Social Worker-Inpatient Mental Health Social Worker
Company: Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration
Location: Grand Junction
Posted on: November 14, 2023
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Job Description:
Summary 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. 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. Responsibilities -Assesses
the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and family
members to formulate and implement a treatment plan. Interview
Veterans and conducts Biopsychosocial Assessments. Interviews
Veterans and their family members/significant others to establish
facts about the Veteran's situation, presenting problems and their
causes, and the impact of such problems on the Veteran's
functioning and health as part of a comprehensive psychosocial
assessment. Interprets and explains VA's treatment and benefit
programs. -Implements treatment modalities to achieve treatment
goals using judgement and skills in utilizing supportive, problem
solving, or crisis intervention techniques. Evaluate the Veteran's
situation, including the Veteran's reaction to it and the ability
to deal with it and arrives at a reasoned conclusion. Based on the
biopsychosocial assessment, uses professional judgment and skills
to make a psychosocial diagnosis. Assesses at-risk factors and
develops a preliminary disposition plan, involving the Veteran and
family or significant others. Performs insightful assessment of
serious and complicated cases involving psychiatric illness,
catastrophic medical conditions, dementia and other high-risk
diagnoses. Makes professional decisions and recommendations for
agency action. -Establishes and maintains effective working
relationships and communicates with Veterans, staff, and other
parties as appropriate. Consulting with a multidisciplinary team,
the IP MH SW concludes the appropriate action, even in instances
where actions can have serious impact on the life of the Veteran.
This might include long-term institutional or nursing home care or
separation from family members. -Utilizes knowledge of community
resources, makes referrals to the community and other government
agencies as appropriate, and coordinates services. Schedule and
monitor Post Discharge Engagement appointments for the facility in
order to ensure continuity of care for Veterans following discharge
from inpatient units and residential rehabilitation treatment
programs. IP MH SW will confirm post discharge orders are placed
for scheduling the appropriate number of follow-up appointments
upon discharge from the mental health unit and the medical unit for
Veterans with a primary diagnosis of mental health or substance use
disorder. -Independently conducts psychosocial assessments and
treatment interventions to a wide variety of individuals from
various socio-economic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other
diversified backgrounds. Practices in the area or program to which
assigned; including promotion of Social Work services as a key
component of treatment. Evaluates their practice as a social worker
on an on-going basis through participation in professional peer
review, case conferences, research studies or other organized
means. -Utilizes knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses,
disabilities, and treatment procedures to formulate a treatment
plan. Develop biopsychosocial treatment plans in coordination with
interdisciplinary team members, including goals for psychosocial
clinical treatment. Makes initial and continuing decisions
regarding use of VA and non-VA services and referrals. Arrives at a
reasoned conclusion as to the preferred course of agency action.
Provides consultation and makes recommendations to
interdisciplinary team on course of treatment. -Independently
implements different treatment modalities in working with Veterans,
families, and groups who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric,
medical, and social problems to achieve treatment goals. Provides
clinical services to Veterans and family members/significant others
in support of the Veteran's treatment. Gives advice. Guidance,
emotional support and other assistance. Provides individual and
group counsel services, in some settings including psychotherapy.
Assists and encourages Veterans and significant others in facing
problems, thinking them through, evaluation the situation
realistically, considering alternative course of action and
arriving at plans for using resources to resolve problems.
-Provides consultation, education, and advocacy. Receives and
completes consults requesting services form interdisciplinary team
members and from other social workers on complex, difficult cases,
using practice skills and expertise. -Performs Other duties as
assigned. Work Schedule: M-F; 08:00AM-4:30PM Telework: Not
Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional
Statement #: 55432-A, 55433-A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives:
Authorized only at the GS-11 Level EDRP Authorized: Contact Jillana
Martinez (jillana.martinez@va.gov), the EDRP Coordinators for
questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS):
Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required
Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to
apply for this job. Selective Service Registration is required for
males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and
spoken English. You may be required to serve a probationary period.
Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants
will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a
requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care
Personnel (HCP). Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019
(COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans
Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional
Information" below for details. Qualifications 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:
-Citizenship Be a citizen of the United States. -English Language
Proficiency Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written
English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. - 7403(f).
-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.
-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-09 grade level. For the GS-11 grade level and above, the
candidate must be licensed or certified. At the time of
appointment, the supervisor, chief social work or social work
executive will provide the unlicensed/uncertified social worker
with the written requirements for licensure or certification,
including the time by which the license or certification must be
obtained and the consequences for not becoming licensed or
certified by the deadline. Grade Determinations: -Social Worker,
GS-09 Experience, Education, and Licensure None beyond the basic
requirements. AND Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
(KSAs) In addition to the experience above, the candidate 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. -Social
Worker, 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. AND
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) 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, 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: None References:
VA Handbook 5005/120 Part II Appendix G39 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-09
to GS-11. Physical Requirements: Must be in overall good health,
able to sit at a desk working at a computer, engage in light to
moderate physical activity including sitting, walking, bending, and
carrying supplies. Social Worker must be able to perform primarily
light and sedentary duties with occasionally moderate physical
demands, exercise patience, and control emotions, with reasonable
accommodation, if necessary, without endangering the health and
safety of the social worker or others. This position requires a
valid state driver's license and local travel to provide
community-based care to Veterans. The position requires significant
travel in the community, through use of a government vehicle or
other individual arrangements, to meet with
representatives/stakeholders who provide assistance and support to
Veterans in clinics, medical centers, Community Clinics, etc. This
position also requires close visual acuity to perform an activity
such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing;
viewing a computer terminal; extensive reading; and repetitive
motions of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers. Education IMPORTANT:
A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are
basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Note: Only
education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education
from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions
may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your
education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using
foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send
a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order
to receive credit for that education. For further information,
visit:
http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.
Additional Information Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual
(Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4,
6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years
they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may
qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work
experience or military service experience. This credited service
can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual
leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the
appointment date and is not guaranteed. This job opportunity
announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This
position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive
status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The
health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not
covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. Pursuant
to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are
required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such
accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or
pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only
infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required
to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of
proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will
provide additional information regarding what information or
documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally
required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable
accommodation process. If you are unable to apply online or need an
alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the
Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.
Keywords: Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, Grand Junction , Social Worker-Inpatient Mental Health Social Worker, Healthcare , Grand Junction, Colorado
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