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The Senior Social Worker has experience of advance practice skills and judgment, at least two years of which should be in an area of specialized social work practice and will be assigned to the Intensive Community Mental Health Recovery Services (ICMHR) program, the program formerly known as Mental Health Intensive Case Management (MHICM). The program serves Veterans with serious mental illness who are high-utilizers of emergency mental health services and/or frequently in mental health crisis.
Learn more about this agency08/03/2020 to 08/17/2020
$84,045 - $109,264 per year
GS 12
No
Not required
No
Permanent
Full-Time
Excepted
None
No
No
CBSV-10876417-20-JAS
574778800
U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.
Current or former competitive service federal employees.
Current excepted service federal employees.
Current federal employees of this agency.
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS OPEN TO CURRENT PERMANENT FEDERAL EMPLOYEES AND THE PUBLIC. Area of Consideration is as follows: 1. Current Permanent Facility Employees 2. Current Permanent VA Employees 3. Other Permanent Federal Employees 4. Public
The major duties and responsibilities of the Senior Social Worker are as follows:
- Provide a full range of services within the Social Work Scope of Practice based on Veteran needs, acuity level, and preferences for care. Services may include, but are not limited to, the following: case management; individual, family, and group therapy; discharge planning; resource linkage; and care coordination.
- Provide consultation and psychoeducation to Veterans and Veteran families on topics including community resources, Advance Directives, VA benefits, budgeting, activities of daily living, and recovery goals.
- Act as a consultant to other team/staff members and take a lead clinical role in case consultation.
- Fulfill ethical responsibilities to Veterans, colleagues and VA in accordance with NASW Code of Ethics, VHA Code of Ethics, and local ethics policies. This includes but is not limited to: compliance with all laws and regulations related to confidentiality and release of information; protecting Veterans' personal identifying information.
- Document all Veteran care in the electronic health record in accordance with facility policy, VHA Directive 1162.05 (and revisions), and program-specific SOPs.
- Ensure compliance with standards and expectations of Joint Commission, CARF, and other relevant accrediting bodies.
Assist program leadership in accreditation preparation and continuous readiness activities as requested.
Actively participate in program planning and development, advising the supervisor of shifting Veteran care needs and identifying the need for SOP or policy changes.
- Provide supervision to students, interns, or unlicensed Social Workers as requested.
- Maintain familiarity and responsibility for all behavioral health performance measures. Assist in development and maintenance of operational plans and strategic goals related to these measures.
- Responsible for participation and leadership in process improvement, system redesign, and/or other applicable workgroups and committees, to include creation of standard work documents or strategic plan implementation.
- Take responsibility for improving professional competencies by participating training programs and continuing education. Maintain accurate records of trainings in accordance with VA policies and state licensure requirements. Evaluate own practice through professional peer review, case conferences, and other means.
- Complete all mandatory VA trainings in a timely manner.
- Provide training, education, and consultation to trainees, VA staff, and community partners as a subject matter expert in specialized practice area(s).
The Senior Social Worker may also be assigned to do the following:
- Provides specialized assessment and treatment (individual therapy, case management, and psychoeducation) for mental health conditions. Consults with other disciplines and clinics regarding mental health, addiction, and medical services;
- Involvement in program evaluation to identify and address barriers to program enrollment/engagement, rapid access, treatment outcomes, and satisfaction with services as assigned;
- Formally supervise trainees & unlicensed staff in the provision of mental health assessment, treatment, and stabilization;
- Serve as a consultant and subject-matter expert to clinical staff;
- Actively participate in facility committees relevant to mental health care.
- Perform other related duties as assigned.
The Senior Social Worker is administratively and professionally responsible to the Supervisor, the Section Director, and ultimately the Associate Chief of Staff, Mental Health Service. The employee is expected to make independent decisions and requires minimal supervision. The employee is responsible for planning and organizing the work, coordinating with staff and management personnel, and reviewing all phases of the continuing care for this population. His/her work is reviewed for technical adequacy and conformance with procedures and practices applicable to facility level and national policy.
Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00 am to 4:30 pm
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required
IMPORTANT: An Official transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.
Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.
Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.
This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.
This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.
VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.
Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.
If you are unable to apply online view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, résumé, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the full questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 08/17/2020 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/10876417.
Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. After we receive application packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applications to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met. After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will be notified of their status by email. Referred applicants will be notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notification once a selection decision has been made.
You may check the status of your application at any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applications. Information regarding your application status can be found in the USAJobs Help Center.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/574778800. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.
Learn more about
OUR MISSION: To fulfill President Lincoln's promise - "To care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow, and his orphan" - by serving and honoring the men and women who are America's Veterans. How would you like to become a part of a team providing compassionate care to Veterans?
The Puget Sound VA Health Care System is one of two tertiary facilities within VISN 20. VAPSHCS provides inpatient and outpatient services for Veterans from: Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington. The Hospital and Specialty Medicine service line has 605 employees and provides services for 18 sub-specialties: Cardiology, Dermatology, Pulmonary, GI, Nephrology, Oncology, Hematology, Marrow Transplant Unit, Radiation Oncology, Endocrinology, Infectious Disease, Neurology, and Arthritis; Emergency Department; three outpatient clinics, an inpatient Hospitalist/Nocturnist program, Occupational Health and Tele-Dermatology; two very active transplant programs, and a Bone Marrow transplant program.
The VA has adopted Core Values and Characteristics that apply universally across the Department. The five Core Values define "who we are," our culture, and how we care for Veterans, their families and other beneficiaries.
The Values are Integrity, Commitment, Advocacy, Respect and Excellence ("I CARE").
