Social Worker (BHIP Care Coordination)
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Vancouver, WA, United States
Summary
This 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 a complete review of the EDRP application.
Qualifications
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 in candidacy status do not meet this requirement until the school is fully accredited. A doctoral degree in social work may not substitute for the master’s degree.
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 master’s 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. Current state requirements may be found at http://vaww.va.gov/OHRM/T38Hybrid/.
(1) Exception: 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. For the GS‑11 grade level and above, the candidate must be licensed or certified.
At the time of appointment, the supervisor will provide the unlicensed/uncertified social worker with written requirements for licensure or certification, including the deadline and consequences for not becoming licensed or certified.
(a) For appointments at the GS‑9 grade level, social workers who are not licensed or certified at the time of appointment must become licensed or certified at the independent master’s level within three years of their appointment.
Most states require two years of post‑MSW experience as a prerequisite to taking the licensure/certification exam, and VHA gives social workers one additional year to pass the exam.
In states such as California, Washington, and others where the prerequisites exceed two years, social workers must become licensed at the independent master’s level within one year of meeting the full state prerequisites.
(b) A social worker who does not yet have a license that allows independent practice must be supervised by a licensed independent practitioner of the same discipline who is a VA staff member and who has access to the electronic health record.
Physical Requirements:
See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 – Employee Occupational Health Services.
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:
In addition to the basic requirements, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.
Social Worker – GS‑9: Experience – Education – and Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements.
Social Worker – GS‑9: Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) include:
(a) Ability to utilize a veteran‑centric approach when providing interventions and counseling for veterans, their family members, caregivers, and survivors.
(b) Ability to assess psychosocial functioning and needs of veterans and their families and to formulate and implement a treatment plan.
(c) Ability to implement treatment modalities in working with individuals, families, and groups to achieve treatment goals.
(d) Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients, staff, and community agencies.
(e) Fundamental knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities, and treatment procedures, including acute, chronic, and traumatic illnesses, medications, side effects, and medical terminology.
Social Worker – GS‑11: Experience and Licensure. Appointment requires a minimum of one year of post‑MSW experience equivalent to the GS‑9 grade level in a health care or social work setting and licensure or certification at the independent practice level.
Social Worker – GS‑11: Education. A doctoral degree in social work may substitute for the required one year of professional experience in a clinical setting.
Social Worker – GS‑11: Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities include:
(a) Knowledge of community resources and ability to coordinate services.
(b) Skill in independently conducting psychosocial assessments and treatment interventions.
(c) Knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses and treatment procedures to formulate a treatment plan.
(d) Skill in independently implementing treatment modalities with individuals, families, and groups.
(e) Ability to provide consultation services to new social workers, graduate students, and staff about psychosocial needs.
Reference for more information on qualification standards: 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.
Duties
Provide mental health services to veterans enrolled in a BHIP location of the VA Portland Health Care System.
Offer service coordination, psychosocial assessment, counseling, advocacy, and linkage to other VA or community service providers as needed.
Collaborate with other members of the Mental Health Division and interdisciplinary treatment teams.
Serve as the primary same‑day access provider for the clinic and conduct rapid assessments and treatment planning.
Review safety concerns, especially harm to self or others, and follow appropriate protocols.
Conduct needs assessment and intervention planning to engage veterans in goal planning, evaluation, and intervention.
Use advanced techniques to treat veterans’ physical limitations, psychological needs, psychiatric conditions, and environmental needs.
Serve as subject matter expert on VA and community resources.
Collaborate with other service providers to reassess veterans’ needs.
Educate veterans and family members on available services and assist with referrals based on preferences.
Act as the Mental Health Treatment Coordinator for all veterans treated by the BHIP.
Monitor population‑based interventions and use metrics to enhance care.
Use metrics to facilitate daily team huddles regarding veterans scheduled for the day.
Work with veterans to develop and maintain treatment plans reviewed every six months.
Coordinate with specialty mental health to develop treatment plans and facilitate transfers between programs.
Develop crisis management plans and lead clinic staff during crises.
Facilitate safety planning and coordinate with other providers.
Engage individuals and families in discussions about mental health needs in individual and group formats.
Provide education on VA and community resources, entitlements, advance directives, and living wills, and refer veterans and family members to appropriate interdisciplinary team members.
Enter all veteran/family contacts into the electronic record using appropriate templates.
Maintain confidentiality and professionalism in information sharing with VA staff.
Review record entries regularly.
Establish positive working relationships with employees, volunteers, consumers, and stakeholders within the VA and outside community agencies.
Attend appropriate staff and committee meetings and perform other duties as required.
Participate in performance improvement processes and comply with VA performance measures.
Obtain feedback from clients and work to enhance services.
Provide orientation and coaching to new social workers and graduate students, and serve as field instructor for graduate students completing VHA field placements.
Work schedule: Monday‑Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive).
Contact: V20CompensationTeam@va.gov for questions or assistance.
Telework: Not Available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized. PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized.
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This 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 a complete review of the EDRP application.
Qualifications
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 in candidacy status do not meet this requirement until the school is fully accredited. A doctoral degree in social work may not substitute for the master’s degree.
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 master’s 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. Current state requirements may be found at http://vaww.va.gov/OHRM/T38Hybrid/.
(1) Exception: 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. For the GS‑11 grade level and above, the candidate must be licensed or certified.
At the time of appointment, the supervisor will provide the unlicensed/uncertified social worker with written requirements for licensure or certification, including the deadline and consequences for not becoming licensed or certified.
(a) For appointments at the GS‑9 grade level, social workers who are not licensed or certified at the time of appointment must become licensed or certified at the independent master’s level within three years of their appointment.
Most states require two years of post‑MSW experience as a prerequisite to taking the licensure/certification exam, and VHA gives social workers one additional year to pass the exam.
In states such as California, Washington, and others where the prerequisites exceed two years, social workers must become licensed at the independent master’s level within one year of meeting the full state prerequisites.
(b) A social worker who does not yet have a license that allows independent practice must be supervised by a licensed independent practitioner of the same discipline who is a VA staff member and who has access to the electronic health record.
Physical Requirements:
See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 – Employee Occupational Health Services.
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:
In addition to the basic requirements, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.
Social Worker – GS‑9: Experience – Education – and Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements.
Social Worker – GS‑9: Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) include:
(a) Ability to utilize a veteran‑centric approach when providing interventions and counseling for veterans, their family members, caregivers, and survivors.
(b) Ability to assess psychosocial functioning and needs of veterans and their families and to formulate and implement a treatment plan.
(c) Ability to implement treatment modalities in working with individuals, families, and groups to achieve treatment goals.
(d) Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients, staff, and community agencies.
(e) Fundamental knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities, and treatment procedures, including acute, chronic, and traumatic illnesses, medications, side effects, and medical terminology.
Social Worker – GS‑11: Experience and Licensure. Appointment requires a minimum of one year of post‑MSW experience equivalent to the GS‑9 grade level in a health care or social work setting and licensure or certification at the independent practice level.
Social Worker – GS‑11: Education. A doctoral degree in social work may substitute for the required one year of professional experience in a clinical setting.
Social Worker – GS‑11: Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities include:
(a) Knowledge of community resources and ability to coordinate services.
(b) Skill in independently conducting psychosocial assessments and treatment interventions.
(c) Knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses and treatment procedures to formulate a treatment plan.
(d) Skill in independently implementing treatment modalities with individuals, families, and groups.
(e) Ability to provide consultation services to new social workers, graduate students, and staff about psychosocial needs.
Reference for more information on qualification standards: 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.
Duties
Provide mental health services to veterans enrolled in a BHIP location of the VA Portland Health Care System.
Offer service coordination, psychosocial assessment, counseling, advocacy, and linkage to other VA or community service providers as needed.
Collaborate with other members of the Mental Health Division and interdisciplinary treatment teams.
Serve as the primary same‑day access provider for the clinic and conduct rapid assessments and treatment planning.
Review safety concerns, especially harm to self or others, and follow appropriate protocols.
Conduct needs assessment and intervention planning to engage veterans in goal planning, evaluation, and intervention.
Use advanced techniques to treat veterans’ physical limitations, psychological needs, psychiatric conditions, and environmental needs.
Serve as subject matter expert on VA and community resources.
Collaborate with other service providers to reassess veterans’ needs.
Educate veterans and family members on available services and assist with referrals based on preferences.
Act as the Mental Health Treatment Coordinator for all veterans treated by the BHIP.
Monitor population‑based interventions and use metrics to enhance care.
Use metrics to facilitate daily team huddles regarding veterans scheduled for the day.
Work with veterans to develop and maintain treatment plans reviewed every six months.
Coordinate with specialty mental health to develop treatment plans and facilitate transfers between programs.
Develop crisis management plans and lead clinic staff during crises.
Facilitate safety planning and coordinate with other providers.
Engage individuals and families in discussions about mental health needs in individual and group formats.
Provide education on VA and community resources, entitlements, advance directives, and living wills, and refer veterans and family members to appropriate interdisciplinary team members.
Enter all veteran/family contacts into the electronic record using appropriate templates.
Maintain confidentiality and professionalism in information sharing with VA staff.
Review record entries regularly.
Establish positive working relationships with employees, volunteers, consumers, and stakeholders within the VA and outside community agencies.
Attend appropriate staff and committee meetings and perform other duties as required.
Participate in performance improvement processes and comply with VA performance measures.
Obtain feedback from clients and work to enhance services.
Provide orientation and coaching to new social workers and graduate students, and serve as field instructor for graduate students completing VHA field placements.
Work schedule: Monday‑Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive).
Contact: V20CompensationTeam@va.gov for questions or assistance.
Telework: Not Available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized. PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized.
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