Senior Social Worker BHIP

Summary This position is eligible for Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval - award amount (up to $200 -000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply. Qualifications Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Must be a citizen of the United States English Language ProficiencyIn accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) - no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken EnglishEducation: Must 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 accreditedNote: A doctoral degree in Social Work may NOT be substituted for the master's degree in Social WorkVerification 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 workLicensure: Candidates must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the advanced practice level which included an advanced generalist or clinical examination - unless they are grandfathered by the state in which they are licensed to practice at the advanced practice level (except for licenses issued in California - which administers its own clinical examination for advanced practice) and they must be able to provide supervision for licensureGrade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements stated above - the following qualification criteria must be met for each gradeThe candidate's qualifications must clearly demonstrate the level of competence required for the gradeExperience: Must have at least two years of experience post advanced practice clinical licensure and should be in a specialized area of social work practice of which - one year must be equivalent to the GS-11 grade levelSenior social workers have experience that demonstrates possession of advanced practice skills and judgment and are experts in their specialized area of practiceSenior social workers may have certification or other post-masters training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university that includes a defined curriculum/course of study and internship or equivalent supervised professional experience in a specialtyDemonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and AbilitiesIn addition to the experience above - candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Skill in a range of specialized interventions and treatment modalities used in specialty treatment programs or with special patient populations - including individual - group - and/or family counseling or psychotherapy and advanced-level psychosocial and/or case managementAbility to incorporate complex - multiple causation into differential diagnosis and treatment within approved clinical privileges or scope of practiceKnowledge of developing and implementing methods to measure the effectiveness of social work practice and services in the specialty area - utilizing outcome evaluations to improve treatment services and design system changesAbility to provide specialized consultation to colleagues and students regarding the psychosocial treatment of patients in the service delivery area - while modeling effective social work practice skillsAbility to expand clinical knowledge within the social work profession and write policies - procedures - and/or practice guidelines pertaining to the service delivery areaPreferred Experience: Experience providing community-base and/or public mental heath servicesCompetence using evidence-based treatment modelsAbility to work effectively with a multidisciplinary treatment teamAbility to work with Veterans who present with complex psychosocial needsExperience with crisis management and care coordinationReference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/Performance Level:The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12Physical Requirements: Light lifting (under 15 pounds)light carrying (under 15 pounds)reaching above shoulderuse of fingersboth hands requiredwalkingstandinghearing (aid permitted). Duties Duties include - but are not limited to: Provides advanced clinical social work services within the Behavioral Health Integration Program (BHIP) as a member of a multidisciplinary mental health teamConducts comprehensive psychosocial and biopsychosocial assessments of Veterans and their families/significant others - including evaluation of presenting concerns - functioning - strengths - risks - needs - preferences - and available supportsPerforms clinical assessments and psychosocial diagnoses for Veterans with complex psychiatric conditions - serious medical illnesses - co-occurring disorders - high-risk diagnoses - and significant psychosocial stressorsEvaluates suicide - violence - abuse - neglect - homelessness - functional impairment - and other high-risk factorsdetermines acuity - reporting requirements - and appropriate levels of care and interventionDevelops - implements - and independently modifies Veteran-centered - recovery-oriented treatment plans in collaboration with Veterans - families - and interdisciplinary team membersProvides individual - group - and family psychotherapy using evidence-based and best-practice treatment models - along with crisis intervention - triage - case management - supportive counseling - and other behavioral health interventionsConsults with psychiatry - psychology - nursing - medical providers - and other specialists regarding complex cases - co-morbidities - treatment planning - program assignments - and changes in clinical statusCoordinates VA - community care - governmental - and social service resources - including referrals for housing - shelters - transitional programs - institutional or nursing home care - benefits - and other supportive servicesDevelops and maintains collaborative relationships with community agencies and partner organizationsestablishes referral procedures and sustains a current network of community resources for Veterans and familiesDocuments assessments - diagnoses - treatment plans - progress notes - referrals - consultations - follow-up - and other clinical services accurately and timely in electronic and/or paper medical recordsProvides clinical consultation - orientation - training - mentoring - coaching - and supervision to social workers - Social Work Associates - interdisciplinary staff - newly hired employees - and student internsServes as a field instructor or preceptor for graduate social work students and collaborates with academic field liaisons to support student learning goals - clinical development - and professional practiceLeads or supports clinical program development - quality improvement - process improvement - peer review - case conferences - research activities - and evaluation of social work practice and patient outcomesPromotes Social Work Service as an essential component of comprehensive mental health caremaintains professional standards - required licensure - continuing education - and current knowledge of contemporary treatment modalitiesParticipates in facility committees - work groups - task forces - staff development activities - and other organizational initiatives as assigned by Social Work Service leadershipWork Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m- 4:30 p.mTelework: Ad hoc telework per supervisor discretion and VA guidelinesVirtual: This is not a virtual positionRelocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentiveContact VHA.ELRSProgramSupport@va.gov - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistanceLearn more