Social Worker (BHIP) Mental Health Treatment Coordinator

Veterans Health Administration • Johnson City, TN

3d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Social Worker is assigned to the Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP), providing mental health care coordination to Veterans enrolled in the BHIP Clinic and crisis intervention through the Same Day Access (SDA) Clinic. The role provides clinical services addressing mental illness and complex psychosocial problems. Interventions in the SDA Clinic may include individual and family counseling and case management for Veterans and family members to meet biological, psychological, social, and environmental needs.

The Social Worker independently provides direct services using professional training and clinical experience, VA policies, and JCAHO standards. They assess Veterans and their significant others, contribute to treatment planning, coordinate health care with Veterans, families or caregivers, and the interdisciplinary team, and provide recovery-oriented care that supports Veterans’ functioning and quality of life in the community.

The position is full-time, Monday through Friday, 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Telework is available, but the position is not virtual. The position is at the GS-11 level and requires a CSWE-accredited Master of Social Work and state licensure or certification for independent practice. Eligible employees may qualify for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to program requirements and approval.

Requirements

• Master's degree in social work from a school fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE); a doctoral degree does not substitute for the master's degree.
• State licensure or certification to independently practice social work at the master's degree level.
• For GS-11: at least one year of post-MSW experience equivalent to GS-9 in health care or another social-work-related setting, or a doctoral degree in social work that substitutes for the one year of experience.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• Knowledge of community resources and ability to make appropriate referrals and coordinate services.
• Ability to independently conduct psychosocial assessments and treatment interventions with people from diverse backgrounds.
• Knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities, and treatment procedures, including illnesses and injuries, medications and their effects or side effects, and medical terminology, sufficient to formulate treatment plans.
• Ability to independently implement treatment modalities with individuals, families, and groups experiencing psychiatric, medical, and social problems.
• Ability to provide consultation to new social workers, graduate social work students, and other staff regarding patients’ psychosocial needs and the effects of psychosocial problems on health care and treatment compliance.
• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• Must meet physical and mental requirements to perform the essential functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation, and possess emotional and mental stability.
• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must be registered with Selective Service.
• Must complete background/security investigation, onboarding, and application requirements; participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is required for VA health care personnel.
• Must serve a one- or two-year trial period, subject to written certification for continued employment.

Responsibilities

• Provide mental health care coordination for Veterans enrolled in the BHIP Clinic and crisis intervention services through the SDA Clinic.
• Provide individual counseling, family counseling, and case management to Veterans and family members.
• Conduct intake and needs assessments of Veterans and their significant others.
• Identify symptoms that may lead to clinical diagnoses of serious mental illness (SMI) and co-occurring disorders.
• Conduct assessments, including interviews and psychosocial histories, and make referrals to support treatment planning.
• Assess psychosocial functioning and needs, including strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and psychosocial acuity.
• Collaborate with Veterans, family members or caregivers, and the interdisciplinary treatment team to facilitate health care services.
• Identify family and caregiver stressors, conduct assessments, and provide specific interventions.
• Provide case management and care coordination to facilitate appropriate health care delivery.
• Incorporate complex and multiple causes into differential diagnosis and treatment, including psychosocial and psychiatric diagnoses within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice.
• Provide recovery-oriented treatment to support Veterans’ independent community living, functioning, and quality of life.
• Establish and maintain education programs for Veterans, community agencies, students, and staff about social work interventions specific to the Veteran and military population.
• Address Advance Directives and Organ Donation in accordance with work-area standards.
• Participate in committee assignments, work groups, and task forces as deemed necessary by the Social Worker Supervisor and ACOS Mental Health Service.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to eligibility and approval, with an award of up to $200,000 and an eligibility period of one to five years.
• Comprehensive federal employee benefits package for eligible employees and their families.
• Telework available.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level