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The social work case manage provides mental health services to Veterans enrolled at the Louis A Johnson VA Medical Center Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program(MH RRTP). 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. 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: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. GS-9-Entry Level: 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: Ability to work with Veterans and family members from various socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other diversified backgrounds utilizing counseling skills. 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. 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. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients, staff, and representatives of community agencies. 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. GS-11 - Full Performance Level; Experience, Education, 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 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: Knowledge of community resources, how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services, and ability to coordinate services. 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. 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. 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. 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. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. Physical Requirements: Performing activities involving sitting, walking standing, bending, and carrying such items as books, papers, files, and assisting with moving Veteran's personal items. The work performed will be within the medical center. The environment involves everyday risks and discomforts which require normal safety precautions typical of offices, patient rooms, and in general, the medical center. It also involves normal risks associated with a medical center, including exposure to contagious diseases and disturbed patients. ["VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU The social work case manager provides mental health services to Veterans enrolled at the Louis A Johnson VA Medical Center Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program(MH RRTP). Possesses knowledge of highly complex mental health problems, psychosocial interventions and methods of treatment modalities including Evidence Base Treatments(EBT). Services also include provisions of high quality case management, advocacy, and coordination of linkages to other appropriate VA and community providers and/or agencies needed by the client. The social worker will be licensed at the graduate level and have experience in the mental health field. The social worker will have 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, and develop innovations in practice interventions.. Functions Independently performs case finding functions, identifying and screening patients for psychosocial needs. This social worker must possess the knowledge and ability to independently implement treatment modalities for the residents in the substance abuse track , PTSD track and the Psychosocial track for MH RRTP. Independently, conducts treatment plans in collaboration with the veteran/family and the interdisciplinary treatment team. The incumbent demonstrates an understanding of treatment and skills needed for all adult patients including geriatric patients related to their psychological needs and age associated illnesses and conditions. The social worker possesses the skills to offer psychosocial interventions and measures outcomes to interventions. The social worker is able to coordinate community-based services, including information and referral for additional services from other VA programs, other government and community agency programs. Independently identifies high-risk patients and provides weekly case management services for the three tracks in the MH RRTP. This social worker provides crisis intervention services, seeking to address the cause as well as the presenting complaint, coordinates family conferences and serves as liaison to family members. She/he possesses a general understanding of medication effects/sides effects, and medical terminology. Establishes and maintain effective therapeutic relationships with veterans and their families. This social worker is able to independently work with patients and families who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric, medical and social problems utilizing individual, group, and family counseling and psychotherapy skills. 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 the treatment plan. Ability to evaluate one's own practice through professional peer review, case conferences and other organizational means. This social worker is able to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with people from varied backgrounds. General knowledge of veterans' benefits and services relating to special programs, service connected compensation, non-service connected pension. Facilitates referrals based upon veteran needs and eligibility. Able to meet the needs of customers while supporting VA missions. Consistently communicates and treats customers (veterans, their representatives, visitors, and all VA staff) in a courteous, tactful, and respectful manner. This social worker is able to provide the customer with consistent information according to established policies and procedures. Handles conflict and problems in dealing with the consumer constructively and appropriately. Has working knowledge and skill in the use of word-progressing, data management and other computer systems, especially those programs in use by VHA. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am to 4:30pm. Telework: Not Available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required."]

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