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Veterans Health Administration is Hiring a Social Worker (Outpatient Mental Health) Near Dothan, AL

Qualifications:

Basic Requirements: GS-11 Social Worker Grade Determinations:
Experience, Education and Licensure:. Promotion to the GS-11 full performance level requires completion of a minimum of 1 year of post-MSW degree experience in the field of health care work (VA or non-VA experience) and licensure or certification in a state at the independent practice level.
OR
A doctoral degree in social work from a school of social work may be substituted for the required 1 year of professional social work experience in a clinical setting.
AND
In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following Knowledge; Skills; and Abilities:
1. Knowledge of community resources, how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services, and ability to coordinate services.
2. Ability to independently assess the psychosocial functioning and needs of patients and their family members and to formulate and implement a treatment plan, identifying the patient's problems, strengths, weaknesses, coping skills and assistance needed, in collaboration with the patient, family and interdisciplinary treatment team.
3. Ability to independently conduct psychosocial assessments and provide psychosocial treatment to a
wide variety of individuals from various socio-economic, cultural, ethnic, educational and other diversified backgrounds. This requires knowledge of human development and behavior (physical and psychological) and the differential influences of the environment, society and culture.
4. Knowledge and experience in the 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.
5. Knowledge of psychosocial treatment and ability to independently implement treatment modalities in working with individuals, families and groups who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric, medical and social problems to achieve treatment goals. This requires independent judgment and skill in utilizing supportive, problem solving or crisis intervention techniques.
6. Ability to independently provide counseling and/or psychotherapy services to individuals, groups and families. Social workers must practice within the bounds of their license or certification. For example, some states may require social workers providing psychotherapy to have a clinical level of licensure.
7. Ability to provide consultation services to other staff about the psychosocial needs of patients and the impact of psychosocial problems on health care and compliance with treatment. Ability to provide orientation and coaching to new social workers and social work graduate students. Ability to serve as a field instructor for social work graduate students who are completing VHA field placements.
8. Ability to independently evaluate his/her own practice through participation in professional peer review case conferences, research studies, or other organized means.
9. Knowledge and skill in the use of computer software applications for drafting documents, data management, and tracking, especially those programs in use by VHA.

References: VA Handbook 5005/23, Part II, Appendix G39

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11.

Responsibilities:

• Responsible for the overall function of program development, recruitment of Veteran patients, case management, networking with community resources, and coordination of care with the psychiatrist and medical staff on site as well as various departments at CAVHCS and community facilities in the primary service area.
• Responsible for completing structured clinical assessments for participants. This requires knowledge of medical terminology, diagnostic categories, and chart review.
• Performs specialized treatment of complex physical or mental illness.
• Coordinates and/or conducts screening of Veterans for specific programs to determine the appropriate level of care needed for patients not in treatment and the ability to understand the variety of clinical options available through the medical center and local community.
• Provides ongoing treatment and documentation per VA Guidelines and facility policy. The incumbent must have a thorough working knowledge of VISTA/CPRS.
• Documents independently in CPRS electronic medical records, including psychosocial assessments, treatment, progress notes, follow up and referrals.
• Has a primary responsibility for providing education on advance health care planning and facilitates psycho-educational and support groups on a variety of topics for Veteran and their families.
• Has the ability to expand clinical knowledge in the profession, provide consultation and guidance to colleagues, role model effective social work practice skills, teach or provide orientation to less experienced social workers, develop innovations in practice interventions, and provide clinical supervision for social work licensure or certification. Provides training to Social Work interns, residents and staff from other disciplines. Topics include the impact of psychosocial and psychiatric issues that may directly affect their care.
• Receives and completes consults from interdisciplinary teams and other social workers on complex difficult cases using advance practice skills and expertise. Incumbent is able to provide individual, group, and family evidence-based psychotherapy and advanced level case management interventions used in the treatment of Veterans with poly-trauma injuries, spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, visual impairment, post-traumatic stress disorder, addictions, and other serious disorders.
• Provides consultation to referral sources and is responsible for development and maintenance of professional standards of practice and educating others regarding same.
• Interviews and conducts psychosocial assessments to establish veteran's treatment needs, presenting problems, and provide a clinical impression. The incumbent assesses high risk factors, acuity and need for services. The Social Worker interprets and explains VA treatment and benefit programs.
• It is the responsibility of the Social Worker to develop a treatment plan with the veteran based on this assessment. The incumbent along with the veteran will develop the treatment plan that includes measurable time limited treatment goals. The treatment plan will be reviewed during therapeutic sessions and reassessed as appropriate.
• Treatment planning includes collaboration with interdisciplinary teams
• Provides independent consultation and makes recommendations to interdisciplinary team on course of treatment.
• Acts as an advocate when appropriate and feasible while encouraging the veteran and family to advocate on their own behalf thus fostering a sense of independence and empowerment.
• Evaluates his/her practice on an on-going basis through participation in professional peer review, case conferences, research studies, or other organized means. Is active in and accepts responsibility for the development and maintenance of professional standards of treatment.
• Other Duties as Assigned.

Referral to service providers

• Throughout the course of treatment, the social worker is the subject matter expert on VA and/or community resources.
• The social worker will collaborate with other service providers in reassessing the veteran's needs.
• The social worker is 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.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 08:00am-4:30pm
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 619717
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorize
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorize
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Job Summary