Summary

The Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (MH RRTP) Transitional Care Manager Social Worker's primary responsibilities are providing a full range of direct patient care services (e.g. - individual and group psychotherapy - discharge planning - care management - admission screening - crisis management) to Veterans with a range of psychosocial stressors and mental health and substance use disorders.

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:

• 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
• 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
• 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
• (a) 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
• In states such as California - Washington - and others where the prerequisites for licensure exceed two years - social workers must become licensed at the independent - master's level within one year of meeting the full state prerequisites for licensure
• (b) A social worker who does not yet have a license that allows independent practice must be supervised by a licensed independent practitioner of the same discipline who is a VA staff member and who has access to the electronic health record
• English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f)
• Grade Determinations Social Worker GS-9 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: (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
• 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
• NOTE: For appointment licensure or certification at this level please refer to paragraph 3c
• 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: (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
• 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)
• Physical Requirements: Work is mostly sedentary and primarily performed in an office setting
• Typical office work involves active listening - reading - observing - and evaluating verbal and nonverbal behavior - writing reports and clinical notes
• The position requires the use of office equipment such as computers - keyboards - telephones - fax machines - and photocopy machines
• Visual acuity - keen hearing - clear distinctive speech - and manual dexterity are required
• 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
• If required as a condition of employment - the incumbent must complete annual Employee Health requirements - such as annual TB screening or testing - employee physicals - etc
• 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
• 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).

Duties

• VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU VA Careers - Licensed Clinical Social Worker: https://youtube.com/embed/U_xC25QsN0w Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Duties include - but are not limited - to: Provide a range of direct patient care services consistent with area of assignment
• The Social Worker demonstrates the ability to balance quantity and quality requirements - agreed upon priorities are maintained - and caseload is effectively managed - with evidence of acceptable work quality by satisfactory supervisory or peer case review ratings
• Engage in psychosocial and diagnostic assessments - establishes therapeutic rapport - administers therapeutic interventions (to include individual and group interventions) - and ensures continuity of patient care in the development and implementation of the psychosocial treatment and discharge plans - including expected short and long range outcomes - with clients of all ages
• The Social Worker is to establish a proactive - resourceful approach to discharge planning
• This includes initiating - coordination - and expediting the successful discharge of Veteran clients
• Demonstrates the ability to perform and monitor quality professional psychosocial services for the young - middle age - and geriatric patients
• Facilitate the admission process for veterans seeking admission into the MH RRTP (including all programming tracks) - specifically participating in the screening process for admission and determining which program best meets the veterans' needs
• Incumbent possesses the knowledge and ability to perform transitional case management duties - which includes coordination of the consults and self-referrals to the MH RRTP and collaboration with the MH RRTP Screening Board - to include MH RRTP screening staff across the VISN and VA
• Provide veterans with verbal and written educational materials about the MH RRTP programs as appropriate
• The Social Worker complies with all VA policy and Directives with ensuring completed pre- and post-admission documentation and Veteran education
• The Social Worker maintains and communicates a schedule of MH RRTP admissions and discharges - and tracks requirements and program initiatives and quality monitors as specified by accrediting bodies (e.g. - CARF - The Joint Commission) - Mental Health Service - VA - and other regulatory bodies
• Effectively communicates with and utilizes VA network and community agencies to facilitate treatment - discharge planning - and continuity of care - this includes engaging in referrals to VA and community agencies and government programs as needed
• Demonstrates regular contact and collaboration with a variety of VA and community agencies and resources in a manner that enhances coordination of comprehensive patient care - and/or problem resolution
• Identifies and addresses clinical risk - to include complying with all suicide prevention policies and directives (e.g. - RISK-ID)
• The Social Worker engages in suicide screening - comprehensive suicide evaluations - safety planning - and engages in referrals and/or warm handoffs to ensure Veteran safety needs are met
• Incumbent provides crisis intervention services - seeking to address the cause as well as the presenting complaint and has a working knowledge and experience in use of medical and mental health diagnosis - disabilities and treatment procedures
• Operate a government motor vehicle to transport patients off-site
• Work Schedule: Monday thru Friday 8am-4:30pm or Tuesday thru Sunday 8am - 4:30pm 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
• Functional Statement #: 9117-A and 93118-A Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized