Social Worker

Full Job Description

The Social Worker functions in a multidisciplinary outpatient Mental Health clinic setting within the Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center in Milwaukee, WI.

The patients for whom the incumbent regularly provides treatment services have a wide range of mental health care problems including acute and chronic psychiatric conditions, substance abuse disorders, homelessness, and other behavioral health problems.

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

Education: Must have 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.

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

Exception to Licensure: VHA may waive the licensure or certification requirement for persons who are otherwise qualified, pending completion of state prerequisites for licensure/certification examinations.

**This exception only applies at the GS-9 grade level.** Grade Determinations: GS 9Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: In addition to meeting the basic requirements for this occupation, candidates must demonstrate all of the Following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (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.

GS-11 Experience and Licensure: 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 Examples of specialized experience include but are not limited to: Working under close supervision in program areas that do not require specialized knowledge or experience.

Identifying behaviors or symptoms of abuse, neglect or exploitation; providing education on advance directives and advanced care planning; providing social work case management; acting as an advocate with community service providers/agencies when it serves the best interest of the patient and family members/caregiver; assessing the psychosocial functioning and needs of patients and their family members identifying strengths, weaknesses, coping skills and psychosocial acuity, in collaboration with the patient, family, and interdisciplinary treatment teams; maintaining a current network of internal and external resources to educate the patient and/or family members/caregivers and assist with the appropriate referrals.

-OR- Education: In addition to meeting basic requirements, a doctoral degree in social work from a school of social work MAY be substituted for the required one year of professional social work experience in a clinical setting.

In addition to the experience above, candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Knowledge of community resources, how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services, and ability to coordinate services.

Skill in 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.e.

acute, chronic and traumatic illnesses/injuries, common medications and their effects/side effects, and medical terminology) to formulate a treatment plan.

Skill in 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.

Ability to provide 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.

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 11 .

The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS 9 to GS 11. Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary.

Physical demands do not exceed those of a typical office setting. There may be some walking, standing, twisting, turning, sitting, pushing, bending, repetitive keyboarding, or carrying of light items.

Major Duties:

Major Functions of the Mental Health Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Social Worker Include but not limited to the following: Develops individualized treatment plans for assigned SUDS patient cases.

Initiates SUDS evidence-based treatment, documenting patient progress, amending treatment plans as response indicates need and in accordance with Medical Center policy and/or accrediting body standards.

Provides clinical case management services to assigned SUDS caseload, using extensive SUD clinical experience to guide care integration to a course most probable to produce stable SUD recovery.

Explains client's treatment and progress towards rehabilitation to third parties including contracted Methadone Maintenance program.

Provides recovery-oriented continuing care treatment services to assigned cases with the goal of establishing the Veteran in the SUD recovery process and ultimately engaging independently with community recovery supports.

Works effectively with patients who tend to have frequent and severe crises, lack family or an adequate community support network, be poor at self-monitoring, frequently fail to comply with instructions and treatment, or have significant deficits in coping skills and require continuing professional psychosocial support.

Performs case finding functions and outreach, identifying and screening patients for psychosocial needs. Conducts psychosocial assessments.

Develops treatment plans in collaboration with the veteran/family and with the interdisciplinary treatment team especially related to mental health concerns.

Coordinates community-based services, including information and referral for additional services from other VA programs, other government programs and community agency programs.

Identifies high-risk patients and provides case management services. Provides crisis intervention services Coordinates family conferences and serves as liaison to family members.

Works with patients and families who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric, medical and social problems utilizing individual, group and family counseling skills.

Facilitates referrals based upon veterans needs and eligibility based on General knowledge of veterans' benefits and services relating to special programs, service-connected compensation, non-service-connected pension appropriately.

Serves on medical center committees and work groups as needed to support the mission of the organization.

Guides initial and ongoing evaluations for veterans self-presenting or in response to consultation requests.

Makes recommendations for treatment or referral in cases where consequences for the veteran may have serious effects on current and future life circumstances.

Performs other duties as assigned VA Careers - Social Work: https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Work Schedule: Full Time Monday - Friday 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Compressed/Flexible: May Be authorized based on needs of service and supervisor Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade).

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) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience.

Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.

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: AD-HOC Based on Agency Policy and Supervisory Approval Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: GS 0185-09 Functional Statement # 08192F GS 0185-11 Functional Statement # 08193F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized **Please see Special Note for Applications in How to Apply Below for Resume Details**