Social Worker- Transition Patient Advocate

About the role

The Transition Patient Advocate will provide a variety of psychosocial assessments and education - advocacy - brief case management services - coordinating linkages with appropriate VA and community service providers - and family services with individual Veterans and families who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric - medical - and social challenges.

Responsibilities

• Evaluates the situations of Veterans and family members/significant others and arrives at a reasoned conclusion
• Interprets and explains VA's treatment and benefit programs
• Provides comprehensive case management services to OEF/OIF/OND Veterans referred to the program
• Determines eligibility for services - completes needs assessment - develops a comprehensive care plan - identifies resources and referrals - and coordination and monitoring of services
• Provides information and education to patients and families to help assure that ongoing medical - emotional - and social needs are met
• Makes a clinical assessment - identifying needs and strengths
• Completes suicide risk screens C-SSRS and completes and documents assessments within the timelines and guidelines of the VANTHCS Suicide Prevention SOP as required
• Acts as an advocate when it serves the best interest of the Veteran/family
• Conducts education and encourages the Veteran/family to advocate on own behalf - thus fostering a sense of independence and empowerment
• Maintains relationships with military installation points of contact and community agencies providing services for Post 9/11 service member/Veteran and their families

Requirements

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
• English Language Proficiency
• Education and/or Experience Combination
• Licensure or Certification

Qualifications

• Knowledge - Skills and Abilities
• Experience or Education Requirement
• Preferred Experience

Skills

• Knowledge of community resources - how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services - and ability to coordinate services
• Independently conducting psychosocial assessments and treatment interventions to a wide variety of individuals from various socio-economic - educational - and other backgrounds
• Knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses - disabilities and treatment procedures (i.eacute - chronic and traumatic illnesses/injuries - common medications and their effects/side effects - and medical terminology)
• 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
• Provides 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

Benefits

Not specified

Pay

Competitive salary and regular salary increases

Schedule

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