Summary

The Social Worker functions in a multidisciplinary outpatient Mental Health clinic setting within the Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center in Milwaukee - WI. The patients for whom the incumbent regularly provides treatment services have a wide range of mental health care problems including acute and chronic psychiatric conditions - substance abuse disorders - homelessness - and other behavioral health problems.

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
• English 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
• Education: 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
• Note: A doctoral degree in social work may NOT be substituted for the master's degree in social work
• Licensure: You must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level
• Exception to Licensure: 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.** Grade Determinations: GS 9Knowledge - Skills and Abilities: In addition to meeting the basic requirements for this occupation - candidates must demonstrate all of the Following Knowledge - Skills and Abilities (KSAs) Ability to utilize a Veteran centric approach when providing interventions and counseling for Veterans - their family members - caregivers - and survivors
• 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 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 Examples of specialized experience include but are not limited to: Working under close supervision in program areas that do not require specialized knowledge or experience
• 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 community service providers/agencies when it serves the best interest of the patient and family members/caregiver
• assessing the psychosocial functioning and needs of patients and their family members identifying strengths - weaknesses - coping skills and psychosocial acuity - in collaboration with the patient - family - and interdisciplinary treatment teams
• maintaining a current network of internal and external resources to educate the patient and/or family members/caregivers and assist with the appropriate referrals
• -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
• 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 - 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
• 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: The work is primarily sedentary
• Physical demands do not exceed those of a typical office setting
• There may be some walking - standing - twisting - turning - sitting - pushing - bending - repetitive keyboarding - or carrying of light items.

Duties

• Major Functions of the Mental Health Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Social Worker Include but not limited to the following: Develops individualized treatment plans for assigned SUDS patient cases
• Initiates SUDS evidence-based treatment - documenting patient progress - amending treatment plans as response indicates need and in accordance with Medical Center policy and/or accrediting body standards
• Provides clinical case management services to assigned SUDS caseload - using extensive SUD clinical experience to guide care integration to a course most probable to produce stable SUD recovery
• Explains client's treatment and progress towards rehabilitation to third parties including contracted Methadone Maintenance program
• Provides recovery-oriented continuing care treatment services to assigned cases with the goal of establishing the Veteran in the SUD recovery process and ultimately engaging independently with community recovery supports
• Works effectively with patients who tend to have frequent and severe crises - lack family or an adequate community support network - be poor at self-monitoring - frequently fail to comply with instructions and treatment - or have significant deficits in coping skills and require continuing professional psychosocial support
• Performs case finding functions and outreach - identifying and screening patients for psychosocial needs
• Conducts psychosocial assessments
• Develops treatment plans in collaboration with the veteran/family and with the interdisciplinary treatment team especially related to mental health concerns
• Coordinates community-based services - including information and referral for additional services from other VA programs - other government programs and community agency programs
• Identifies high-risk patients and provides case management services
• Provides crisis intervention services Coordinates family conferences and serves as liaison to family members
• Works with patients and families who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric - medical and social problems utilizing individual - group and family counseling skills
• Facilitates referrals based upon veterans needs and eligibility based on General knowledge of veterans' benefits and services relating to special programs - service-connected compensation - non-service-connected pension appropriately
• Serves on medical center committees and work groups as needed to support the mission of the organization
• Guides initial and ongoing evaluations for veterans self-presenting or in response to consultation requests
• Makes recommendations for treatment or referral in cases where consequences for the veteran may have serious effects on current and future life circumstances
• Performs other duties as assigned VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Work Schedule: Full Time Monday - Friday 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Compressed/Flexible: May Be authorized based on needs of service and supervisor Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized 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: AD-HOC Based on Agency Policy and Supervisory Approval Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: GS 0185-09 Functional Statement # 08192F GS 0185-11 Functional Statement # 08193F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized **Please see Special Note for Applications in How to Apply Below for Resume Details**