Social Worker Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP)

Summary

The Social Worker is assigned to a Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) team and is responsible for providing care coordination services (including but not limited to biopsychosocial assessment - walk-in/crisis services - education - provision of self-management resources) and other clinical tasks as needed for Veterans and functions as a Care Coordinator is responsible for coordination and continuity of care for Veterans receiving services throughout the Mental Health Service (MHS).

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
• English Language Proficiency
• In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) - no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English
• 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
• 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
• Licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the advanced practice level which included an advanced generalist or clinical examination - unless they are grandfathered by the state in which they are licensed to practice at the advanced practice level (except for licenses issued in California - which administers its own clinical examination for advanced practice) and they must be able to provide supervision for licensure
• Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements stated above - the following qualification criteria must be met for each grade
• The candidate's qualifications must clearly demonstrate the level of competence required for the grade
• Experience: At least two years of experience post advanced practice clinical licensure and should be in a specialized area of social work practice of which - one year must be equivalent to the GS-11 grade level
• Senior social workers have experience that demonstrates possession of advanced practice skills and judgment and are experts in their specialized area of practice
• Senior social workers may have certification or other post-masters training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university that includes a defined curriculum/course of study and internship or equivalent supervised professional experience in a specialty
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above - candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Skill in a range of specialized interventions and treatment modalities used in specialty treatment programs or with special patient populations
• This includes individual - group - and/or family counseling or psychotherapy and advanced level psychosocial and/or case management
• Ability to incorporate complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice
• Knowledge in developing and implementing methods for measuring effectiveness of social work practice and services in the specialty area - utilizing outcome evaluations to improve treatment services and to design system changes
• Ability to provide specialized consultation to colleagues and students on the psychosocial treatment of patients in the service delivery area - as well as role modeling effective social work practice skills
• Ability to expand clinical knowledge in the social work profession - and to write policies - procedures - and/or practice guidelines pertaining to the service delivery area
• 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-12
• Physical Requirements: Traveling throughout the medical center is required - as is performing activities involving sitting - walking - standing - bending - and carrying such items as books - papers - and files
• In carrying out responsibilities - it may be necessary for the incumbent to travel into the community where they conduct interviews with the Veterans - their families - representatives of community health and welfare agencies and law enforcement agencies
• The incumbent must possess a current Driver's License and drive a government vehicle carrying out professional duties when deemed necessary.
  
  

Duties

• VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional The Social Worker Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) duties/responsibilities include: Provides a full range of services within commonly accepted standards of practice and prioritizes care coordination activities as the primary job function [e.g. - needs assessment - chart reviews - care or case management (as needed) - discharge planning - outreach - etc.] and other services as appropriate
• Provides care coordination (including care management or case management) to Veterans and families - as needed - throughout the continuum of care
• This includes communication within and across care lines to facilitate continuity of care for Veterans
• Conducts biopsychosocial assessments to determine care coordination and treatment needs of Veterans
• Consults/educates to Veterans and families on VA resources (including self-management tools) - community resources - advanced directives and VA benefits
• Participants in the treatment planning process with other disciplines and in discharge planning with other disciplines and will be responsible for ensuring that discharge plans are executed in a manner that is timely and appropriate to promote care continuity
• Acts as a clinical resource/point-of-contact to Veterans and other team/staff members and as liaison between VA and community resources - to include education and bidirectional communication that promotes seamless care
• Functions of this position - there may be times when the incumbent may provide individual - family and group counseling as appropriate
• Provides wellness/prevention education and may facilitate patient/family educational/bridging supportive sessions as appropriate
• Document interventions and activities in patient's electronic health record and ensure appropriate hand-off communication and documentation when transferring patient care
• Maintains familiarity and share responsibility with other team members for performance measures relevant to the BHIP team
• Performs other BHIP-related duties as directed by the Supervisor - such as - but not limited to training/mentoring and oversight of new staff & those not yet clinically licensed and preparing for and training staff on CARF & The Joint Commission standards and accreditation process
• Participates in committee assignments - as deemed necessary by the service manager
• Work Schedule: Full-time - Monday - Friday - 8:00 - 4:30pm EST Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact VHAVISN04HREDRP@va.gov - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
• Learn more 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)
• 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 #: PD000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized