Summary

The Social Worker (Suicide Prevention Case Manager) is assigned to the Fredericksburg Health Care Center (FxHCC) - located in Fredericksburg - Virginia - and aligned under the Central Virginia VA Health Care System - Richmond - Virginia. This position is responsible for coordinating the care of high-risk patients and providing case management- based services necessary to ensure that Veteran care is coordinated within the VA Medical Center and/or appropriate community agencies.

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 - You must be a citizen of the United States English Language Proficiency - You must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f) Education and/or Experience Combination - You must possess 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
• Note: A doctoral degree in Social Work may NOT be substituted for the master's degree in Social Work
• License or Certification* - You 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: In addition to the basic requirements for employment - the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates
• Social Worker - GS-0185-11 Qualifications - GS-11 Licensure Requirement: You must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level
• GS-11 Experience or Education Requirement: In addition to meeting the basic requirements - to qualify for the GS-11 - you must possess 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
• Examples of specialized experience include but are not limited to: Working under close supervision in program areas that do not require specialized knowledge or experience
• Identifying behaviors or symptoms of abuse - neglect or exploitation
• providing education on advance directives and advanced care planning
• providing social work case management
• acting as an patient/family member/caregiver advocate with community service providers/agencies
• assessing the psychosocial functioning and needs of patients and their family members
• In collaboration with the patient - family - and interdisciplinary treatment teams - identifying strengths - weaknesses - coping skills and psychosocial acuity
• Maintaining a current network of internal and external resources to educate the patient and/or family members/caregivers and assist with appropriate referrals
• -OR- 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
• In addition to the experience above - you must demonstrate the following Knowledge - Skills and Abilities: Ability to effectively manage suicidal crises through advanced risk assessment - de-escalation techniques - and the application of crisis intervention skills
• 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 - educational - and other 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
• Preferred Experience: Licensed Clinical Social Worker with previous work with suicidal individuals is preferred
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11
• Physical Requirements: This social work position includes a level of physicality normally associated with direct patient care duties performed by social workers
• The work is primarily non-strenuous
• Examples may include but are not limited to: long periods of walking and standing - ability to lift 5-10 pounds - and the ability to sit for 1-2 hours while doing substantial computer work
• Work is performed in an office/clinic setting with minimal risks that require normal safety precautions
• the area is adequately lighted - heated - and ventilated
• However - the work environment requires someone with the ability to handle several tasks at once in sometimes stressful situations.

Duties

• The Fredericksburg Health Care Center (FxHCC) offers primary - and secondary diagnostic and therapeutic health services in medicine - surgery - neurology - rehabilitative medicine - acute and sustaining spinal cord injury - medical specialty clinics - outpatient psychiatric care - and Homeless Veterans program
• Additionally - the Fredericksburg Health Care Center (FxHCC) offers a broad range of diagnostic and therapeutic services - including a dialysis unit - a Health Center - ambulatory procedure same day unit - and a full range of subspeciality clinics that complement the Primary Care Group Practice
• Major duties include but not limited to: Conducts timely assessment of at-risk Veterans in crisis to identify immediate needs - evaluate risk - and initiate safety plan as appropriate The social worker links the Veteran with services - resources - and opportunities to maximize the Veteran's independence - health - and well-being
• Trains and mentors newly assigned social workers and graduate students Coordinates and implements the Medical High-Risk Flag process IAW VHA DIRECTIVE 1160.07 Establishes and maintains ongoing education programs for Veterans - community agencies - students - and staff - to facilitate understanding of social work interventions specific to the Veteran/Military population
• Independently formulate and implement a treatment plan including measurable - achievable goals identifying the Veterans' needs - strengths - weaknesses - coping skills - and psychosocial acuity
• Other duties as assigned
• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 8:00am - 4:30pm 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: Ad-Hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 0000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.