedures for use of these services by related staff Develops working relationships and agreements with other organizations having responsibilities for the same patient population, and maintains a current and productive network of referral resources Coordinates Social Work services with other services offered in the treatment program assuring such services are complementary and comprehensive Provides case management services to those veterans at high social or medical risk, serving as the liaison to other treatment programs Provides training to students, residents, interns, and fellows from other disciplines; instructs them on psychosocial treatment and on the services available from Social Workers Responsible for providing patients and family members with educational services, and identifying the health education needs of veterans and working with interdisciplinary team members on a plan to address those needs Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, Monday - Friday Telework: Ad Hoc - as determined by the agency policy. Recruitment/Relocation Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP: Authorized

Requirements

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Designated and/or random drug testing may be required
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• You may be required to serve a probationary period
• Subject to a background/security investigation
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process

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: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Experience/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. 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). A doctoral degree in social work may not be substituted for the master's degree in social work. Grade Determinations: GS-11 Experience and Licensure: 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, and licensure or certification in a state at the independent practice level. **NOTE: Richmond VA Medical Center Bylaws, state that Social Workers MUST have an LCSW license in order to work in Mental Health*** Assignment. 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. In collaboration with the Veteran, family/caregiver, and interdisciplinary treatment team, the social worker facilitates the delivery of health care services. The social worker identifies family/caregiver stressors, conducts assessment and provides specific interventions. The incumbent provides case management and care coordination to facilitate appropriate delivery of health care services, incorporates complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment of Veterans, including making psychosocial and psychiatric diagnoses within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice. The social worker links the Veteran with services, resources, and opportunities, in order to maximize the Veteran's independence, health, and well-being. The social worker conducts timely assessment of at-risk Veterans in crisis to identify immediate needs, evaluate risk, and initiate safety plan as appropriate. The social worker provides interventions independently with Veterans and their families/caregivers who are experiencing a wide range of complicated medical, behavioral health, financial, legal, and psychosocial problems. They provide a range of interventions and treatment modalities which may include individual, group, and/or family counseling or psychotherapy. They independently formulate and implement a treatment plan including measurable, achievable goals identifying the Veterans' needs, strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and psychosocial acuity. Social workers serve on committees, work groups, and task forces at the facility and VISN level or in the community. They provide subject matter consultation to colleagues and students on the psychosocial treatment of Veterans offering professional opinions based on experience, expertise and role modeling effective social work practice skills. The social worker establishes and maintains ongoing education programs for Veterans, community agencies, students, and staff, to facilitate understanding of social work interventions specific to the Veteran/Military population. Education: 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: (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. References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/120 PART II APPENDIX G39 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11.

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.

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.

Contacts

• Address Central Virginia VA Health Care System 1201 Broad Rock Boulevard Richmond, VA 23249 US
• Name: Thomas Masters
• Phone: 757-604-8890
• Email: [email protected]