Summary The Intensive Community Mental Health Recovery (ICMHR) is organizationally aligned within the Psychiatry and Mental Health Service line. The ICMHR Social Worker provides mental health services to the Veteran population enrolled at the Richard L. Roudebush VAMC within the ICMHR Program. Responsibilities Duties: The program specifically serves Veterans with serious mental illness (SMI) enrolled in ICMHR. Services include provision of high-quality services, with a specialized social work focus which embraces a client-focused, person-in-the-environment perspective to guide services rendered in a holistic treatment plan. Such services include evidence-based psychotherapies, intensive case management, advocacy, and coordination of linkages to other appropriate VA or community service providers / agencies as needed by the patient and determined by a holistic treatment plan. This is accomplished in collaboration with other members of the Mental Health Service or other interdisciplinary treatment teams as appropriate. Screening/Assessment - Identifies the expected and unique diagnosis-related problems of the Veteran and provides appropriate psychosocial input to the treatment team. Identifies problem areas and developments that should be brought to administrative attention. Treatment Planning/Goal Setting - From screening/assessment information, the ICMHR Social Worker determines realistic goals and objectives with the Veteran for a comprehensive plan for treatment. ICMHR Social Worker is professionally responsible for exercising judgment, decision-making and timing of social work intervention on the total range of psychosocial problems of Veterans in assigned areas. Referral to service providers - Maintains knowledge of community resources, how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services, and ability to coordinate services when appropriate. Resource Usage/Development - Maintains a professional knowledge of the theories, principles and values of social work required to develop and maintain social work programs in assigned areas. Maintains state-of-the-art capabilities in systems of service delivery to individuals, families and groups. Exercises judgment; program planning, development and implementation; identifies problems and the need for policy changes and program direction that should be brought to the attention of the section Program Coordinator. Advocacy - Participates in multi-disciplinary conferences in assigned areas. Assists Veterans and families in obtaining medical, financial and social resources in the community that will enhance the Veteran s recovery and/or adjustments. Assesses the Veteran's family's need for an advocate and acts on the patient and family's behalf when needed. ICMHR Social Workers must be willing to address barriers to service with and for Veterans using a broad range of psychosocial theories and principles and specific to social work values. Crisis Intervention - The ICMHR Social Worker will assess and intervene in crises presented by the Veteran and/or family and participate in developing crisis management and safety plans to minimize the event of future crises. ICMHR Social Workers are expected to perform risk assessments whenever the potential for self-harm is suspected, to provide information on available safety resources, and to evaluate the Veteran's ability to access necessary resources and supports. ICMHR Social Workers assess for suicidality and potential for self-harm at every individual encounter. Education/Health promotion and prevention - The ICMHR Social Worker will provide education to Veterans with incomplete or erroneous understanding of their mental illness and consults with physicians and other members of the clinical staff regarding patient needs in this area. Coordination of non-institutional and institutional services - The ICMHR Social Worker establishes and maintains effective working relationships with clients, staff, and representatives of community agencies. Communicates effectively, both orally and in writing, with people from varied backgrounds. Supportive counseling - The ICMHR Social Worker provides supportive, insight or other forms of therapy, as indicated to Veterans and /or families. Provides individual, group and family therapy to Veterans and assists with coordination of other services, such as occupational, recreational and spiritual counseling, to meet the Veteran's needs. Non-patient care responsibilities - The ICMHR Social Worker will enter all Veteran/family contacts in the electronic medical record using appropriate formats and templates. This information will be entered in a complete, confidential, timely and professional manner to promote relevant and effective communication with other VA employees about the Veteran's care. Virtual: This is not a virtual position Functional Statement #: 92003-0, & 92004-0 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz\ua\UU Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. 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 trial period. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. A current, valid state-issued REAL ID Driver's License is required for this position. An Incidental Driver Physical Exam is required for this position Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). 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. Indiana requires Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) 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. 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 criteria). Grade Determinations: Social Worker, GS-9 Experience, Education, and Licensure - None beyond the basic requirements. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate, in their resume, all of the following KSAs: (a) Ability to utilize a Veteran centric approach when providing interventions and counseling for Veterans, their family members, caregivers, and survivors. (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. Social Worker, 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 (graduate/developmental) 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 Additional 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 (KSAs). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate, in their resume, 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, educational, and other 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. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.The full performance level of this vacancy is GS11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS9 to GS11 .Physical Requirements: The physical demands of the position involve standard office requirements such as using the telephone, retrieving files, writing reports, data entry and maintenance of computer databases, etc. Work is typically performed sitting at a desk and using a computer. This position may require occasional travel. The position requires periods of walking, standing, sitting and bending. Education Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Additional Information Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act. Whole Health Statement VA Healthcare System Serving Ohio, Indiana and Michigan (VISN 10) 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.
