Social Worker (BHIP Therapist) - EDRP approved

Full Job Description

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program.

You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment.

Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.

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.

HPTs who are on track to graduate/complete the requirements should respond as if they have met the requirements. Provide details in the narrative sections of the assessment.

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: Must be proficient in written or spoken English.

Education: 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.

A doctoral degree in social work may not be substituted for the master's degree in social work.

Verification of the degree can be made by going to http://www.cswe.org/Accreditation to verify that the social work degree meets the accreditation standards for a masters of social work.

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.

Current state requirements may be found by going to http://vaww.va.gov/OHRM/T38Hybrid/.

Exception: 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. For the GS-11 grade level and above, the candidate must be licensed or certified.

May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).

Please see the Additional Information Section of this announcement for details. Preferred Experience: At least one year conducting assessment of patients' needs in a health care setting.

Experience in working with a multidisciplinary treatment team (at least 1 year). At least one-year experience in electronic medical record documentation of health and behavioral issues.

At least one-year experience in working with mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, PTSD. Experience in EBP's (evidenced based psychotherapies).

Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met for each grade level. GS-09: None beyond the basic requirements.

In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs): (a) Ability to work with Veterans and family members from various socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other diversified backgrounds utilizing counseling skills.

(b) 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.

(c) 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.

(d) Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients, staff, and representatives of community agencies.

(e) 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.

Individuals assigned as GS-9 grade level social workers are considered to be at the entry level and are closely supervised, as they are not yet functioning at the independent practice level conferred by independent licensure or certification.

Social workers at the GS-9 entry level are typically assigned to program areas that do not require specialized knowledge or experience.

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, OR, 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: (a) Knowledge of community resources, how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services, and ability to coordinate services.

(b) Skill in independently conducting psychosocial assessments and treatment interventions to a wide variety of individuals from various socio-economic, cultural, ethnic, educational and other diversified backgrounds.

(c) 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.

(d) 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.

(e) 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.

This is the full performance level. Social workers at this level are licensed or certified to independently practice social work.

Incumbents are assigned to all program areas, including but not limited to: inpatient or outpatient medicine, surgery, mental health, neurology, rehabilitation medicine, and geriatrics.

Experience is only creditable if it is obtained following graduation with a master's degree in social work and if it includes work as a professional social worker directly related to the position to be filled.

Qualifying experience must also be at a level comparable to social work experience at the next lower level Reference can be found at the VA Qualification Repository, VA Qualifications Standards - Office of the Chief Human Capital Officer (OCHCO) GS-0185, Social Worker Qualification Standard, dated 9/10/2019.

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 sedentary. Some work may require movement between offices, hospitals, warehouses, and similar areas for meetings and to conduct work.

Work may also require walking/standing, in conjunctions with travel to and attendance at meetings and/or conferences away from the work site.

Incumbent may carry and lift light items weighing less than 15 pounds. Major Duties:

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Plans Effective Treatment: Completes an initial, comprehensive assessment utilizing the DSM-V to address symptomology and make an initial diagnosis, problem list, and synthesis of the problem priorities using the Veteran and family input as much as possible.

Addresses and develops preliminary goals for treatment based on initial assessment and patient and family input.

Provides resources and referrals based on this assessment including referrals for internal services and community resources.

Of utmost concern will be the safety of the Veteran and assurance of effective outcomes for stabilization.

Provides psychoeducation to Veteran and family to assist with greater understanding of illness and treatment expectations.

Addresses all clinical reminders that apply during the initial assessment, including critical suicide risk assessments.

Implements Treatment: Provides clinical services to clients with supervision from a licensed social worker in the program.

Provides brief counseling, guidance, support, and other assistance as identified. Provides referrals to VA and community resources as needed (i.e., transition to halfway houses, shelters, etc.).

Addresses comprehensive needs of clients including those with serious psychiatric instability.

The incumbent timely assesses at risk patients in crisis to identify immediate needs, evaluate risk, and initiate safety plan as appropriate.

Implements motivational and counseling skills to encourage clients to utilize effective interventions.

Utilizes professional skills in addressing Veterans who are unstable or indifferent to treatment and demonstrates empathic engagement skills to assist Veterans in mental health and substance use recovery.

Utilizes effective case management skills to address all aspects of psychosocial strengths and challenges to assist with barriers to effective care.

The incumbent will assist with same day access when available.

Documentation responsibilities: In addition to completing an initial comprehensive assessment the incumbent will complete all necessary clinical reminders, suicide risk screens, safety plan, and any other documentation due at the time of the encounter.

Documentation should occur the same day but no more than 24 hours after the visit occurs in accordance with Behavioral Health policy. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Contact vhaedrpprogramsupport@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance.

Learn more Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases.

When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of existing pay, 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: Not available.

Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: Social Worker (BHIP Therapist) Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required