The incumbent serves in a multidisciplinary Outpatient Mental Health Program within the Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center and North Eastern Wisconsin Ambulatory Clinics (NEWAC). The duty station is located at the John H. Bradley VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic in Appleton, WI. 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. A doctoral degree in social work may not be substituted for the master's degree in social work. (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED) Licensure: Must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level. (COPY OF LICENSE REQUIRED) GS-11 Level: In addition to the basic requirements, you must have a minimum of one year of post-MSW degree experience in the field of health care social workor other social work-related settings (VA or non-VA experience). OR 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. (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED) AND Candidates must demonstrate all of the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: 1) Knowledge of community resources, how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services, and ability to coordinate services. 2) 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. 3) 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. 4) 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. 5) 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 5005/120 Part II Appendix G39 Social Worker Qualification Standard The full performance level of this vacancy is 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. ["The social worker in this role serves as a member of the Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Team (BHIP) and provides a full range of social work treatment modalities emphasizing psychotherapy directly to individuals, families, and groups in an outpatient mental health treatment setting. The social worker in this role-also provides consultation to other departments and to the community; education to Veterans, families, and staff on a wide range of mental disorders and treatment; and provides case management services as well as short term mental health counseling and psychotherapy. Provides a full range of psychodiagnostics services and uses the most appropriate psychotherapeutic techniques in providing quality care to the Veteran population within the NEWAC Outpatient MH clinic. The incumbent is responsible for meeting Veteran needs through psychosocial assessment; psychotherapeutic intervention; crisis assessment and management; individual, family, and/or group treatment; and or psychoeducation and referral. Provides a full range of therapeutic interventions including: evidence based psychotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapies, group therapy, individual therapy, family/couples therapy, education about MH illnesses, crisis intervention, referrals and consults as appropriate. Independently conducts psychosocial assessment and develops treatment plans in collaboration with Veteran and the interdisciplinary treatment team. Measures outcomes to treatment interventions and monitors treatments offered for efficacy. Information collected is used in collaborative treatment planning with Veteran. Independently identifies high-risk patients and provides case management services, crisis intervention services, family conferences, and interdisciplinary or BHIP team meetings. Maintains a working knowledge of mental health and medical diagnoses, disabilities, and treatment procedures. This includes acute, chronic, and traumatic illnesses/injuries; common medications and effects/side effects; and medical terminology. Establishes and maintains effective therapeutic relationships with Veterans, families, and others as needed. Maintains complete, accurate, timely, and confidential medical record documentation of patient information. Participates on local, VISN, and/or National councils, committees, and work groups as designated. Participates in the professional peer review process and all professional and administrative evaluation and continuing education activities. Performs other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Telework: Partial Telework as Directed by Mental Health Program manager Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]
Providing Health Care for Veterans: The Veterans Health Administration is America’s largest integrated health care system, providing care at 1,255 health care facilities, including 170 medical centers and 1,074 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics), serving 9 million enrolled Veterans each year.
