Social Worker - Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program

About the role

The incumbent provides social work services and case management services for Veterans with behavioral health diagnoses as an integral part of the outpatient Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) team. As a member of a BHIP team, the incumbent will conduct psychosocial assessments, provide crisis intervention, and evidence-based psychotherapy (e.g. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), etc.).

Responsibilities

• Triage assessment, crisis intervention, brief counseling, and evidence-based individual and group psychotherapy for Veterans with a broad spectrum of diagnoses, including depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, trauma related conditions, substance abuse conditions, and personality disorders.
• Provide same day access for Veterans seeking to initiate care and perform assertive community outreach for Suicide Prevention.
• Set clinical care goals in collaboration with the patient, monitor progress toward goals, and work to achieve outcomes, including reduced hospitalizations.
• Serve collaboratively on a Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program team and assist with consult management.
• Recognize complex situations impacting patient care and intervene using sound judgment and appropriate resources.
• Maintain knowledge of community and VA resources, and make appropriate referrals to programs to best meet Veterans' needs and coordinate care.
• Advocate on behalf of the Veteran to ensure services and benefits are obtained in a timely manner and in keeping with VA's goals for excellence in customer service.
• Utilize electronic resources required for providing services and completing reports, such as EMHR, CPRS, VISTA, Microsoft Word, workload reporting, and program referral procedures. Document work appropriately and in a timely manner in the medical record.
• Participate in performance improvement activities and track and trend issues as part of the performance improvement plan.
• Provide education and consultation to staff, students, patients, and families regarding programs and remain current on VA policies and procedures relevant to program areas. Participate in training opportunities for various disciplines.
• Attend appropriate team meetings and work closely with patients' providers and other team members to effectively coordinate care. Establish collaborative relationships with behavioral health providers and other team members to more effectively coordinate patients' care.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited school.
• Licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level.
• One year of post-MSW experience equivalent to the GS-9 grade level in health care or other social work-related settings, or a doctoral degree in social work from a school of social work.