The Mental Health Intensive Case Management (MHICM) will be assigned to Brooklyn campus of New York Harbor VA Healthcare system. He/she will provide intensive case management services, continuous quality improvement activities, evaluation/consultation, psychosocial assessments, veteran groups, individual therapy, placement services, and referrals to various community agencies and hospital services for MHICM veterans. Travel will be required in the community in four boroughs of New York City. 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. NOTE: This applies to the past, current, and upcoming VA Health Professional Trainees (HPT) only. HPT is an individual appointed to temporary positions in one or more VHA medical facilities performing clinical or research training experiences to satisfy program or degree requirements or receiving VA Health Professional Scholarship Program. HPTs can be either VA-paid or Without Compensation (WOC) 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: Requires 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 the CSWE website to verify if that social work degree meets the accreditation standards for a Master of Social Work. Licensure: Must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level. Exception: VHA may waive the licensure or certification requirement for persons who are otherwise qualified, pending completion of state prerequisites for licensure/certification examinations. This exception only applies at the GS-9 grade level. English Language Proficiency: Must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). Grandfathering: 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). (1) All persons employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard (September 10, 2019) are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education and licensure or certification that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all of the basic requirements in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: (2) Such employees in an occupation that requires a licensure or certification, may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. (3) Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. (4) Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all of the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation. (5) If an employee who was retained in an occupation listed in 38 U.S.C. § 7401(3) under this provision leaves that occupation, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation. NOTE: If social workers covered under the grandfathering provision of the 1991 Federal law regarding licensure or certification of VHA social workers leave the GS0185 social work series, they lose the grandfathering protection. If they choose to return at a later date to the GS-0185 series, they must be licensed or certified to qualify for employment as a social worker. Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. Social Worker, GS-9: 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: (a) Ability to work with Veterans and family members from various socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other diversified backgrounds utilizing counseling skills. (b) 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. (c) 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. (d) Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients, staff, and representatives of community agencies. (e) 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. Social Worker, GS-11, 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. 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: (a) Knowledge of community resources, how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services, and ability to coordinate services. (b) 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. (c) 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. (d) 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. (e) 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, Appendix G39. Social Worker Qualification Standard GS-0185 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-9 to GS-11. Physical Requirements: See VHA Handbook 5019. ["The social worker independently performs duties and responsibilities by providing a high level of professional social work services to clients with a broad range of psychosocial and environmental problems. At this level, exercises mature professional judgment and the flexible use of a wide range of social work skills and techniques in working with clients on a regular basis having serious problems and presenting with complicated cases.\nServices provided by the social worker include direct practice (individual, group, family, couple and program development for target populations), multidisciplinary practice (treatment team, collaboration, consultation, work groups, and coordination), community practice (public relations, resource development, resource coordination), training (social work and multidisciplinary staff), research, and student supervision. The social worker utilizes a variety of theories and models, which are selected, integrated and adapted to the given client biopsychosocial situation. All practice is subject to varying kinds and amounts of supervision depending on workers needs and new or specialized assignments. Community outreach as needed or more according to the program requirements. The social worker may be assigned anywhere in the continuum of care throughout NYHHS.\nThe social worker is an experienced professional, cognizant of and conversant with a wide range of Social Work practice theories, terminology and models of intervention. The social worker will demonstrate the skills and knowledge necessary to provide care appropriate to the adult and geriatric patients served, including the ability to obtain and interpret information to identify patient needs and to provide the care needed.\nThe social worker is a highly skilled interviewer able to apply such skills relevantly and appropriately to given situations with client, groups and within the total system. Direct practice skills include consistency and independence in the effective integration of data gathering, assessment, ongoing assessment, planning, social work treatment (i.e., implementation of treatment plan), evaluation of treatment goals, follow-up, and program development.\nClinical recording, reports, statistical and other administrative reporting are in compliance with Community and Social Service and/or Medical Center or VHA time, format and content standards, The social worker assigned to program(s) for special needs populations such as the homeless, VIST, SCI, SMI, will gain knowledge through additional training that will provide skills, knowledge and resources required for the performance of duties within these special needs programs. Worker is actively engaged in own learning and training needs and is expected to be fully prepared for supervisory conferences and committee work. Active participation at staff meetings is expected, as well as in staff development activities as a participant and/or presenter.\nTaking an active role in collaboration through formal and informal conferences and/or team meetings with members of other disciplines is expected and is basic to the establishment of a sound understanding of the client, plan, and interaction. The social worker collaborates with other disciplines, as indicated, to evaluate, design, and implement programming that is consistently well-conceptualized, and provides the basis for carrying out optimal resolutions of biopsychosocial problems within available resources.\nThe social worker relates to the Medical Center staff and/or community agencies within the context of the professional role and responsibility. Supervision or teaching of other staff or graduate trainees attests to the competence, skill, and maturity of the social worker. In student supervisory activities, the social worker will confer with, and be consulted by, the Schools of Social Work (as defined in the training contract requirements) regarding the student's progress. Referrals or consultations with other professionals or agencies in the community, along with resource development and linkages, are central to the coordination of the continuum of services provided the population being serviced.\nThe social worker is expected to work with a wide range of client populations. The social worker is able to accommodate to changing demands in priorities and pressures, demonstrating awareness in identifying and reporting problems as they arise. Values and ethics of the Social Work profession as well as NYHHS and VHA Standards or Codes of Behavior are applied and upheld in worker's practice. Valid State Drivers License Required. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday 8:00 am to 4:30 pm\nTelework: Not Available\nVirtual: This is not a virtual position.\nFunctional Statement #:\nRelocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized\nPermanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required"]