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This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application. 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 Master 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/. English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met. 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, unless they are grandfathered by the state in which they are licensed to practice at the advanced practice level (except for licenses issued in California, which administers its own clinical examination for advanced practice) and they must be able to provide supervision for licensure. 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. References: VA Handbook 5005/120, Part II, Appendix G39 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-12. 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 aid 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. ["The Crisis Response Team (CRT) Senior Social Worker is a member of a 24/7 interdisciplinary treatment team which provides crisis/mental health services to the Emergency Department (ED), and consultation to Substance Abuse Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (SARRTP) (Mesa Center for Recovery), 5P, Acute Medicine, and Community Living Center (CLC), as needed during weekend, holiday, evening and night (WHEN) hours at VA WCHCS. The CRT Senior Social Worker has specialized and advanced knowledge and skill in conducting psychiatric emergency assessments, diagnoses, and treatment. They have clinical expertise to assess and intervene in high acuity situations with dynamic psychiatric emergencies. They are capable of practicing at the advanced practice level, have experience that demonstrates possession of advanced practice skills and judgment, and are assigned to positions which require use of advanced practice social work skills. Some of the duties associated with this position include, but are not limited to the following: 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. Demonstrates advance practice skills and clinical judgement in acute psychiatric emergencies. Provides a full range of psycho-diagnostic services including assessment and uses the most appropriate psychotherapeutic techniques in providing quality care. Performs evaluations for wide array of Veterans representing diverse diagnostic entities. Evaluates Veterans in the ED for involuntary psychiatric holds (M-1 only) and completes appropriate paperwork. Serves as a resource for VA WCHCS staff regarding the local laws and regulations regarding involuntary psychiatric holds. Facilitates admissions (both voluntary and involuntary) to the Acute Mental Health Unit (5P) and/or collaborates with community facilities for psychiatric resources, to include admission. Determines suicide and homicide risk utilizing current evidence-based research tools. Incumbent will fully assess suicide/homicide risk and protective factors to determine safety of Veterans. Completes comprehensive suicide risk evaluations (CSRE), safety planning, and suicide behavior reports, as needed. Ensures adherence to facility and national risk management policies for assessment, management, consultation and documentation related to suicide/homicide risk. Provides clinical recommendations to ED physicians regarding appropriateness of psychiatric admissions and/or ED discharge with referral(s) to outpatient services, prioritizing Veteran safety, and balancing emergent situations arising simultaneously. Ensures continuity of care for all Veterans presenting to the ED in mental health crisis by providing intervention and/or facilitating services with another provider(s). When Veterans call the VA in crisis, the incumbent assesses them by phone and provides crisis counseling/intervention, including instructing them to present to the ED or follow-up with established providers. Contacts local law enforcement for wellness check as deemed necessary. Provides assessment, brief psychotherapeutic interventions, and treatment referrals for Veterans presenting with substance use disorders. 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. Facilitates transfer and/or discharge from ED with appropriate continuity of care. Provide case management to the high utilizers of the ED and 5P to help ensure the right care at the right time. Due to the nature of the CRT responsibilities, licensure must permit independent psychotherapy and diagnosis of mental health conditions and illnesses. Responsible for obtaining and maintaining appropriate license and certification to independently execute involuntary psychiatric holds, in accordance with local and state laws. Work Schedule: Various tours, to be discussed at interview Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 55547 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be authorized EDRP Authorized: Contact Martha Kimmel, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]

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