Summary

The social worker provides direct care/case management Mental Health services to the mental health - substance use - and dual diagnosis Veteran population seen at the St. Cloud VA Health Care System (VAHCS) in the Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (MH RRTP).

Qualifications

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 - this part
• Education Requirement: Master of Social Work: Must possess a master's degree in social work from a school of social work fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education
• Note: 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
• COPY OF TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED
• Licensure Requirement: Appointment at the GS-11 Full Performance Level: Persons hired or reassigned to full performance 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
• OR Appointment at the GS-9 (Entry or Developmental Level): 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 appointments at the GS-9 grade level - 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
• Grade Determinations: GS-9 None beyond the basic requirements
• For appointments at the GS-9 grade level - 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
• Most states require two years of post-MSW experience as a prerequisite to taking the licensure/certification exam - and VHA gives social workers one additional year to pass the licensure/certification exam
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above - the applicant's resume must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Ability to work with Veterans and family members from various socioeconomic - cultural - ethnic - educational - and other diversified backgrounds utilizing counseling skills
• 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
• 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
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities: In addition to the experience above - the applicant's resume 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 - cultural - ethnic - educational and other diversified 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
• Preferred Experience: Mental Health experience preferred References: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• 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: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position
• Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.

Duties

• VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf Social Work: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Social-Worker-Career-Flyer.pdf a
• Screening/Assessment - The social worker will interview patients and develop a psychosocial assessment of the Veteran
• They may gather and evaluate information from sources other than the patient - with the patient's consent - to validate patient reports and provide a more comprehensive assessment
• The initial assessment will be completed by the time frame indicated by MH RRTP policy
• b
• Treatment Planning/Goal Setting - It is the responsibility of the social worker - working within the interdisciplinary treatment team to develop a treatment plan based on assessment data and the input from the Veteran
• The treatment plan will include measurable goals - objectives and treatment methods based upon the patient assessment
• c
• Providing Information and referral - Throughout the course of treatment the social worker will maintain expertise on VA and/or community resources
• The social worker will collaborate with other service providers in reassessing the Veteran's needs
• The social worker is responsible for educating the Veteran and/or caregiver of the available services and assisting them in establishing the appropriate referrals based on the Veteran's preference or that of his surrogate decision-maker
• d
• Resource development - The social worker will remain apprised of changing and emerging Veteran needs
• The social worker will identify service gaps and collaborate with others within the VAHCS and/or community to encourage development or modification of services necessary to meeting the needs of Veterans
• e
• Advocacy - The social worker will recognize potential barriers Veterans may face when attempting to access services and will act as an advocate when it serves the best interest of the Veteran and/or family
• f
• Crisis Intervention - The social worker will make rapid assessments and develop crisis management plans in MH RRTP
• This includes the development and facilitation of written crisis plans - suicide risk assessments - collaborative safety action plans - and assessment of homicidal ideation
• In the event of a medical or psychiatric emergency - staff will follow the protocol to facilitate safe and supportive placement for a Veteran on the acute psychiatric unit consistent with VAHCS - Mental Health Service Line - and MH RRTP policy
• g
• Education/Health promotion and prevention - As appropriate - the social worker will provide health care education and/or referral to qualified health care educators to Veterans and their families
• The MH RRTP social worker will provide education to Veterans related to Advance Directives/Living Will's and will facilitate completion for Veterans enrolled in MH RRTP
• h
• Coordination of non-institutional and institutional services - The Social worker will review the progress notes from the other providers to accurately determine the strengths and limitations of each Veteran being referred for mental health services
• Social worker will educate the Veteran - their families and the team of all the options available to them and will collaborate with the Veteran and family on the preferred option
• i
• Supportive counseling - Social worker will provide the Veterans and their caregivers with ongoing supportive counseling
• The purpose of such counseling is to assist the Veteran/caregiver in effectively coping with issues of daily living - including dealing with the psychosocial impact of dealing with issues of physical/mental illness and/or addiction
• j
• Administrative responsibilities - The social worker will enter all Veteran/family contacts in the electronic record using appropriate formats and templates
• It is the responsibility of the social worker to ensure that urgent medical documentation is available for view by other medical staff - therefore - it is required that the social worker ensure timely co-signature (if needed) by directly contacting the clinical mentor/supervisor - the Social Work Executive - or the immediate supervisor to sign off on the medical documentation
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8am-4:30pm-Occasional Evenings and weekends required Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: 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) 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