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: Mental Health experience 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) ["Mental health social work is integrated with the facility so it is critical the incumbent be based at the Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) to provide administrative and clinical support for any Veteran walkins; 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: 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 assistance needed. 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 from various socio-economic, cultural, ethics, educational and other diversified backgrounds. 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, problem solving skills, or crisis intervention techniques and psychoeducation. Ability to independently provide counseling and/or psychotherapy services to individuals, groups, and families in accordance. Incumbent will utilize evidence based treatments such as, but not limited to: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Cognitive Processing Therapy, Acceptance & Commitment Therapy and Behavioral Family Therapy/Family Psychoeducation Training. Ability to provide consultative services to other staff about the psychosocial needs of patients 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. 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. Provides 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-processing, data management and other computer systems, especially those programs in use by VHA. Participate in hospital committees and workgroups as assigned. Work Schedule: M - F 8a - 430p Telework: Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 00171F, 00170F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]

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