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The Mental Health Social Worker provides evidenced-based care to treat a wide variety of DSM-5 diagnoses. Incumbent provides problem-focused, solution oriented, and patient-centered treatment of PTSD, depression, insomnia, anxiety, other chronic mental illness and psychosocial stressors, among others. 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. This is an open continuous posting and may close before the listed closing date. A certificate will be issued every 15 days until a selection is made. 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: Candidates must 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: Individuals assigned as a social worker program coordinator must be licensed or certified at the advanced practice level, and must be able to provide supervision for licensure. 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). GS-09 Grade Determinations For the GS-09 Experience, Education, and Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience and education above, candidates must demonstrate all of the following Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities (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 Grade Determinations: One year of experience equivalent to the GS-09: Experience may include but are not limited to: identifying behaviors or symptoms of abuse, neglect or exploitation; providing education on advance directives and advanced care planning; providing social work case management; acting as an advocate with appropriate Veterans Affairs (VA) and community service providers/agencies when it serves the best interest of the Veteran and family members/caregiver; assessing the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and their family members identifying the Veteran's strengths, weaknesses, coping skills and psychosocial acuity, in collaboration with the Veteran, family, and interdisciplinary treatment teams; maintaining a current network of internal and external resources to educate the Veteran and/or family members/caregivers and assist with the appropriate referrals. 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 and education above, candidates must demonstrate all of the following Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities (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. Preferred Experience: Experience working with an interdisciplinary team Experience providing care treatment to persons with mental health diagnoses Experience managing crisis situations References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, G39, September 10, 2019 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-09 to GS-11. Physical Requirements: Light lifting, under 15 pounds; Light carrying, under 15 pounds; Hearing (aid may be permitted); Operation of crane, truck, tractor, or motor vehicle; Near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; Both eyes required; 20/40 in each eye with or without correction; Hearing (aid may be permitted) ["Mental Health Social Work is integrated with the facility so it is critical the incumbent be based at the facility to provide administrative and clinical support for any Veteran walk-ins; assistance and education to other staff and providers, to interface and collaborate with other programs and services; and to best support the agency's mission by supporting timely, in person response to needs of those at or presenting to the facility. Duties include below are at the full performance level of the position, but are not limited to: Knowledge of community resources, how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services, and ability to coordinate services. 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, and goals of therapy. Ability to demonstrate involvement of the patient/family in developing and implementing treatment/discharge plans that are realistic, achievable, and understandable through documentation and clinical practice. Ability to independently complete psychosocial assessments and provide psychosocial treatment to a wide variety of individuals with mental health diagnoses from various socioeconomic, cultural, ethics, educational and other diversified backgrounds. Knowledge of human development and behavior (physical and psychological) and the differential influences of the environment, society, and culture. Establishes and maintains effective therapeutic relationships with veterans and their families. Incumbent is able to independently work with patients and families who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric, medical, and social problems. This requires independent judgment and skill in utilizing supportive therapy, problems solving skills, crisis intervention techniques and psychoeducation. experiencing a variety of psychiatric, medical, and social problems. This requires independent judgment and skill in utilizing supportive therapy, problems solving skills, crisis intervention techniques and psychoeducation. Ability to independently provide counseling and/or psychotherapy services to individuals, groups, and families. Incumbent will utilize evidenced based treatments including, but not limited to, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Cognitive Processing Therapy, Acceptance & Commitment Therapy and Behavioral Family Therapy/Family Psychoeducation Training. Knowledge and experience in the use of DSM 5 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. Knowledge and skill in the use of mental health screening tools such as Beck Depression Inventory, Beck Anxiety Inventory, Beck Hopelessness Scale, Beck Scale for Suicide Intervention and PTSD Checklist. Able to implement Safety Plans with individuals at high risk for harm to self. Ability to provide consultation services to other staff about the psychosocial needs of patients with mental illness, specifically PTSD, and the impact of psychosocial problems on health care and compliance with treatment. Acts as an integral member of the interdisciplinary treatment team. Establishes and maintains effective therapeutic relationships with colleagues to ensure full understanding of psychosocial factors affecting patients. Provides staff education on issues related to social work as needed. Ability to provide training for new social work staff and MSW students. Ability to independently evaluate his/her own practice through participation in professional peer review and other organized means. Knowledge and skill in the use of computer applications for drafting documents, data managements, and tracking, especially those programs in use by VHA. Knowledge of veterans' benefits and services relating to special programs, service connected compensation, non-service connected pension. Facilitates referrals based upon veterans 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. Incumbent is able to provide the customer with consistent information according to established policies and procedures. May be required to work irregular tour of duty. Participate in hospital committees and workgroups as assigned. Work Schedule: M - F 8a - 430p Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 00038F, 00037F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]

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