The Fargo VA Health Care System is recruiting for 1 full-time Mental Health Counselor for the Mental Health Interdisciplinary Care Community Service Line. This vacancy will be filled with a Social Worker, Psychologist, or License Professional Mental Health Counselor. This position is located at the Bismarck VA Clinic. The Social Worker occupational series is eligible for the Student Loan Repayment Program (SLRP). A recruitment incentive may be authorized for highly qualified candidates. 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. 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. 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, this part. Grade Determinations: GS-9 Experience, Education, and Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Ability to work with Veterans and family members from various socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other diversified backgrounds utilizing counseling skills. (b) Ability to assess the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and their family members, and to formulate and implement a treatment plan, identifying the Veterans problems, strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and assistance needed. (c) Ability to implement treatment modalities in working with individuals, families, and groups to achieve treatment goals. This requires judgment and skill in utilizing supportive, problem solving, or crisis intervention techniques. (d) Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients, staff, and representatives of community agencies. (e) Fundamental knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities, and treatment procedures. This includes acute, chronic, and traumatic illnesses/injuries; common medications and their effects/side effects; and medical terminology. GS-11 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: (a) Knowledge of community resources, how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services, and ability to coordinate services. (b) 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. (c) 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. (d) 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. (e) 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. All qualifying experience you possess must be clearly described in your application package. We will not make assumptions when reviewing applications. Failure to demonstrate your experience in your resume may result in disqualification. It is strongly recommended that you write to each KSA in your application package. References: VA Handbook 5005/120 Part II, Appendix G39 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-09 to GS-11. Physical Requirements: Persons selected for employment shall meet the physical and mental fitness requirements necessary for the safe and efficient performance of the duties and responsibilities of this position, and shall continue to meet the physical and mental fitness requirements while employed, and shall be provided with reasonable accommodation where required by law. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to speak and hear sufficiently to communicate effectively by phone or in person at normal volumes. The employee's vision must be adequate to read correspondence and computer screens. Both standing and sitting are required, with most of the job time spent sitting. ["The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being. Major Duties and Responsibilities: To provide Mental Health services to the Veteran population enrolled at the Fargo VA Medical Center. Services include provision of high quality clinical treatment, advocacy, and coordination of linkages to other appropriate VA or community service providers and agencies as needed by the client. This is accomplished in collaboration with other members of the MHC Team or other interdisciplinary treatment teams as appropriate. Duties include, but are not limited to: Screening/Assessment - The Social Worker will develop an assessment of the Veteran in collaboration with the Veteran, family members, significant others and the interdisciplinary treatment team. The goal of the assessment is to highlight the Veteran's strengths, limitations, and internal/external supports and service needs in order to optimize the Veteran's functional status. The incumbent demonstrates an understanding of the range of treatment and skills needed for all adult patients including geriatric patients related to their physical limitations, psychological needs and age associated illnesses and conditions. The incumber must have understanding of the problems of advancing age and respect for the diversification of the aging Veteran population, being sensitive to human growth and development, age appropriate needs and concerns of the geriatric Veteran, and be able to provide current and advanced techniques to the treatment of this Veteran population. It is the responsibility of the Social Worker, working within the interdisciplinary treatment team, to develop a treatment plan with the Veteran based on this assessment. The initial assessment will be completed at the Veteran's first visit for Mental Health Services. A reassessment is required annually or more frequently if there is a change in the patient's life plan. Treatment Planning/Goal Setting - The Social Worker is responsible for developing the treatment plan, and setting achievable treatment goals with the Veteran/family. The treatment plan will be completed by the patient's third visit for mental health services. The plan will be updated as required by the Mental Health ICC, or more frequently if there is a change in the patient's condition or needs. Treatment/Therapy - The Social Worker is responsible for providing appropriate evidence based treatment for a variety of mental health disorders. The Social Worker will utilize the support of the social work supervisor to staff cases as necessary and will seek referrals to specialized clinicians when appropriate. Referral to Service Providers- Throughout the course of treatment, the Social Worker is the subject matter expert on VA and/or community resources. The Social Worker will collaborate with other service providers in reassessing the Veteran's needs. The Social Worker is responsible for educating the Veteran and/or caregiver of the available services and assisting them in establishing the appropriate referrals based on the Veteran's preference or that of his surrogate decision-maker. Resource Usage/Development - The Social Worker is responsible for using the current social work resource file of VA and community social service programs and enhancing the content to the benefit of Veterans. The social will refer the Veteran to needed services. VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU The Social Worker occupational series is eligible for the Student Loan Repayment Program (SLRP). Qualifying SLRP participants can receive up to $40,000 per year in education debt payments with a combined total not to exceed $100,000. Participants must sign a service agreement and maintain an acceptable level of performance to remain eligible for this program. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Telework: Regular telework is available (3+ days/bi-weekly pay period) Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]
The Veterans Health Administration is America’s largest integrated health care system, providing care at 1,298 health care facilities, including 171 medical centers and 1,113 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics), serving 9 million enrolled Veterans each year.
