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The Veterans Affairs Salt Lake City Health Care System (VASLCHCS) is a Level 1A complexity healthcare network providing medical, surgical, neurological, and psychiatric care with a full range inpatient and outpatient health care services. 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: Candidates 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. 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. English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). GS-12 Grade Determinations Experience/Education: The candidate must have at least two years of experience post advanced practice clinical licensure and should be in a specialized area of social work practice of which, one year must be equivalent to the GS-11 grade level. Senior social workers have experience that demonstrates possession of advanced practice skills and judgment. Senior social workers are experts in their specialized area of practice. Senior social workers may have certification or other post-masters training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university that includes a defined curriculum/course of study and internship or equivalent supervised professional experience in a specialty. Licensure/Certification: Senior social workers must be licensed or certified by a state at the advanced practice level which included an advanced generalist or clinical examination. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Skill in a range of specialized interventions and treatment modalities used in specialty treatment programs or with special patient populations. This includes individual, group, and/or family counseling or psychotherapy and advanced level psychosocial and/or case management. Ability to incorporate complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice. Knowledge in developing and implementing methods for measuring effectiveness of social work practice and services in the specialty area, utilizing outcome evaluations to improve treatment services and to design system changes. Ability to provide specialized consultation to colleagues and students on the psychosocial treatment of patients in the service delivery area, as well as role modeling effective social work practice skills. Ability to expand clinical knowledge in the social work profession, and to write policies, procedures, and/or practice guidelines pertaining to the service delivery area. Preferred Experience: Equivalent of two years full-time experience providing mental health crisis evaluations in an Emergency Department. References: VA Handbook 5005/120 Part II Appendix G39 Physical Requirements: Must be in overall good health, able to sit at a desk working at a computer, engage in light to moderate physical activity including sitting, walking, bending, and carrying supplies. Social Worker must be able to perform primarily light and sedentary duties with occasionally moderate physical demands, exercise patience, and control emotions, with reasonable accommodation if necessary, without endangering the health and safety of the Social Worker or others. Position requires walking throughout the clinic and/or Medical Center, standing for extended periods of time, and involves sitting at a computer and in counsel and consultation with Veterans and interdisciplinary teams. Position may require minimal travel, through use of a government vehicle or other individual arrangements, to meet with representatives/stakeholders who provide assistance and support to Veterans in clinics, medical centers, Community Clinics, Vet Centers, etc. This position also requires close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; extensive reading; and repetitive motions of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers. ["Crisis Services: In the Emergency Department (ED)\na. Applies advanced professional social work knowledge and evidence-based intervention strategies to a full range of complex psychosocial needs in the ED, including psychiatric emergencies, substance abuse treatment, homelessness, abuse, and geriatric psychiatric emergencies.\nb. Demonstrates advance practice skills and clinical judgement in acute psychiatric emergencies.\nc. Determines suicide and homicide risk utilizing current evidence-based research tools.\nd. Provides clinical recommendations to ED physicians regarding appropriateness of psychiatric admissions, prioritizing patient safety, and balancing emergent situations arising simultaneously.\ne. Evaluates options to mitigate potential safety concerns which may include calling police for assistance, providing crisis intervention, mediating conflicts, and/or making referrals to ensure a safe outcome.\nf. Facilitates admissions (both voluntary and involuntary) to the Inpatient Psychiatric Unit (IPU) and/or collaborates with community facilities for psychiatric resources, to include admission.\ng. Facilitates transfer and/or discharge from ED with appropriate continuity of care.\nh. Makes appropriate referrals, as indicated, to reporting agencies such as Department of Family Services, Adult Protective Services, police, etc. Provides consultation to colleagues regarding emergent/urgent situations.\ni. Documents clinical interactions through electronic charting, or supervisor approved alternative means, to ensure quality control and completion of performance measures.\nCrisis Services: In Outpatient Mental Health (OPMH)\na. Acts as an expert consultant in clinical practice and/or in area(s) related to practice role responsibilities. Incorporates principles of communication and group process.\nb. Responds to MH crisis situations throughout the SLC VAMC campus, coordinating with VA police, administrative and clinical staff.\nc. Provides evaluations via telephone for MH crisis patients. Coordinates with non-VA police and/or non-VA crisis teams to develop and implement treatment plans to ensure safety.\nd. Provides urgent clinical consultation to Psychiatrists, Psychologists, Social Workers, Advance Practice Nurses, and other clinicians (both within VA and outside VA) regarding suicide/homicide risk, high acuity psychiatric symptoms, and emergency psychiatric intervention. Provides consultation regarding local laws and procedures for involuntary psychiatric commitment.\ne. Provides coverage for Employee Assistance Program during non-business hours, for crisis intervention to employees in acute mental health crisis.\nf. Provides education and/or teaching to veterans, families, staff, and community agencies, as indicated.\ng. Practices culturally appropriate care. Recognizes and respects patients and veteran's, values, beliefs, and cultural backgrounds in a non-judgmental, non-discriminatory manner.\nh. Identifies and addresses ethical issues that impact patients and staff. Analyzes ethical issues and appropriate theoretical principles, ensures application of institutional policy, and serves as a resource/advocate for the protection of patient and family rights.\nBed Management\na. Monitors bed status on VA Inpatient Psychiatric Unit (IPU) with collaboration of a Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) and facilitates transfer of patients from community hospitals to VA, ensuring appropriate use of IPU beds in a fiscally responsible manner.\nb. Screens admissions for SLC VAMC IPU for appropriateness for transfer. Coordinates with non-VA Emergency Departments throughout catchment area to arrange transfer or ensure veteran receives most appropriate alternative services.\nc. Initiates and receives communication from VISN Community Care department to ensure Veterans are transferred to SLC VAMC whenever appropriate.\nd. Leads and organizes delivery of care to assure continuity of care and peer accountability for practice, including access to care and discharge planning.\ne. Functions as liaison with other non-VA psychiatric hospitals and VA MH Triage Nurse to ensure outpatient post-discharge follow-up for patients from community IPU hospitals.\nAll other duty's as assigned. Work Schedule: Will be required to work evenings, weekends, and occasional overnight shifts in support of program/agency needs. Tour of duty to be discussed with supervisor.\nCompressed/Flexible: dependent upon program and agency needs\nVirtual: This is not a virtual position.\nFunctional Statement #:53237-O\nRelocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required"]