Senior Social Worker (Clinical Resource Hub)

Full Job Description

The VISN Clinical Resource Hub (CRH) Virtual Psychotherapy Program for Caregivers (VPPC) Team position is a VISN based position located in VISN 21.

The incumbent of this position will conduct mental health assessments and treatment plans, to families, and couples to treat a variety of mental health diagnosis and disorders.

They will work closely with the Caregiver Support team and other Behavioral Health services to ensure a seamless transition to appropriate services for Caregivers.

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

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: You must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C.

7403(f) Education and/or Experience Combination: You must possess 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 accredited.

Note: A doctoral degree in Social Work may NOT be substituted for the master's degree in Social Work.

License or Certification: You must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level.

Exception - For assignments at the GS-9 level, VHA may waive the licensure or certification requirement for persons who are otherwise qualified, pending completion of state prerequisites for licensure/certification examinations.

VHA social workers who are not licensed or certified at the time of appointment must become licensed or certified at the independent, master's level within three years of their appointment as a social worker.

Grandfather Provision.

A Social Worker employed in VHA on the effective date of the qualification standard (9/10/2019) who did not meet all the basic requirements in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed, the following provisions apply: Employees may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level or changed to lower grade within the occupation but may not be promoted beyond the journeyman level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions.

Employees in an occupation that requires a licensure/certification/ registration only at higher grade levels must meet the licensure/ certification/registration requirement before they can be promoted to those higher grade levels.

Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard.

Employees who are converted to title 38 hybrid status under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of re-entry to the occupation.

Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation.

Grade Determinations: Senior Social Worker, GS-12 Licensure Requirement: You must be licensed or certified by a state 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 must be able to provide supervision for licensure.

Experience Requirement: You must possess 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 level.

Examples of specialized experience include, but are not limited to: assessing and documenting identified behaviors or symptoms of abuse, neglect, exploitation and/or intimate partner violence; use of clinical social work skills; maintaining patient privacy and confidentiality per policies, handbooks or directives; acting as an advocate with appropriate community service providers and agencies when it serves the best interest of the patient and family members/caregiver; independently assessing the psychosocial functioning and needs of patients and their family members, identifying the patient's strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and psychosocial acuity.

Applicable experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, you must demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: Skill in a range of specialized interventions and treatment modalities used in specialty treatment programs or with special patient populations.

This includes individual, group, and/or family counseling or psychotherapy and advanced level psychosocial and/or case management.

Ability to incorporate complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice.

Knowledge in developing and implementing methods for measuring effectiveness of social work practice and services in the specialty area, utilizing outcome evaluations to improve treatment services and to design system changes.

Ability to provide specialized consultation to colleagues and students on the psychosocial treatment of patients in the service delivery area, as well as role modeling effective social work practice skills.

Ability to expand clinical knowledge in the social work profession, and to write policies, procedures, and/or practice guidelines pertaining to the service delivery area.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12.

The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is a GS-12.

Physical Requirements: This position requires visual acuity, adequate auditory perception, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity.

This position requires potentially extended periods of computer use, virtual care equipment use, sitting and/or standing.

The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders.

The incumbent must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations and able to shift priorities based on patient needs.

Must meet Employee Health mandates as a condition of employment. Major Duties:

The Senior Social Worker, GS-0185-12 must use a high level of skill in assessing and treating complicated psychosocial problems.

They will complete thorough psychosocial assessments when the Caregiver is referred and will complete a thorough treatment plan when a Caregivers engages in mental health services.

They will also provide psychotherapy with individuals, couples, and families, crisis intervention, supportive counseling, and referral for resources and benefits.

Duties for the position include but are not limited to: Completes thorough psychosocial assessments to determine the psychosocial functioning and needs of Caregivers and/or their families.

The incumbent of this position must be able to utilize this assessment in facilitating the Caregivers maximum use of treatment for attainment of the highest level of independence that is possible and practicable.

Participates as a member of a Caregivers Support treatment team and actively participate through collaboration with Caregivers and family as well as interdisciplinary treatment team members, including but not limited to Psychiatrists, Nurse Practitioners, Psychologists, Social Workers, RNs, Peer Support Specialists and Administrative Support staff, in the development and implementation of a treatment plan.

Facilitates discharge planning through collaboration with Caregivers and their families as well as interdisciplinary treatment team members to ensure that appropriate discharge plans are executed in a timely manner.

Serves as a liaison between Caregivers and/or their families and VA and community resources in order to ensure thorough delivery of services Provides consultation and education to Caregivers and their families regarding community resources, VA benefits, specialty programs, and advance directives.

Provides consultation to other treatment teams and staff members regarding psychosocial needs of Caregivers and/or their families and the impact of the identified psychosocial problems on the Caregivers 's health care planning, compliance with treatment, and discharge planning.

Provide emergency/crisis intervention services to outpatients experiencing acute psychological crises, helping to stabilize these individuals, assisting in the referral arrangements for transfer to a psychiatric facility for inpatient care if necessary and providing follow-up care as needed.

Responsible for supporting the mission, policies, and procedures of the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Veteran Health Administration (VHA), the appropriate Caregivers Integrated Service Network (VISN), and the facility.

Serves on committees and work groups at the facility as deemed appropriate by the supervisor.

Provides assistance with the orientation and learning of less experienced providers and to serve as a preceptor for trainees when appropriate.

Documents in the Caregivers 's electronic medical record chart (CPRS) and complete a thorough assessment and treatment plan in Mental Health Suite. Other related duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. PST; Subject to change to meet the needs of the Agency Telework: Not available; Remote position Virtual: This is a virtual/remote position.

Functional Statement #: 09452F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized