Summary

This position in Social Work Service at the CEDAR CREST ALLENTOWN is responsible for the provision of case management - individual and group therapy - clinical treatment - crisis intervention - advocacy - discharge planning - and coordination of linkages to other appropriate VA or community service providers/agencies - as needed by the client. This is accomplished in collaboration with members of their inpatient mental health treatment teams and other interdisciplinary treatment team

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

• The basic requirements for employment as a VHA social worker are prescribed by statute in 38 U.S.C. § 7402(b)(9) - as amended by section 205 of Public Law 106-419 - enacted November 1 - 2000
• To qualify for appointment as a social worker in VHA - all applicants must meet the following: Citizenship
• Be a citizen of the United States
• (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3 - section A - paragraph 3g this part)
• 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/
• GRADE DETERMINATIONS
• In addition to the basic requirements for employment - the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates
• 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: Knowledge of community resources - how to make appropriate referrals 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.

Duties

• The incumbent in this position is responsible for: Contributing to the development of the treatment plan and setting achievable treatment goals with the veteran - family members/significant others - and other Outpatient Mental Health clinical staff
• Throughout the course of treatment - acting as the subject matter expert on VA and/or community resources
• Collaborating with other service providers in reassessing the veteran's needs
• Educating the veteran and family members/significant others on available services and assisting them in establishing the appropriate referrals based on the veteran's preference or that of his surrogate decision-maker
• - Using the current Social Work resource file of VA and community social· - service programs and enhancing the content to the benefit of veterans.· S/he will refer the veteran to necessary services
• Understanding the intimidation of bureaucracy and will act as an advocate when it serves the best interest of the veteran and family members/caregiver
• When appropriate and feasible - the incumbent will educate and encourage the veteran to advocate on his/her own behalf - thus - fostering a sense of independence and empowerment
• Making rapid assessments and developing crisis management plans for admission to mental health inpatient programs
• The Social Worker- as access to multiple resource directories in addition to previously developed resources to meet the demands of a crisis
• Providing education related to VA and community resources - entitlements - Advance Directives/Living Will - and referring veterans and family members/significant others to the appropriate interdisciplinary team member for identified health education needs
• Reviewing progress notes from the other providers to accurately determine the strengths
• and limitations of each veteran
• The incumbent will educate the veteran - their family members/significant other - and the team of all options available to them - and will collaborate with the veteran and family members/significant other on the preferred option
• Providing the veterans and their family members/significant other with ongoing supportive counseling
• The purpose of such counseling is to deal with the psychosocial impact of coping with severe mental illness Providing individual - family - and group evidence-based therapies to veterans
• Entering 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 insure information on the veteran is shared with other VA staff - and will be reviewed on a regular basis
• Establishing positive working relationships with employees - volunteers - consumers - and stakeholders within the VA and outside community agencies
• Attending all appropriate staff meetings (i.e
• team meetings - Social Work staff meetings - Social Work supervision meetings - committee meetings - workgroups - etc. - as appropriate)
• Collaborating in the performance improvement processes and complying with performance measures as required by the VA for their specific population and/or program
• Participating in activities that obtain feedback from clients and working to enhance services as necessary
• Performing other related duties as assigned
• Work Schedule: 8:00 am to 4:30 pm - Monday thru Friday Compressed/Flexible: Not Available Telework: Ad-Hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP: Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required