The incumbent provides Veterans enrolled in the Behavioral Medicine Service (BMS) with high quality clinical interventions, advocacy, education, and coordination of referral sources within the community and the VA. This is accomplished with contact with Veterans, their support team, primary care teams, Specialty Clinics, community agencies etc. 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. 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. May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria). Grade Determinations: Social Worker GS-09: Experience, Education, and Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. 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. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. 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. References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II Appendix G39 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-9. 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: This position is predominately a clinical/administrative position. The clinical component of this position provides direct services to patients and their families through casework. Incumbents must be physically and mentally able to efficiently perform the essential functions of the position without hazard to themselves or others. Normal work of the position requires visual acuity (with the ability to read typewritten characters without strain, corrective lenses permitted), keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. This position requires potentially moderate levels of lifting and carrying (15-44 pounds). The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders. The incumbent must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on patient needs. Must complete annual Employee Health requirements, such as annual TB screening or testing, as a condition of employment. ["Screening/Assessment/Diagnosis: The Social Worker performs psychosocial assessments for individuals enrolled in the BMS with DSM diagnoses and/or comorbid diagnoses such as: substance use, trauma related, anxiety, mood, psychotic, and personality disorders for purposes of diagnostic clarification and treatment planning recommendations. Collaboration with the Veteran, other team members, family members, guardians, and other significant others and review of past medical records is essential in this assessment process. The goal of the assessment is to obtain accurate history, define symptoms, make diagnosis and identify treatment goals. The assessment also highlights the Veterans strengths, limitations, supports and services needed to optimize the Veterans preferred status. Treatment and Recovery Planning/Goal Setting: The social worker is responsible for working with the Veteran to outline their personal recovery and treatment goals. Once goals are established with the Veteran and the interdisciplinary BHIP team the social worker will develop a treatment plan with measurable and obtainable goals by the 5th session. Ongoing assessments and updating of recovery and treatment plans are done in accordance with program guidelines. Implements Treatment: The social worker provides clinical services to Veterans and family members. The social worker will provide individual, family and group psychotherapy. The therapeutic process assists Veterans in addressing and solving their problems. The social worker educates and assists Veterans in problem solving techniques, rational thinking, and action planning. The social worker demonstrates acceptance, interest, encouragement and selectively uses questioning, explanation and guidance to help Veterans explore their problems. Professional judgment, including knowledge of DSM symptoms and diagnosis is an inherent competency applied in daily interactions with Veterans. The social worker is responsible for having a highly developed professional, clinical, and advance practice skills that are routinely used to treat Veteran with complex problems, histories of non-compliance, and inability or unwillingness to participate in treatment. Referral to service providers: Throughout the course of treatment, the social worker is the subject matter expert on VA and community resources. The social worker will collaborate with other service providers in reassessing the Veteran's needs for VA, community and entitlement services. The social worker will educate and coordinate available services for the Veteran and assist them in the decision-making process based on the Veterans preferences and treatment goals. Resource Development: The social worker is responsible for developing and maintaining VA and community social services resources and will refer Veterans to needed services. Advocacy: Social worker understands the intimidation of bureaucracy and will act as an advocate when it serves the best interest of the Veteran/family. When appropriate and feasible the social worker will educate and encourage the Veteran to advocate on their own behalf, thus fostering a sense of independence and empowerment. Crisis Intervention: Social worker is experienced in making rapid assessments and developing crisis management. The social worker will follow VA SOP's and MCM's in the event of a medical or psychiatric emergency. Education/Health promotion and prevention: Social worker provides education related to VA and community resources, entitlements, advance directive, living wills, symptom management, relapse prevention and wellness recovery. If not in scope of practice, the social worker will make appropriate referrals for identified health needs. On-call Rotation: Social worker will be responsible for 24/7 ER on-call rotation as scheduled. SW will be available during those time to present in person to the ER for crisis assessment. SW will make appropriate recommendations depending on the assessment with the Veteran and plan for continuation of care. Administrative Responsibilities: The social worker will enter all Veteran/family contacts in the electronic record using appropriate formats and templates. This information will be entered in a complete, confidential and professional manner to ensure information on the patient is shared with other VA staff. Regular behavioral medicine service and social work peer reviews will be completed according to schedule. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm Telework: Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 62725-A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Available Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]

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