Social Worker - Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program

About the role

The Social Worker provides primarily mental health services to the homeless veteran population enrolled in the Alaska VA Healthcare System (AVAHS) Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Programs (MH RRTP) to include as the Domiciliary Care for Homeless Veterans, the Substance Abuse Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (SARRTP) the Compensated Work Therapy Transitional Resident Program.

Responsibilities

• Conducts screenings and assessments, interprets VHA guidelines and eligibility requirements, and completes a biopsychosocial history and assessment.
• Develops an appropriate, individualized treatment plan for each veteran assigned to him/her, and meets with caseload weekly.
• Makes initial and continuing decisions regarding the services available and referrals needed.
• Documents the patient assessment and all treatment plans in accordance with the requirements of Mental Health Services (MHS) policy and requirements of various accrediting bodies.
• Provides case management services to all residents enrolled in the MH RRTP where the incumbent is assigned.
• Provides supportive counseling individual and group treatment, and makes appropriate referrals both within the VA and the greater community.
• Employs individual and group treatment methods and techniques to maintain a therapeutic relationship that will help the resident work towards the best way of dealing with their problems.
• Buils rapport, establishes a continuing relationship with the resident, evaluates progress towards goals, performs follow-up after referral, and adjusts treatment plan when needed.
• Maintains comprehensive case documentation and shows competent discretion in the decision to adjust treatment.
• Completes Suicide screenings and documentation within MH RRTP policy and guidelines.
• Participates in interdisciplinary treatment team and staff meetings.
• Assists staff in periodic or as needed room inspections within MH RRTP policy and guidelines.

Requirements

The treatment orientation of the MHRRTP is cognitive behavioral within a therapeutic community milieu. The focus is on assisting veterans to take responsibility for their recovery, behavior, and treatment in partnership with the professional staff.

Qualifications

• Basic Requirements: 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.
• Exception: VHA may waive the licensure or certification requirement for persons who are otherwise qualified, pending completion of state prerequisites for licensure/certification examinations.
• Grade Determinations: 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.

Skills

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

• Ability to utilize a Veteran centric approach when providing interventions and counseling for Veterans, their family members, caregivers, and survivors.
• 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.

Benefits

Competitive salary and regular salary increases
Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year)
Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66.
Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Pay

Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases

Schedule

Work Schedule: Flexible, Compressed. Monday through Friday 8am - 4:30pm