Summary

The VA Cheyenne Health Care System is hiring for one Social Worker for the Behavioral Health Integrated Program (BHIP) - Collaborative Chronic Care Model (CCM) Mental Health Services in the Mental Health Service Line - based out of Cheyenne - Wyoming. Travel: The position requires the employee maintain a current and valid state driver's license as the position is required to travel occasionally - requiring operation of a government vehicle.

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
• 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 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
• Grandfathering Provision
• The following is the standard grandfathering policy for all title 38 hybrid qualification standards
• Please carefully review the qualification standard to determine the specific education and/or licensure/certification/registration requirements that apply to this occupation
• English Language Proficiency
• Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English
• 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-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: 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
• NOTE: For appointment licensure or certification at this level please refer to the paragraph above
• 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 5005/120 PART II - APPENDIX G39 - Social Worker Qualification Standard 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-9 to GS-11
• Physical Requirements: Typically - the employee sits comfortably indoors to do the work
• This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking
• standing
• sitting - bending
• carrying of light items such as papers - books - small parts
• or driving an automobile
• etc
• Use of fingers - both hands required - ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously - near vision correctable at 13" to 16" - hearing (aid permitted) - clear distinctive speech.

Duties

• VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UUTotal Rewards of a Allied Health Professional The entry level Social Worker is assigned to the Mental Health Service Line (MHSL) in the Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) - Collaborative Chronic Care Model (CCM) and will work as a psychotherapist autonomously to provide case assessment - diagnosis - treatment - and discharge planning to Veterans requiring mental health and/or substance use treatment
• The incumbent will function as a counselor - case manager - consultant - and educator - while providing a full range of psychotherapy modalities with individuals - couples - and groups
• The MHSL staff at the CVAHCS is comprised of interdisciplinary providers and program staff serving approximately 5 -000 Veterans annually through programs including: Intensive Community Mental Health Recovery - Health Care for Homeless Veterans - Grant and Per Diem - Housing and Urban Development VA Supportive Housing - Veterans Justice Outreach - Vocational Rehabilitation Services - Intimate Partner Violence - Military Sexual Trauma - Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment - Suicide Prevention - Geriatrics - Veterans Integration to Academic Leadership - Substance Abuse Treatment - Post Combat Trauma - Primary Care Mental Health Integration - and Peer Support
• CVAHCS is a Level 3 facility with medical and mental health services that are delivered to approximately 28 -000 Veterans within the Medical Center's main campus located in Cheyenne WY - the Northern Colorado VA Outpatient Clinic - and the Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) - as well as through its Mobile Telehealth services in Wheatland - Rawlins - Torrington - Sterling - and Laramie
• Other duties include - but are not limited to: Provides case assessment and psychiatric diagnosis - treatment planning - and assumes responsibility for coordinating discharge planning
• Provides a range of interventions and treatment modalities which may include individual - group - and/or family counseling or psychotherapy
• Maintains appropriate records including Initial Psychiatric Intakes and History - treatment plans - progress notes of each psychotherapy session - and termination notes
• Formulates and implements a treatment plan in collaboration with the Veteran and families/caregivers when appropriate
• participates in interdisciplinary review of ongoing treatment of assigned Veterans on an annual and as-needed basis
• Expected to use a basic level of clinical case management and creative problem-solving in assessing and treating biopsychosocial problems of Veterans
• Basic clinical case management includes - but is not limited to - monitor continued progress in treatment services - address compliance and behavior issues - access to psychiatric services - access to vocational services - access to housing options - and discharge transition services
• It is expected the individual seeks clinical supervision and guidance to better understand and increase competence of coexisting medical or other mental health disorders
• Provides supportive counseling in the development and utilization of community resources
• Is a direct care provider - maintains a patient panel
• Provides clinical services through the use of Tele-Mental Health/Tele-Home technology
• Serves on Interdisciplinary Treatment Team(s)
• Assesses the mental status and safety of Veterans at each visit
• Attends Mental Health staff meetings and any other mandatory meetings regularly
• Assists in identifying and carrying out continuous process review projects to improve the safety and quality of care provided to Veterans
• Work Schedule: Full-time - Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm Compressed/Flexible: Negotiable 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)Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on prior [work experience] or military service experience
• 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: Ad-hoc Telework available
• Functional Statement #:PD54459-A - 54460-A