Mental Health Intensive Case Management Social Worker

Summary

This individual functions as a Social Worker on a multidisciplinary case management team located at the Fayetteville VA Medical Center. The incumbent serves - in the community - those Veterans with severe and persistent mental illness who have frequent or long-term hospitalizations. The client population's illness is chronic in nature - refractory to resolution and requires monitoring to maintain stability.

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
• English Language Proficiency
• Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f)
• 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/
• 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: 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
• Preferred Experience: Preferred Experience working with individuals with a Serious Mental Illness 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-11
• Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 - Employee Occupational Health Services

Duties

• VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU VA Careers - Licensed Clinical Social Worker: https://youtube.com/embed/U_xC25QsN0w Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Participates in the admission/screening process by interviewing patients and/or other stakeholders and completing intake data collection with purpose of establishing treatment for Severely Mentally ILL (SMI) psychiatric disorders in a case management setting
• This may include obtaining psychosocial history - maintaining data sheets - completing high risk screens - answering consults - and developing discharge planning assessments
• Participates in or facilitates selected supportive groups related to the treatment of specific SMI psychiatric disorders - conducts individual counseling and other social work privileged functions independently or under supervision as professional license dictates
• May conduct psycho educational activities following professionally prepared resource guides
• Functions as a primary manager (case manager) for a number of Veterans - averaging from 7-15 - on a prescribed caseload of SMI Veterans
• This includes preparation and implementation of treatment plans developed in concert with the incumbent's multidisciplinary team
• Completes all NEPEC paperwork within established timeframes for veterans on current caseload
• Acts as a liaison between staff - Veteran and stakeholders in the development and review of treatments plans
• Provides ongoing assessment of substance abuse issues and refers to appropriate treatment programs as indicated
• Participates in periodic review of ongoing treatment of patients under the care of the MHICM team
• - Provides ongoing documentation of patient's progress using a behavioral framework using SOAP format where S-subjective input - O-behavioral observation - A-clinical assessment - P-collaborative plan
• - Help Veterans (1) adjust to current living situation - (2) explore areas of deficit in activities of daily living - (3) provide and/or arrange skill building educational activities (4) explore areas of psychosocial conflicts or trauma seeking resolution or psychological stability (maintenance) by using a \"Recovery Model\" based approach
• - Use supportive/facilitative techniques with Veterans and their stakeholders to help them better communicate with each other and - when necessary - help confront problem behaviors
• - Acts as a resource and liaison person to public and private providers and agencies to assure continuity of care and appropriate referrals for Veterans and their stakeholders as levels of care change
• - Conducts or assists in carrying out planned QA studies or research projects Provides case management services at VAMC and/or CBOC - (Community Based Outpatient Clinic) and the surrounding counties/communities
• The case manager is required to make multiple weekly visits to those enrolled in MHICM in their specific community
• Other duties as assigned
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00-4:30pm 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)