Social Worker - Behavioral Health Integrated Program (BHIP)

SummaryThis position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval - award amount (up to $200 -000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.QualificationsBasic Requirements:United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA PolicyEnglish Language Proficiency: Social workers must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005 - Part II - chapter 3 - section A - paragraph 3j - this partEducation Requirement: 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 accreditedA doctoral degree in social work may not be substituted for the master's degree in social workVerification 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 workLicensure Requirement: LicensurePersons 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 levelCurrent 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: GS-11 (Full Performance Level): 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 levelOR 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 settingDemonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities: In addition to the experience above - the applicant's resume must demonstrate all of the following KSAsKnowledge of community resources - how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services - and ability to coordinate servicesSkill in independently conducting psychosocial assessments and treatment interventions to a wide variety of individuals from various socio-economic - educational - and other backgroundsKnowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses - disabilities and treatment procedures (i.eacute - chronic and traumatic illnesses/injuries - common medications and their effects/side effects - and medical terminology) to formulate a treatment planSkill 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 goalsAbility 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 treatmentAll qualifying experience you possess must be clearly described in your application packageWe will not make assumptions when reviewing applicationsFailure to demonstrate your experience in your resume may result in disqualificationIt is strongly recommended that you write to each KSA in your application packageReference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is the GS-11Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this positionQuestions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.DutiesThe Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary (BHIP) Social Worker provides psychosocial assessments and treatment to veterans needing interventions related to General Mental Health including case management - individual - couples - family - and group psychotherapyThe incumbent serves as a member of the Behavioral Health ProgramMajor duties include - but are not limited to the following: Clinical Functions: Incumbent is a professional social worker assigned to the Behavioral Health Outpatient Program and Social Work ServiceThe social worker independently will develop an assessment of the veteran in collaboration with the interdisciplinary treatment team - the veteran - family members and significant othersThe goal of the assessment is to highlight the veteran's strengths - limitations - and internal/external supports and service needs in order to optimize the veteran's functional status - formulate a diagnosis - and lay the foundation for the treatment plan - if necessaryThe incumbent demonstrates an understanding of the range of treatment and skills needed for general mental health services for all adult patientsThe incumbent must be able to identify services needed - refer to appropriate services - and function within a multi-disciplinary settingThey must be able to effectively communicate the needs of veterans to a multi-disciplinary teamMust be able to work with Veterans and family members from various socioeconomic - cultural - ethnic - educational - and other diversified backgrounds utilizing counseling skillsActively participates as a member of an interdisciplinary treatment team and actively participate through collaboration with Veterans and family as well as interdisciplinary treatment team members in the development and implementation of a treatment planImplements treatment modalities in working with individuals - families - and groups to achieve treatment goalsThis requires judgment and skill in utilizing supportive - problem solving - or crisis intervention techniques Serves as a liaison between Veterans and/or their families and VA and community resources to ensure thorough delivery of servicesPossesses knowledge and ability to independently implement treatment modalities - provide counseling and/or supportive groups for Veterans and families within the scope of their licensureProvides education to Veterans and their families regarding community resources - VA benefits - specialty programs and available health servicesThis includes the incumbents' knowledge of the process for accessing and/or coordinating community-based services - including information and referral for additional services from other VA programs - other government programs and community programsProvides emergency/crisis intervention services to Veterans experiencing acute psychological crisis - help to stabilize these individuals - assisting in arrangements for transfer to a psychiatric facility for inpatient care if necessary and providing follow up care as neededTotal Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentiveContact vhavisn23edrp@va.gov - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistanceLearn more Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increasesPaid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment - up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth - adoption - or foster care placement of a childChild Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment - full time employees with a total family income below $144 -000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Ad-hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual positionFunctional Statement #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized SLRP: This occupational series may be eligible for the Student Loan Repayment Program (SLRP)Repayment is limited to $40 -000 annually - up to $100 -000 in lifetime awardsParticipants must sign a service agreement and maintain an acceptable level of performance to remain eligible for this program.