Summary

The Clinical Social worker provides Mental Health and Primary Care services to the veteran population enrolled at Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center - and Allentown Community-Based Outpatient Clinic Services including provision of case management - individual and group therapy - clinical treatment - crisis intervention - advocacy - discharge planning and coordination of linkages to other appropriate VA or community service providers/agencies - as needed by the client.

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
• 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
• 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 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 - 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 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
• References: VA Handbook 5005 - Part II - Appendix G-39The 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-11
• Physical Requirements: The work requires sitting - bending - stooping and walking consistent with the delivery of services in the office - hospital and community
• The position may entail lifting of no more than 25 pounds on an occasional basis
• Whenever possible - carts and dollies will be utilized as an alternative to lifting
• In carrying out responsibilities - operation of a motor vehicle with a valid driver's license is required
• The social worker must meet the requirements to use a government vehicle in accordance with VHA directive 2008-020
• It will be necessary for the social worker to travel throughout the Wilkes-Barre VAMC catchment area where they conduct interviews with Veterans - family members - representatives of community health - welfare and law enforcement agencies.

Duties

• VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU Implements measures to assess effectiveness of existing and proposed treatment programs and modalities - to ensure that the highest standards are met
• Administratively responsible for the STAR/SARRTP program operations
• Develops policies and procedures for program operations - and prepare reports and statistics for the facility - VISN - and national use
• Provides leadership - direction - orientation - coaching - in-service training - staff development - and continuing education to staff and student interns
• Tracks service activities including sessions - referrals - patient demographics - equipment utilization and SUD patient satisfaction
• Coordinates SARRTP admissions and aftercare for the 10 bed RRTP and the SUD outpatient program
• Provides administration with briefings of critical incidents
• Completes all patient safety reporting requirements are completed in a timely fashion
• -Coordinates VA Inter-Facility and CITC SUD admissions
• Advising and collaborating with interdisciplinary teams throughout the medical center on all SUD related issues
• Provides analysis and evaluation of SUD clinical program data and computerized programs to identify system-wide trends and needs to enhance the quality of service
• Oversee program operations - program evaluation - identifying areas for improvement - gathering relevant data - assessing the data - developing and implementing ideas for improvement and evaluating efficacy of improvement efforts
• Collaborates with members of the Mental Health/Behavioral Medicine (MH/BM) Service within STAR/SARRTP - and with in-patient and/or out-patient clinicians/departments to ensure continuity of care and services
• Is familiar with community support groups to ensure that the Veteran receives the support to successfully recover
• Provides outreach services to community as needed
• Work as a liaison between the VA and community agencies
• Actively participates in VA sponsored trainings and education on issues impacting substance abuse and co-occurring disorders - sharing that knowledge through trainings when requested by the Social Work and MH/BM leadership
• Plays an active role in working with recovering veterans to coordinate a viable and successful program of treatment
• Assures STAR and SARRTP programs are in compliance with all Joint Commission (JACHO) and CARF standards
• Performs work related to the review - monitoring - analysis - planning - and assessment of various programs
• This includes assuring compliance with all performance measures and implementing required action plans
• Participates in treatment planning - bed management - making recommendations to ensure a beneficial outcome to veteran recovery
• Provides individual - group - and/or family sessions in accordance with scope of practice clinical directive
• Completes and/or addresses MH Performance Measures/Reminders
• These may include - but are not limited to Substance Abuse Disorder (SUD) Continuity - Waiting Times - Access - Depression - Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) - tobacco counseling - and Patient Satisfaction Surveys as appropriate to assigned
• Complies with agreed-upon minimum standards for documentation when writing/recording in medical records
• This includes - but is not limited to assessments - treatment plans - transfer progress notes - discharge summaries - and performance measures/reminders as assigned
• Assumes Field Instructor responsibilities for Associated Health Trainee Students placed in the STAR or SARRTP programs
• Reports immediately - or as soon as practicable to the Suicide Prevention Coordinators (SPCs) - information --received regarding completed suicides and/or suicide attempts
• Performs other related duties as assigned
• Work Schedule: 8:00am to 4:30pm - Monday thru Friday Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• EDRP: Not Authorized Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized