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This position is assigned to the Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Programs (BHIP) and provides generalist outpatient services to Veterans with a diverse range of mental health concerns. While this role is primarily focused on care management activities for a BHIP panel, there are direct clinical care responsibilities, including psychosocial assessment, treatment planning, and individual/group interventions. This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), see below. To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 12/29/2023. 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/. Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Services. 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: (1) 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. (2) 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. (3) 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. (4) [Full Performance Level] 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. 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. Preferred Experience: 1) Experience and training in case management, 2) Strong organizational skills. References: VA Handbook 5005/23, PART II, APPENDIX G39, Social Worker Qualification Standard, This can be found in the local Human Resources Office. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-11 Physical Requirements: The work is sedentary. Some work may require walking, standing, bending. The employee frequently carries light items such as employee files or other papers. The work does not require any special physical effort. Although strenuous physical activity is not required, the incumbent is expected to withstand pressure and stress as part of their day-to-day activities. ["The Social Worker for whom this functional statement applies is assigned to the Behavioral Health (BH) Service within the Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans Hospital (Truman VA) and provides services to the Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Programs (BHIP). Truman VA is a level 1C Medical Center which also provides both outpatient medical and mental health services at each of our eight area Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs). Generalist and integrated mental health services are provided at the Truman VA and each CBOC, with specialized mental health services offered at Truman VA, to include programming to support treatment for PTSD, substance abuse, Severe Mental Illness (SMI), and Psychosocial Rehabilitation (homeless and supported employment services). Over 140 direct and indirect FTE support both outpatient and inpatient services, with Psychiatry, Psychology, Social Work, Nursing, Readjustment Counselors, and Licensed Marital and Family Therapists providing multidisciplinary and collaborative treatment interventions based on the Recovery model and evidence-based psychotherapies. Inpatient services are provided on a 12-bed Acute Psychiatric Care Unit (APCU) where Veterans receive intensive multidisciplinary treatment. A 14-bed Psychosocial Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (PRRTP) provides intensive treatment for addictive disorders and co-occurring psychiatric conditions. The incumbent is a licensed clinical social worker assigned to the BHIP to independently provide psychosocial assessment, evidence-based psychotherapies, and care management services at an advanced practice level to eligible Veterans and their family members. The incumbent functions as a Care Manager for Veterans receiving care in the BHIP and is responsible for ensuring continuity of care for Veterans receiving services throughout the Behavioral Health service. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am to 4:30pm. This position may also require evening hours (4:30pm to 7:00pm) one evening per week, but weekly tour would not exceed 40 hours. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required References: Please provide \"References\" with application. At a minimum two current or former supervisors or from individuals who were in a position of a professional nature. Indicated if the Hiring Manager may contact."]

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