Senior Social Worker - Emergency Department

Emergency Department Services Senior Social Worker

The Emergency Department Services Senior Social Worker must possess the knowledge and ability to independently assess and implement treatment modalities, identify level of functioning, degree of impairment in occupational, social, academic, interpersonal and family, evaluate and assess lethality, perform mental status exams (MSE), identify psychiatric manifestations of various medical conditions, possess knowledge of the criteria and state laws for legal commitment and involuntary hospitalizations, ability to assess and intervene with patients suspected of abuse or neglect. Major duties include, but are not limited to:

• Independently conducts biopsychosocial assessment of the Veteran in collaboration with the interdisciplinary treatment team, the Veteran, family members and significant others.
• Independently performs case finding functions and outreach, identifying and screening Veterans for psychosocial and mental health needs.
• Complete Suicide Behavior Reports and Safety Plans for Veterans presenting with suicidal ideation or behaviors in alignment with established policy/procedures.
• Incumbent provides crisis intervention services, seeking to address the cause as well as the presenting complaint, coordinates family conferences and serves as liaison to family members.
• Has working knowledge and experience in use 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.
• Independently provides consultation services to other staff regarding the psychosocial needs of Veterans and the impact of psychosocial problems on health care and adherence to treatment plan.
• Responsible for educating the Veteran and/or caregiver of the available services and assisting them in establishing the appropriate referrals based on the Veteran's preference or that of his surrogate decision-maker.
• Educate the Veteran, their families, and the team of all the options available to them and will collaborate with the Veteran and family on the preferred option.
• Enter all Veteran/family contacts in the electronic record using appropriate formats and templates.
• Establish and maintain positive working relationships with employees, volunteers, consumers and stakeholders within the VA and outside community agencies.
• May supervise social work trainees/interns, providing the incumbent has at least two years of post-graduate schoolwork experience.
• Meets the needs of all customers while supporting the Medical Center and Service missions.

Work Schedule: Monday thru Friday; 6:00am - 2:30pm. Please note: This position will be required to work Holidays.

Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized

Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized

Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade).

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: Not Available

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: 000000

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized