Social Worker (CBOC)

The Mental Health Clinic (MHC) Social Worker provides social work services to Veterans receiving care in the outpatient Mental Health Clinic at the Richard L. Roudebush VAMC. The Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center is a 1a-High Complexity Facility, that serves over 61,000 unique patients and has 13 off site community clinics, in addition to the homeless team, the community based extended care programs and a 50 bed Domiciliary

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. Indiana requires Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
  • 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 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

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 (Graduate)
Experience, Education, and Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate, in their resume, all of the following Knowledge, Skills & Abilities (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 (Full Performance Level)
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 nonVA experience) and licensure or certification in a state at the independent practice level.
OR
Additional 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. In addition to the experience above, candidates must demonstrate, in their resume, 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.

Preferred Experience: expertise in evidence-based psychotherapy

References: VA Handbook 5005/120 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 9 to GS 11.

Physical Requirements: The work of the social worker is community based with moderate physical activity. The incumbent must be able to operate a government vehicle several hours each day, walk up to a mile at a time, climb 2 to 3 flights of stairs at a time, and lift small objects . The incumbent must be capable of using a computer given all clinical charting is electronic.

Responsibilities:

Duties of the Social Worker are to include, but not limited to:

Screening/Assessment - In conjunction with the interdisciplinary medical team, the MHC Social Worker screens and assesses the Veteran's psychosocial needs and barriers in order to facilitate his or her access to appropriate VA and community resources. Through collaborative relationships with the Veteran, his or her family/caregiver and other VA programs and VA staff, the MHC Social Worker coordinates the gathering of information vital to the process of setting appropriate treatment goals and time frames for achieving those goals. Assessment information, comprising the Psychiatry Assessment Template includes, among other issues

Treatment Planning/Goal Setting - From screening/assessment information, in coordination with the MHC multidisciplinary treatment team, the Veteran and his/her family, the MHC Social Worker determines realistic goals with the Veteran, including such factors as a) problems, b) goals, c) objectives, c) specific concrete interventions. Treatment plans are written utilizing the MHTP software.

Case Management - The MHC Social Worker, as the Primary Mental Health Provider for his/her caseload, will be responsible for all aspects of case management.

Psychotherapy-The MHC Social Worker will provide a full range of psychotherapeutic services to utilize the most appropriate evidence-based psychotherapy in order to provide quality care in the outpatient programs of the Mental Health Clinic at the West 10th Street location. The incumbent will participate in telemental health or similar activities in order to provide services for Veterans located away from the Medical Center. The incumbent provides ethical individual and group mental health services to eligible Veterans diagnosed with mental and behavioral health conditions. General duties also include, but are not limited to, referral services, providing entry-level services for Veterans of all service eras, formulating and providing individual and group treatments, and planning for follow-up care after completion of treatment.

Referral to service providers - To facilitate the continuity of a Veteran's recovery, the MHC Social Worker will arrange referrals to needed VA and/or community resources (e.g., services available through area agencies on aging, community support groups, etc.). The MHC Social Worker will collaborate with other service providers in re-assessing the Veteran's needs during the eligibility determination process, coordinating access to information needed for the referral. Additionally, the MHC Social Worker will educate the Veteran and/or caregiver about the available services and their shared responsibility in accessing such services. The Veteran's preferences or that of his or her surrogate decision-maker will be considered throughout the referral and care coordination process.

Resource Usage/Development - As a subject matter expert on the services and resources available to Veterans through both VA and the community, the MHC Social Worker will monitor patterns of resource availability, identifying unmet needs and the resultant impact on the Veteran's psychosocial functioning. The MHC Social Worker will communicate with appropriate stakeholders (e.g., the Chief of Social Work, the Social Work Practice Council, other VA programs, community partners) to encourage the development of new and innovative resources.

Advocacy - The MHC Social Worker will advocate for Veterans to ensure that they have access to all needed care and resources within VA and in the community. By availing the Veteran of his or her choices in complex decisions and by guiding the veteran through complicated enrollment procedures and bureaucratic processes, the MHC Social Worker facilitates the best possible outcome for the Veteran. When appropriate and feasible, the MHC Social Worker will educate and encourage the Veteran and his or her family/caregiver to advocate on his/her own behalf, fostering independence and empowerment.

Crisis Intervention - The MHC Social Worker will assess and intervene in crises presented by the Veteran and participate in developing crisis management and safety plans to minimize the event of future crises.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday Day shift (variable start time available ranging from 7:30am- 8:30am), No Weekends/Holidays
Compressed/Flexible:Not Available
Telework: Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required