Social Worker-Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP)

Veterans Health Administration • White City, OR

18h • Onsite

About The Position

The Social Worker serves in the Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP), providing assessment, counseling, treatment planning, and case management services to Veterans. The role uses the current DSM to support diagnoses and treatment goals, applies professional counseling practices, and makes evaluations and recommendations for treatment. The Social Worker works collaboratively with Veterans using shared decision-making and evidence-based approaches, and may serve as the Mental Health Treatment Coordinator for assigned Veterans.

The position is part of an interdisciplinary team and requires coordination with other clinics, programs, facilities, and community resources. It includes maintaining timely and accurate electronic medical record documentation, records, follow-up data, clinical reminders, and performance measures. The Social Worker attends staff and service-line meetings, may serve on VA SORCC committees with supervisory approval, and performs other assigned collateral duties. The position has no collateral research obligations or supervisory responsibilities. The employee is responsible for professional growth, including clinical supervision toward licensure and relevant education.

The position is scheduled Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Telework and virtual work are unavailable. The vacancy is at the GS-09 to GS-11 range, with GS-11 as the full performance level. A master's degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited school and state licensure or certification for independent master's-level practice are generally required; a limited licensure exception may apply at GS-09. GS-11 generally requires one year of qualifying post-MSW experience and independent licensure, or a qualifying doctoral degree in social work in lieu of the experience requirement. The position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program, subject to eligibility 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; a waiver may be available for otherwise qualified GS-09 candidates completing state prerequisites, but not for GS-11 and above.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• For GS-09, demonstrate a Veteran-centric approach; ability to assess psychosocial functioning and needs and formulate and implement treatment plans; ability to use treatment modalities with individuals, families, and groups; ability to establish working relationships and communicate with clients, staff, and community-agency representatives; and fundamental knowledge of medical and mental-health diagnoses, disabilities, treatment procedures, medications, and medical terminology.
• For GS-11, have at least one year of post-MSW experience equivalent to GS-09 in health care or another social-work-related setting and independent-practice state licensure or certification, or a doctoral degree in social work that may substitute for the experience requirement.
• For GS-11, demonstrate knowledge of community resources and referral coordination; skill independently conducting psychosocial assessments and interventions for people from varied backgrounds; knowledge of diagnoses, disabilities, treatment procedures, medications, and medical terminology to formulate treatment plans; skill independently implementing treatment modalities with individuals, families, and groups; and ability to consult with new social workers, graduate students, and other staff.
• U.S. citizenship is required, subject to the stated exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must be registered with Selective Service.
• Subject to background and security investigation and required pre-employment onboarding and identification documentation.
• Must pass a pre-employment physical evaluation and participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Must complete all application requirements in the announcement's Required Documents section.
• Must serve a one- or two-year trial period, with continued employment subject to written certification that it advances the public interest.

Responsibilities

• Gather information, identify problems, diagnose, plan and implement treatment, evaluate outcomes, and provide follow-up.
• Use the current DSM in making diagnoses and formulating treatment goals and apply appropriate clinical interventions using professional counseling practices.
• Make professional evaluations, decisions, and treatment recommendations, and refer Veterans to individual, group, and family treatment services as appropriate.
• Provide individual, group, and family case-management interventions, including approaches such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, problem-solving therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, and motivational interviewing.
• Establish treatment goals collaboratively with Veterans using shared decision-making and evidence-based practices.
• Coordinate care for Veterans empaneled in BHIP, provide resources and education, complete clinical reminders, administer measurement-based care, and manage Veterans' needs within the clinic.
• May serve as Mental Health Treatment Coordinator for assigned Veterans and carry out the duties of that role.
• Apply knowledge of relevant statutes, case law, ethical codes, and regulations affecting counseling practice.
• Communicate effectively orally and in writing with people from varied backgrounds and serve on an interdisciplinary team.
• Complete electronic medical record documentation in accordance with procedures and timeliness standards, including diagnostic and procedure codes and Veteran check-out procedures.
• Maintain appropriate records and follow-up data for assigned Veterans.
• Meet national and local performance measures, including timely health care screening and completion of clinical reminders.
• Comply with peer-review procedures.
• With supervisory approval, participate in VA SORCC committees as directed.
• Attend regular staff, service-line, and mental-health-service-line meetings and perform assigned collateral duties.
• Further professional growth through clinical supervision toward licensure and relevant education.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) student-loan reimbursement, subject to individual eligibility, application review, and program approval; award up to $200,000 and eligibility period of one to five years.
• Competitive salary and regular salary increases.
• 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year, including 13–26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, and 11 paid federal holidays.
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months of employment, in connection with birth, adoption, or foster-care placement.
• Child-care subsidy may be available to eligible full-time employees after 60 days of employment, subject to income and other eligibility limits; up to 25% of eligible childcare costs, with a stated monthly maximum of $416.66.
• Traditional federal pension, with five-year vesting, and federal 401(k) with up to 5% in VA contributions.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term-care insurance; many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement.

What This Job Offers

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