Summary

A Social Worker assigned to the Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (MH RRTP) Centralized Screening Team (CST) at the VA Sierra Nevada Health Care System (VASNHCS) or within any VA Medical Facility within VISN 21. The Social Worker provides screening and consultative services to the Veteran population seeking residential care within VISN 21.

Qualifications

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
• 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/
• English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f)
• 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)
• 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
• All persons employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title - series and grade held - including positive education and licensure or certification that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation
• For employees who do not meet all of the basic requirements in this standard - but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it - the following provisions apply: Such employees in an occupation that requires a licensure or certification - may be reassigned - promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level - or changed to lower grade within the occupation - but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions
• Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed - on a temporary or permanent basis - until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard
• Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation - who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all of the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation
• If an employee who was retained in an occupation listed in 38 U.S.C. 7401(3) under this provision leaves that occupation - the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation
• NOTE: If social workers covered under the grandfathering provision of the 1991 Federal law regarding licensure or certification of VHA social workers leave the GS-0185 social work series - they lose the grandfathering protection
• If they choose to return at a later date to the GS-0185 series - they must be licensed or certified to qualify for employment as a social worker
• Grade Determinations: Grade Requirements
• This section is only to outline the grade determinations used for initial grade placement upon selection and will not be used for minimum qualifications
• These grade determinations can be reviewed in VA Handbook 5005 - Chapter II - Appendix G39 - Social Worker Qualification Standards
• Social Worker - GS-9 (1) Experience - Education - and Licensure
• None beyond the basic requirements
• (2) 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
• This includes acute - chronic - and traumatic illnesses/injuries
• common medications and their effects/side effects
• and medical terminology
• Social Worker - GS-11 (1) 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 paragraph 3c
• OR (2) 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
• (3) 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
• References: VA Handbook 5005/120 - Part II - Appendix G39 - Social Worker Qualification Standard - GS-0185 - Veterans Health Administration - dated September 10 - 2019
• Driver's License: Candidate must have a current state issued driver's license
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-9 or 11
• Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 Employee Occupational Health Service

Duties

• Assigned to provide complex and multiple services to individuals and families with a variety of social - emotional and health related problems
• Works in collaboration with an interdisciplinary team in a fast-paced environment to assist with care coordination for residential services - conduct suicide prevention related screenings - and initiate or complete other related mental health screenings
• Interacts routinely with active-duty service members - Veterans - family 2 members and significant others - and referral sources to ensure a timely and appropriate referral and notification process
• Demonstrates an understanding of mental illness including but not limited to: Schizophrenia - Bipolar Disorder - Depressive Disorders - Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) - and frequently occurring co-morbid substance-related disorders
• 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
• Provides the customer with consistent information according to established policies and procedures
• Essential functions include - but are not limited to - the following: Conducts screenings for Veterans referred to VA MH RRTP services Coordinates referrals to appropriate services for Veterans seeking treatment
• Completes suicide risk screenings and evaluations - as indicated
• Engages in safety planning when warranted
• Collaborates with VA MH RRTP programs to identify and schedule admission dates for Veteran entering care
• Reviews residential care coordination across multiple VISN 21 sites of care - ensuring streamlined communications are effective to addressing Veteran's needs
• Collaborates with Veterans Transportation Service to reduce barriers
• Conducts evaluations and consultation of specific features of VISN Centralized Screening
• Develops and maintains a collaborative relationship with mental health stakeholders (i.e
• DoD - Community partners) to ensure timely admissions and efficient care coordination occurs
• Utilizes local and national databases to track and complete electronic consults and manage admissions and program census
• Applies mental health theories and techniques to the full range of patient populations
• Participates in VISN-level performance improvement activities as it relates to the care for Veterans receiving Has comprehensive knowledge regarding MH RRTP services - with awareness of all prospective significant federal - state - and local initiatives that impact Veterans seeking MH RRTP care
• Provides consultation services to new social workers - social work graduate students - and other staff about the psychosocial and mental health needs of patients and the impact of psychosocial problems on health care and compliance with treatment
• Work Schedule: 8:00am - 4:30pm Monday - Friday (Although assigned tour and hours may be subject to change based on the needs of the Centralized Screening Team.) Virtual: This is a virtual position if placed in a location outside of Reno - NV
• Financial Disclosure Report: Not required