Career Center

Summary

This 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 Community Based Clinics (CBOC) Service Line at the North Battlefield VA Clinic. This position is aligned with the Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program/ Outpatient Mental Health Services. Provides psychosocial and case management services to Veterans enrolled in BHIP care.

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
• 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/
• English Language Proficiency
• Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized 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-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: (a) Ability to utilize a Veteran centric approach when providing interventions and counseling for Veterans - their family members - caregivers - and survivors
• (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
• 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 paragraph 3c
• 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: (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 - educational - and other 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
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• 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 to GS-11
• Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 - Employee Occupational Health Services.

Duties

• Clinical Provides case management to Veterans - many with complex needs - including those who are dually diagnosed
• Is expected to manage a caseload of Veterans and partner with the BHIP and Mental Health Teams in the CBOCs to facilitate the Veteran's engagement in treatment
• Assesses the needs - strengths - weaknesses - preferences - and abilities of Veterans served and utilizes this assessment to facilitate the Veteran's maximum engagement with treatment
• Provides resources to Veteran - offers psychosocial interventions - facilitates treatment planning and goal setting - and monitors progress toward goals during treatment plan reviews
• Serves as a liaison and consultant for Veterans and their families regarding community resources - VA benefits - VA specialty programs - and advanced directives
• Provides consultation to BHIP team members - staff from other programs - and community resources to provide coordination of care and facilitate recovery-oriented mental health care
• Establishes a continuing relationship with Veterans - evaluating progress towards goals - performing follow-up after referral or if the Veteran misses a counseling session - and adjusts treatment plan if results are inadequate
• Provides services for high-risk patients
• provide referrals to appropriate agency(s) and serves as case manager
• May involve some travel out of office service to conduct outreach services and make home visits as needed
• Conducts psycho-educational groups to increase Veteran understanding of mental health recovery - BHIP model - and treatment options
• Uses clinical training - insight - and experience to interpret data to identify treatment options
• Incorporates data and information from the medical record in assessments - treatment plans - and progress review
• Must be able to practice trauma-informed mental health care - with appreciation for and awareness of the impact of trauma on an individual's mental health and interpersonal relationships
• Serves Veterans who tend to have serious frequent and severe crises - lack family or adequate community support network - display poor self-monitoring - frequently fail to comply with instructions and treatment - and have significant deficits in coping skills and require continuing psychological support
• Must possess a working knowledge and experience in use of medical and mental health diagnoses - disabilities - and treatment procedures as well as common medications and their effects/side effects - and medical terminology
• Active member of the BHIP team who contributes to program development - consultation - and treatment planning within an interdisciplinary treatment team
• Must have skill and expertise to establish and maintain effective therapeutic relationships with Veterans
• Works with Veterans and their families who are experiencing a wide range of complicated medical - psychiatric - emotional - behavioral - and psychosocial problems
• Possess and demonstrate ability to communicate effectively
• Administrative Responsible for supporting the mission - policies - and procedures
• Maintains a level of productivity and quality consistent with the complexity of the BHIP assignment and consistent with all standards
• Assists the Supervisor - Program Manager - and the BHIP Team Lead in the design - development - and implementation of clinical programs for Veterans
• Complies with national and local performance measures
• Complies with all CPRS documentation procedures
• Is responsible for timely completion of all clinical charting and documentation
• Demonstrates knowledge and skill in the use of software applications for drafting documents and data management as well as other computer applications and systems
• Keeps the supervisor apprised of problems and recommend solutions to problems in the area of responsibility
• Attends and participates in administrative and informational meetings held by the Service Line Chief and facility Director as requested
• Attends regular staff meetings
• Performs other duties as assigned
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8-4:30pm Telework: Ad-Hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized