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The incumbent Social Worker/Clinical Case Manager provides clinical case management and clinical services to a planned Interdisciplinary Pain Rehabilitation Program (IPRP) seeking CARF accreditation and other Pain Clinics. This position will provide services at both the Sousley and Troy Bowling campuses in the Lexington VAHCS. 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: Senior Social Worker, GS-12 Experience/Education. The candidate must have 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. Senior social workers 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. Licensure/Certification. Senior social workers must be licensed or certified by a state 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. 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. References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/120 PART II APPENDIX G39 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. ["Administrative Functions: The incumbent will utilize a patient-centered, biopsychosocial-consistent approach to case management, assistance with program navigation, customer service, and communication with patients and support persons, referring providers, and other stakeholders. All communication with patients must be charted in compliance with VA policy and CARF/JACHO standards. The incumbent: Is responsible for supporting the missions, policies, and procedures of the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), the appropriate Veterans Integrative Service Network (VISN), and the facility. Is willing to serve on committees, work groups, task forces at the facility as deemed appropriate by the Chief of Anesthesiology, the Pain Service, and the Interdisciplinary Pain Rehabilitation Program. Is mindful of keeping their supervisor apprised of problems and recommended solutions to problems encountered in the incumbent's area of responsibility. Is responsible for furthering one own's professional growth through continuing education. Specifically maintaining up to date knowledge of treatment for chronic pain (e.g., attendance to chronic pain SCAN/ECHO sessions or other pain training at least twice a year.) Is responsible for the administrative component of the Interdisciplinary Pain Rehabilitation Program Assisting with data collection, tracing, and analysis needed to support quality improvement activities in the IPRP. The contribution of the Clinical Case Manager is critical to ensuring that the program is meeting CARF standards both on a day to day and long-term basis. Is responsible for administrative activities of the Pain Clinic including the Interventional Pain Management Clinic, the Chronic Pain Management Clinic, and the Pain Buprenorphine Clinic. Is able to demonstrate knowledge and skill in the use of software applications for drafting documents and data management as well as other computer systems in use by the VHA. Specifically, proficiency in TEAMs, Excel, Word, Access (working knowledge only), Outlook (especially encryption function), and CPRS. Clinical Functions: Incumbent is a professional, independent social worker assign to the Lexington VAHCS Anesthesiology Department. The incumbent must use a high level of skill in assessing and treating complicated psychosocial problems of Veterans living with Chronic pain. Responsibilities include the assessment of psychosocial problems often at a time when the Veteran is experiencing crisis to include evidence-based suicide risk and safety planning/assessments/interventions as well as short term evidence based therapeutic interventions with the Veterans and/or their families. Training in pain-specific interventions is available. The incumbent: Must have a high level of skill and expertise to establish and maintain effective therapeutic relationships with Veterans and/or their families. The incumbent is able to independently work with Veterans and their families who are experiencing a wide range of complicated medical, psychiatric, emotional, behavioral, and psychosocial problems. Must possess a working knowledge and experience in use of medical and mental health diagnosis, disabilities, and treatment procedures, including acute, chronic, and traumatic illnesses, common medications, and their effects/side effects, and medical terminology. Must independently complete and review IPRP treatment questionnaires with patients. Must actively participate as a member of the interdisciplinary pain treatment team and actively collaborate with veterans, their family, referring providers, and the interdisciplinary treatment team members in implementation of treatment goals and interventions for the IPRP and pain clinic. Must work with veterans when questions, concerns, or grievances arise. Grievances in the IPRP are documented as required by CARF standards. Must facilitate referral to other specialties as indicated by veteran's treatment plan and schedule for the IPRP if indicated. Must address risk issues that arise with patients in the Pain Clinic (e.g., Suicide Risk assessments according to the most current National Suicide Prevention guidelines, completion of notification to Child or Adult Protective Services if needed.) Must provide individual and/or group educational sessions to address patients' and program's goals. Must provide group or individual psychotherapy (supportive therapy, couples therapy, CBT-CP, ACT, mindfulness, etc.) that is in line with the program's treatment philosophy and training. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm Telework: Not Available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 30200F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]

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