Social Worker - Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program

Summary

This position is eligible for the 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.

Qualifications

• 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).
• 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.
• English Language Proficiency: Social workers must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005 - Part II - chapter 3 - section A - paragraph 3j.

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 work with Veterans and family members from various socioeconomic - cultural - ethnic - educational - and other diversified backgrounds utilizing counseling skills.
  • (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 - identifying 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.

Duties

• Serves as Mental Health Treatment Coordinator for a panel of BHIP enrolled Veterans.
• Makes follow up and bridge calls between appointments at provider request.
• Facilitates communication regarding timely appointment needs with established providers.
• Provides care coordination for patients affected by BHIP staff departures and callouts.
• Aids in chart reviews - outreach calls - secure messages - and responds to patient requests for care (i.e. - coordinating referrals).
• Aids in facilitating - linking and advocating for referrals within the VA and to community resources.
• Uses measurement-based care tools - periodically reviews patients' mental health service use and progress to ensure appropriate discharge to lower levels of care.
• Aids in completing clinical reminders.
• Tracks Veterans referred by the team to other levels of care and keeps the team informed.
• Aids in assisting Veteran and provider with completing paperwork for various needs including disability - FLMA - etc.
• Acts as liaison to Inpatient Psychiatric Unit to facilitate continuity of care.
• Trips BHIP enrolled Veterans with unscheduled visits or requests for phone follow-up.
• Sets up outreach of patients affected by provider callouts for BHIP Team and outreach high risk - same day - post-discharge engagement - and other patients as appropriate.
• Completes psychoeducational individual and group services.
• Completes all clinical charting and documentation required by the Medical Center or healthcare system.

Work Schedule

Monday - Friday 8:00 am to 4:30pm

Telework

Available - ad hoc as per agency policy

Virtual

This is not a virtual position

Functional Statement #

06436F/06437F

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives

Not Authorized

Permanent Change of Station (PCS)

Not Authorized

PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO)

Not Authorized

EDRP

Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive

Contact

Contact - Joe.CamarenaContreras@va.gov the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance

Learn More

Learn more

VA Careers - Social Work