Mental Health Caseworker

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

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

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 the GS-11 grade level and above - the candidate must be licensed or certified

English Language Proficiency: Social workers must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005 - Part II - chapter 3 - section A - paragraph 3j - this part

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: GS-9 Entry Level Social Worker 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:

• a) Ability to work with Veterans and family members from various socioeconomic - cultural - ethnic - educational - and other diversified backgrounds utilizing counseling skills
• b) 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
• c) 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

• d) Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients - staff - and representatives of community agencies
• e) Fundamental knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses - disabilities - and treatment procedures

Common medications and their effects/side effects

And medical terminology

GS-11 Full Performance Social Worker 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

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:

• a) Knowledge of community resources - how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services - and ability to coordinate services
• b) 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
• c) 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
• d) 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
• e) 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

Reference: VA handbook 5005 Part II Appendix G39

Physical Requirements: This position requires hearing (aid permitted)

***Only the first 50 Applicants will be considered***

Duties

VA Careers - Social Work: The Social worker will be a member of a Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) team

This position will function as a Mental Health Treatment Coordinator (MHTC) for BHIP enrolled Veterans and under supervision - will provide individual and or group psychoeducation and assist with consult management

Major duties include - but are not limited to: Serves as Mental Health Treatment Coordinator for a panel of BHIP enrolled Veterans

Completes initial suicide risk screening via C-SSRS

Makes follow up and bridge calls between appointments at provider request

Facilitates communication regarding timely appointment needs with established providers

Provides care coordination for patients affected by BHIP staff departures and callouts

Assists with chart reviews - outreach calls - secure messages - and responds to patient requests for care (i.e. - coordinating referrals). Assists in facilitating - linking and advocating for referrals within the VA and to community resources

Uses measurement-based care tools - periodically reviews patients' mental health service use and progress to ensure appropriate discharge to lower levels of care

Assist with completing clinical reminders

Tracks Veterans referred by the team to other levels of care and keeps the team informed

Assists Veteran and provider with completing paperwork for various needs including disability - FLMA - etc

Act as liaison to Inpatient Psychiatric Unit to facilitate continuity of care

Triages BHIP enrolled Veterans with unscheduled visits or requests for phone follow-up

Incumbent will seek direction from senior level staff for Veterans flagged as high risk

Assists with needed outreach of patients affected by provider callouts for BHIP Team and outreach high risk - same day - post-discharge engagement - and other patients as appropriate

Provides psychoeducational individual and group services

Completes all clinical charting and documentation required by the Medical Center or healthcare system

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00 am to 4:30pm Telework: Available - ad hoc as per agency policy Virtual: This is not a virtual position

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