Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval - award amount (up to $200 -000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.

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
• English Language Proficiency
• In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) - no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English
• 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
• Note: 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
• Licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the advanced practice level which included an advanced generalist or clinical examination - unless they are grandfathered by the state in which they are licensed to practice at the advanced practice level (except for licenses issued in California - which administers its own clinical examination for advanced practice) and they must be able to provide supervision for licensure
• 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: In addition to the basic requirements stated above - the following qualification criteria must be met for each grade
• The candidate's qualifications must clearly demonstrate the level of competence required for the grade
• Senior Social Worker - GS-12 Experience: At least two years of experience post advanced practice clinical licensure and should be in a specialized area of social work practice of which - one year must be equivalent to the GS-11 grade level
• Senior social workers have experience that demonstrates possession of advanced practice skills and judgment and are experts in their specialized area of practice
• Senior social workers may have certification or other post-masters training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university that includes a defined curriculum/course of study and internship or equivalent supervised professional experience in a specialty
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above - candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Skill in a range of specialized interventions and treatment modalities used in specialty treatment programs or with special patient populations
• This includes individual - group - and/or family counseling or psychotherapy and advanced level psychosocial and/or case management
• Ability to incorporate complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice
• Knowledge in developing and implementing methods for measuring effectiveness of social work practice and services in the specialty area - utilizing outcome evaluations to improve treatment services and to design system changes
• Ability to provide specialized consultation to colleagues and students on the psychosocial treatment of patients in the service delivery area - as well as role modeling effective social work practice skills
• Ability to expand clinical knowledge in the social work profession - and to write policies - procedures - and/or practice guidelines pertaining to the service delivery area
• Preferred Experience: Clinical Licensure - 2 years mental health outpatient clinic experience - and Leadership skills and experience
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: he work is sedentary
• Typically - the employee sits comfortably to perform the work
• However - there may be some walking
• standing
• bending
• carrying of light items such as papers - books - small parts
• or driving an automobile - etc
• No special physical demands are required to perform the work.

Duties

• VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU This Senior Social Worker is administratively responsible for coordinating seven Social Workers within the Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP)
• The BHIP teams are located within the Outpatient Mental Health Clinic (MHC) and provide clinical care to the Veteran population served by the Kansas City VA Medical Center
• The incumbent will provide direct patient care within the program area and train new Social Workers in the MHC
• They will assist in developing BHIP SW policies and procedures for program operation and prepare reports as needed to the Mental Health (MH) service line
• Incumbent will work in conjunction with the MHC supervisor and MH Service Chief to ensure clinic operations run effectively
• The Lead Social Worker will also have oversight of the SW Digital Divide Consults along with daily/weekly BHIP SW schedules in the MHC
• Major Duties and Responsibilities: Completing psychosocial assessments/screens including differential diagnosis - development of collaborative treatment plans - providing individual and/or group therapy - crisis intervention - open access triaging - and care coordination of referrals to community-based and VA services
• Serves as a resource to other members of the Mental Health multidisciplinary team - as well as other healthcare providers within the Medical Center
• Oversee the daily Open Access schedule for all Social Workers to triage walk in's (non-scheduled patients) and approve RN case management triage during their assigned Open Access day each week
• Screens patients in the Mental Health Clinic - providing diagnosis and treatment recommendations regarding Veterans' care within clinical privileges or scope of practice
• Serves as consultant for all BHIP SW to oversee the BHIP RN for any clinical psychosocial \"check outs\" for unestablished patients
• Incumbent may be asked to provide social work coverage in all areas of the Mental Health Service Line - and must possess diverse skills and a basic understanding of all program guidelines and standards
• Responsible for educating the Veteran and/or caregiver regarding available services and assisting them with service linkage based upon the Veteran's preferences or those of the surrogate decision-maker
• Work Schedule: Monday through Friday - 8am - 4:30pm - with evenings - weekends - and/or adjusted tours as needed to ensure quality care to veterans
• Telework: Adhoc Telework Only as Needed Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: Senior Social Worker- Outpatient Mental Health Clinic/PD000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact VISN15EDRP@va.gov - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
• Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized