Summary

The Emergency Department (ED) Psychiatric Social Worker (SW) serves as a member of Psychiatry/Mental Health Service at the Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center - assigned to the ED to cover non-administrative duty hours (evenings - weekends - and holiday) - and they are responsible for the triage - and behavioral health evaluation of patients presenting to the ED with psychiatric complaints - and/or with concerns of safety from psychosis - suicidality - or homicidal ideation.

Qualifications

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
• Licensure
• Persons 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 level
• Indiana requires Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) 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 Determination: Social Worker - 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 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 - educational - and other 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 - 8 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 Full Performance Level Assignments: This is the full performance level
• Social workers at this level are licensed or certified to independently practice social work
• Incumbents are assigned to all program areas - including but not limited to: inpatient or outpatient medicine - surgery - mental health - neurology - rehabilitation medicine - and geriatrics
• Employees provide professional - independent social work services in the assigned area
• Preferred Experience: Incumbent must have experience conducting individual psychotherapy with adults
• 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: The physical demands of the position involve standard office requirements such as using the telephone - retrieving files - writing reports - data entry and maintenance of computer databases - etc
• Work is typically performed sitting at a desk and using a computer.

Duties

• Screening/Assessment - Through collaborative relationships with Emergency Department (ED) physicians and staff - and Psychiatry staff - the ED Social Worker will be primarily responsible for evaluation of Veteran's with psychiatric symptoms - or safety concerns in the ED - via the Psychiatry Triage evaluation and - when clinically indicated per policy - the Comprehensive Suicide Risk Evaluation (CSRE)
• These evaluations will be thorough and demonstrate a consideration of patient's acute mental health and psychosocial needs - as evidenced by the gathering and documentation of an appropriate history (as outlined above)
• It will be expected that in cases indicating need for contacting collateral informants that this will be completed in keeping with HIPAA guidelines - and that they will be available to advise the ED staff on recommendations from a therapeutic perspective (within the Social Work Scope of Practice) that may facilitate safe care and evaluation
• Treatment Planning/Goal Setting - Based on evaluation and staffing - the ED Social Worker determines realistic goals with the Veteran - including such factors as: The appropriate type of intervention and/or level of care The setting conducive to providing such intervention or care The need for caregiver support to allow for the least restrictive level of care Transportation options/barriers The steps to obtaining resources (VA or community) that make the achievement of goals possible
• The development of a Suicide Prevention Safety Plan as appropriate to the clinical case
• The ED Social Worker provides treatment utilizing appropriate social work intervention modalities for psychosocial problems that may be affecting the Veteran's medical/psychiatric condition
• and provides supportive - strengths-based therapy - as indicated to Veterans and/or families experiencing stress - in response to crisis situations
• Referral to service providers - To facilitate the continuity of a Veteran's care - the ED Social Worker will collaborate with other interdisciplinary team providers in assessing the Veteran's needs and educate the Veteran and/or caregiver about the available services and their shared responsibility in accessing such services
• He/she will also facilitate follow-up appointments with outpatient services - or getting patients evaluated for admission from the ED
• Resource Usage/Development - As a subject matter expert on the services and resources available to Veterans through both VA and the community - the ED Social Worker will monitor for appropriate follow-up - by communicating with outpatient providers - working with the Suicide Prevention Team - Consultation Liaison Psychiatrist - Mental Health Clinic access - or Psychiatric outpatient providers (if the patient is in active treatment) to facilitate follow-up - and avoiding gaps in care provided
• The ED Social Worker will communicate with appropriate stakeholders (e.g. - Psychiatry Service Leadership - the Chief of Social Work Service - the Social Work Practice Council - other VA programs - community partners) to encourage the development of new and innovative resources
• and monitor the effectiveness of Mental Health services provided through the ED - recommending new or modified services as needed
• Advocacy - The ED Social Worker will advocate for Veterans to ensure that they have access to all needed care and resources within VA and in the community
• Crisis Intervention - The ED Social Worker will be expected to be adept in the intervention and evaluation of psychiatric crises arising in presenting Veterans in the ED or outpatient setting - within the scope of social work practice - to include completing the Comprehensive Suicide Risk Evaluation (CSRE) - when clinically indicated - and participate in developing Suicide Prevention Safety Plans intended to maximize patients' autonomy and management of future crises
• Education/Health promotion and prevention - The ED Social Worker will provide education about VA and community resources - VA benefits - and available services within the VA system
• Supportive counseling - The ED Social Worker will provide the Veteran and his or her family/caregivers when indicated (in the course of evaluations or crisis interventions) with brief - time-limited - supportive counseling
• Non-patient care responsibilities - The ED Social Worker will enter all Veteran/family contacts in the electronic medical record using appropriate formats and templates
• This information will be entered in a complete - confidential - timely and professional manner to promote relevant and effective communication with other VA employees about the Veteran's care.