Summary

The Social Worker in Integrated Care (IC) works at the interface between primary care (PC) and/or specialty medicine (SM) in an integrated care model. The position is assigned to the Mental Health Service and requires extensive work with Veterans diagnosed with medical conditions - mental illness - and substance use disorders (SUD). This position also requires advanced training in the management of crisis situations.

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.

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: 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
• English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f)
• Grade Determinations: 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-9grade 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: 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 within 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
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11
• Physical Requirements: Work is primarily performed in an office setting at the Dayton VA Medical Center
• Work is mostly sedentary
• however - the incumbent must follow appropriate safety procedures as there will be some periods of walking and may involve light lifting - turning - or moving hands - arms - feet - and legs to operate hand and foot controls
• The position requires the use of office equipment such as computers - keyboards - telephones - fax machines - and photocopy machines
• Visual acuity - keen hearing - clear distinctive speech - and manual dexterity are required
• The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium - dementia - or psychiatric disorders
• The incumbent must be a mature - flexible - sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations and able to shift priorities based on patient needs
• May be exposed to infected patients and/or contaminated materials and will be required to take appropriate safety and protective measures.

Duties

• VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU VA Careers - Licensed Clinical Social Worker: https://youtube.com/embed/U_xC25QsN0w Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Duties include - but are not limited - to: Clinical Functions Routinely provides curbside consultations with PC and/or SM providers and other members of the medical treatment team about plan of care for patients and provides feedback in a timely manner
• Completes functional assessments based on 20-30-minute appointments to determine how the presenting problem is impacting the patient's functioning - what level of care is appropriate - what services the patient agreeable to - and teaching a new skill or strategy with which the Veteran can leave the clinic
• Triage appropriately and efficiently to specialty mental health services
• Applies principles of population-based care (defines role and identifies problems rapidly) - most of encounters 20-30 minutes
• Routine brief measurement based care (e.g. - PHQ-9 - GAD-7 - ISI - etc.)
• Available for same-day warm-handoffs of PC and/or SM patients
• Brief behavioral health interventions (e.g. - 1-6 sessions for chronic - grief - adjustment disorder - depression - anxiety) that are problem-focused and solution oriented
• Administrative Functions Adheres to - supports - and contributes to the development of operational policies and procedures of the PC and/or SM clinics - IC - MHS and the Medical Center
• Executes ongoing program evaluation and data-driven quality improvement of IC to monitor the effectiveness - which is reported to the Integrated Care Program Manager
• Facilitates liaisons with other health care providers and/or programs to effectively coordinate services
• Is aware of - monitors - and complies with national and local guidelines and performance measures - including timely health care screening and completion of clinical reminders for all patients
• Contributes to interdisciplinary care planning conferences and team huddles/meetings
• Serves on committees - work groups - and task forces at the facility - VISN - and/or VA Central Office levels
• Work Schedule: Monday through Friday 8am to 4:30pm Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases
• When setting pay - a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade)
• Paid 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)
• Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on prior [work experience] or military service experience
• 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 child
• Child 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 $416.66
• Retirement: 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: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 93230-0 and 93231-0