Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program Social Worker

Department of Veterans Affairs•Kernersville, NC

38d•Onsite

About The Position

The BHIP Social Worker assumes responsibility for the provision of mental health services to Veterans served at the Salisbury VAMC Medical Center. Services include provision of high quality assessment, clinical intervention (individual, group therapy), case management, advocacy, education and coordination of care to other appropriate VA or community service providers and/or agencies as needed. This is accomplished in collaboration with other members of the interdisciplinary treatment team. Social Work duties include but are not limited to: Clinical Functions: Incumbent is a professional social worker assigned to the Salisbury VAMC mental health clinic. The incumbent must use a high level of skill in assessing and treating the complicated psychosocial problems of Veterans referred to the MHC. The incumbent completes thorough psychosocial assessments as part of the consult process when the Veteran is initially referred to the MHC. Other social work services include short-term solution focused counseling with individuals and families who may be in crisis, supportive counseling, and referral for resources and benefits. The incumbent: Must have a high level of skill and expertise to establish and maintain effective therapeutic relationships with veterans in the MHC and/or their families. The incumbent is able to independently work with veterans and their families who are experiencing a wide range of complicated medical, psychiatric, emotional, behavioral, and psychosocial problems. Must independently complete thorough psychosocial assessments to determine the psychosocial functioning and needs of veterans and/or their families. The incumbent must be able to utilize this assessment in facilitating the veteran's maximum use of treatment for attainment of the highest level of independence that is possible and practicable. Must actively participate as a member of the interdisciplinary treatment team and actively participate through collaboration with veterans and family as well as interdisciplinary treatment team members in the development and implementation of a resident centered treatment plan. Must provide consultation and education to veterans and their families regarding community resources, VA benefits and specialty programs, and advance directives. This includes the incumbent's knowledge of the process for accessing and/or coordinating community-based services, including information and referral for additional services from other VA programs, other government programs, and community programs. Must be available to provide consultation to other treatment team and staff members regarding psychosocial needs of veterans and/or their families and the impact of the identified psychosocial problems on the veteran's health care planning, compliance with treatment, and discharge planning. Must maintain knowledge of veteran's benefits and services, community resources, and process for making appropriate referrals to community and other governmental programs or agencies. Must possess skills and knowledge to provide case management services to veterans and their families throughout the continuum of care. The incumbent will be able to appropriately utilize principles of human growth and development over the life span and will be able to assist veterans in coping with the loss and grief experiences from disability and terminal illness. Must possess and demonstrate ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing with people from varied backgrounds. Complete other assigned social work duties as needed to ensure there are no gaps in treatment services for Veteran's Administrative Functions: Is responsible for supporting the mission, policies, and procedures of the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), the appropriate Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN), and the facility. Is willing to serve on committees, work groups, and task forces at the facility as deemed appropriate by the supervisor and Chief of Social Work Services. Is mindful of keeping their supervisor apprised of problems and recommended solutions to problems encountered in the incumbent's area of responsibility. Is responsible for furthering one's own professional growth through continuing education and for ensuring continuing education appropriate to the area of assignment. Is able to provide assistance with the orientation and learning of less experienced social workers and, if interested, to serve as a preceptor for social work students. Is able to demonstrate knowledge and skill in the use of software applications for drafting documents and data management as well as other computer systems in use by the VHA. Is able to maintain a level of productivity and quality consistent with the complexity of the assignment and consistent with Social Work standards, Joint Commission standards, and facility standards. Will participate in a rotation of on-call social workers, including modification of tour of duty to accommodate patient care needs on weekends.

Requirements

High level of skill in assessing and treating the complicated psychosocial problems of Veterans
Ability to independently work with veterans and their families who are experiencing a wide range of complicated medical, psychiatric, emotional, behavioral, and psychosocial problems.
Knowledge of veteran's benefits and services, community resources, and process for making appropriate referrals to community and other governmental programs or agencies.
Skills and knowledge to provide case management services to veterans and their families throughout the continuum of care.
Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing with people from varied backgrounds.
Knowledge and skill in the use of software applications for drafting documents and data management as well as other computer systems in use by the VHA.
Ability to maintain a level of productivity and quality consistent with the complexity of the assignment and consistent with Social Work standards, Joint Commission standards, and facility standards.

Responsibilities

Provision of mental health services to Veterans
High quality assessment
Clinical intervention (individual, group therapy)
Case management
Advocacy
Education
Coordination of care to other appropriate VA or community service providers and/or agencies as needed
Completes thorough psychosocial assessments
Short-term solution focused counseling with individuals and families who may be in crisis
Supportive counseling
Referral for resources and benefits
Establish and maintain effective therapeutic relationships with veterans
Actively participate as a member of the interdisciplinary treatment team
Provide consultation and education to veterans and their families regarding community resources, VA benefits and specialty programs, and advance directives
Provide consultation to other treatment team and staff members regarding psychosocial needs of veterans and/or their families
Provide case management services to veterans and their families throughout the continuum of care
Participate in a rotation of on-call social workers, including modification of tour of duty to accommodate patient care needs on weekends.