Social Worker

at Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration in North Chicago, Illinois, United States

Job Description

Summary The Clinical Social Worker provides Mental Health services to the veteran population enrolled at James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center and CBOC’s. Services include provision of high-quality case management, individual and group therapy, clinical treatment, crisis intervention, advocacy, coordination of linkages to other appropriate VA or community service providers/agencies, as needed by the client. Responsibilities VA Careers – Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz\ua\UU Functions of this position include, but are not limited to: Screening/Assessment – The Social Worker will develop a psychosocial assessment of the Veteran in collaboration with the interdisciplinary treatment team, the Veteran and family members/significant others. The goal of the psychosocial 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. Treatment Planning/Goal Setting – The Social Worker is responsible for contributing to the development of the treatment plan and setting achievable treatment goals with the Veteran, family members/significant others and other Outpatient Mental Health clinical staff. 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 family members/significant others 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 Worker will refer the Veteran to needed services. Advocacy – The Social Worker understands the intimidation of bureaucracy and will act as an advocate when it serves the best interest of the Veteran and family members/caregiver. When appropriate and feasible, the Social Worker will educate and encourage the Veteran to advocate on his/her own behalf, thus fostering a sense of independence and empowerment. Crisis Intervention -The Social Worker is experienced in making rapid assessments and developing crisis management plans for admission to mental health inpatient programs. The Social Worker has access to multiple resource directories in addition to previously developed resources to meet the demands of a crisis. Education/Health promotion and prevention – The Social Worker provides education related to VA and community resources, entitlements, Advance Directives/Living Will and will refer Veterans and family members/significant others to the appropriate interdisciplinary team member for identified health education needs. Coordination of non-institutional and institutional services -The Social Worker will review the progress notes from the other providers to accurately determine the strengths and limitations of each Veteran. The Social Worker will educate the Veteran, their family members/significant other and the team of all the options available to them and will collaborate with the Veteran and family members/significant other on the preferred option. Supportive counseling -The Social Worker may provide Veterans and their family members/significant other with ongoing supportive counseling. The purpose of such counseling is to deal with the psychosocial impact of coping with severe mental illness (es), chronic/disabling illness (es), onset of a catastrophic illness, etc. This role may be performed through the use of telehealth technologies such as telephone, messaging device, global media carts or video conferencing equipment. Therapy – The Social Worker may provide individual and group evidence-based therapies (i.e. CPT, PE, etc.) to Veterans based on clinic and patient need. This role may be performed through the use of telehealth technologies such as telephone messaging devices, webcams, global media carts or video conferencing equipment. Supervision – Depending on level of licensure, the Social Worker may provide clinical supervision for social work trainees. Work Schedule: 0800-1630 Telework: Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. You may be required to serve a probationary period. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) – See “Additional Information” below for details. 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. 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. Current state requirements may be found by going to http://vaww.va.gov/OHRM/T38Hybrid/. 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, chief social work or social work executive will provide the unlicensed/uncertified social worker with the written requirements for licensure or certification, including the time by which the license or certification must be obtained and the consequences for not becoming licensed or certified by the deadline. English Language Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the