Summary

The Social Worker (SW) is assigned to the St. Cloud VAHCS-Mental Health Integrated Care Community. The Outpatient Mental Health SW provides comprehensive psychotherapy and care coordination services to Veterans for issues related to mental health and behavioral issues - substance use disorders (SUD) - and other complex and diverse psychosocial problems.

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 in Substance Use Disorder and Evidence Based Practices
• 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 Clinical mental health functions include the following independently performed tasks: Conducting behavioral health and mental health biopsychosocial assessments of Veterans and collateral contacts
• Establish Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5-TR) diagnoses
• Creating comprehensive - recovery-focused behavioral health and mental health treatment plans with Veterans and in coordination with other disciplines
• Completing suicide/homicide risk assessments and safety plans - as required
• Providing clinically efficacious - evidence-based therapeutic services to include individual - couples - family and group psychotherapy/counseling services for Veterans
• Interview Veterans and their families to develop/complete biopsychosocial assessments utilizing knowledge of human development and behavior and the differential influences of the environment - society - and culture
• Establishing and maintaining therapeutic alliances with Veterans and their families
• Analyzing complex psychological problems
• Understanding mental health and medical diagnoses - disabilities - and treatment procedures - including acute - chronic and traumatic illnesses - common medications and their effects/side effects - and medical terminology
• Coordinating with internal and external and ancillary mental health professionals to ensure appropriate transitions of care and that appropriate and necessary treatment is provided/offered to Veterans
• Developing and providing psychoeducational and psychotherapy groups
• Utilizing assessment and documentation processes for integrated models of care - including determining the appropriate level of care for Veterans not in specialty mental health treatment
• Educating and train other professionals and students in effective mental health treatment modalities - as well as - facility service availability related to SUD
• Making sound professional judgments regarding clinical impressions - treatment approaches - and treatment planning
• Establishing/maintaining expertise on VA services and benefits - and community resources
• Establishing/maintaining effective relationships with various Veteran agencies and coordinate care with appropriate community services
• Collaborating effectively with an interdisciplinary healthcare team
• Providing comprehensive Mental Health Treatment Coordination (MHTC) services within a team of interdisciplinary providers: Coordinate and facilitate the Veteran's overall treatment - view the Veteran comprehensively and provide continuity among various services by linking VA and community resources into a continuum of care - incorporate both inpatient and outpatient care - unless treatment requires relocation to another facility - enhance the continuity of care in a recovery-focused - integrative - rational - proactive - and individualized manner - collaborative assessment of the Veteran's needs - strengths - and challenges - plan specific services to meet the Veteran's identified needs - link required services - monitor progress toward treatment goals - and advocate with the patient to ensure needs are met
• Work Schedule: Compressed tour will be M-F with four days 0800-1830.- Evenings and Weekends may be required Compressed/Flexible: Available upon Supervisors discretion 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) 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
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO):