Social Worker- Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP)

Veterans Health Administration • White City, OR

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) Social Worker provides Veteran-centered, recovery-oriented, evidence-based care and serves as a Care Coordinator responsible for coordinating and ensuring continuity of care for Veterans receiving BHIP services. The position includes screening and assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning, implementation, evaluation, and follow-up, with care delivered under the oversight and guidance of a licensed provider. The Social Worker uses the current DSM to support diagnoses and treatment goals, makes treatment recommendations, and refers Veterans to appropriate individual, group, and family services.

The role provides case management and a range of individual, group, and family interventions, including cognitive-behavioral therapy, problem-solving therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, and motivational interviewing. Treatment goals are established collaboratively with Veterans using shared decision-making and evidence-based practices. The position coordinates care with other clinics, programs, and facilities; provides resources and education; completes clinical reminders; administers measurement-based care; and manages Veteran needs within the clinic. The incumbent may serve as Mental Health Treatment Coordinator for assigned Veterans.

The Social Worker works on an interdisciplinary team and maintains clinical documentation and follow-up records, including required electronic medical record procedures, diagnostic and procedure coding, performance measures, health screenings, and clinical reminders. The position may include committee participation with supervisory approval, attendance at staff and service-line meetings, and other collateral duties as assigned. It has no collateral research obligations or supervisory responsibilities. The employee is responsible for professional growth through clinical supervision toward licensure and education appropriate to the assignment.

The schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Telework and virtual work are not available. The position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to individual eligibility and program approval. The full performance level is GS-11; selection may be at GS-09 through GS-11.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in social work from a school fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE); a doctoral degree cannot substitute for the master’s degree.
• State licensure or certification to independently practice social work at the master’s degree level. The licensure/certification requirement may be waived only for otherwise-qualified GS-09 candidates pending completion of state prerequisites; GS-11 candidates must be licensed or certified.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• For GS-11 appointment, at least one year of post-MSW experience equivalent to GS-09 in health care or another social-work-related setting, plus state licensure or certification for independent practice; alternatively, a doctoral degree in social work may substitute for the one year of professional clinical social work experience.
• Ability to provide Veteran-centered interventions and counseling for Veterans, family members, caregivers, and survivors.
• Ability to assess psychosocial functioning and needs, formulate and implement treatment plans, and identify problems, strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and assistance needs.
• Ability to implement treatment modalities with individuals, families, and groups, using supportive, problem-solving, or crisis-intervention techniques as appropriate.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients, staff, and community-agency representatives.
• Knowledge of medical and mental-health diagnoses, disabilities, treatment procedures, common medications and their effects or side effects, and medical terminology.
• For GS-11, knowledge of community resources and ability to make referrals and coordinate services.
• For GS-11, skill in independently conducting psychosocial assessments and treatment interventions with people from varied socioeconomic, educational, and other backgrounds.
• For GS-11, skill in independently implementing treatment modalities with individuals, families, and groups experiencing psychiatric, medical, and social problems.
• For GS-11, ability to consult with new social workers, social-work graduate students, and other staff about patients’ psychosocial needs and the effects of psychosocial problems on health care and treatment compliance.
• U.S. citizenship is required, subject to the stated exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• Males born after December 31, 1959, must be registered with Selective Service.
• Subject to background and security investigation; selected applicants must complete online onboarding and provide acceptable identification.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is required for VA Health Care Personnel.
• Must serve a one- or two-year trial period, with continued employment subject to written certification that it advances the public interest.
• Applicants using foreign education must provide a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with transcripts.

Responsibilities

• Screen Veterans and gather information; identify problems; formulate diagnoses and treatment plans; implement, evaluate, and follow up on care.
• Use the current DSM to support diagnoses and develop treatment goals and appropriate clinical interventions.
• Make professional treatment evaluations, decisions, and recommendations, and refer Veterans to individual, group, or family treatment services.
• Provide individual, group, and family case-management interventions, including 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, including coordination with other clinics, programs, and facilities; provide resources and education; complete clinical reminders; administer measurement-based care; and manage Veteran needs within the clinic.
• May serve as Mental Health Treatment Coordinator for assigned Veterans and perform the duties of that role.
• Work on an interdisciplinary team focused on individuals’ intrapersonal, interpersonal, and relational functioning.
• Maintain timely and compliant electronic medical record documentation, including diagnostic and procedure codes and Veteran check-out procedures.
• Maintain appropriate records and follow-up data for assigned Veterans.
• Comply with national and local performance measures, including timely health care screening and completion of clinical reminders.
• With supervisory approval, may 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 education appropriate to the assignment.

Benefits

• Competitive salary with regular salary increases; a higher step rate may be considered for higher or unique qualifications or agency needs.
• 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year, consisting of 13–26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, and 11 paid federal holidays.
• Potential credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work or military service, subject to request and approval.
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months of employment in connection with a child’s birth, adoption, or foster-care placement.
• Potential child-care subsidy after 60 days for eligible full-time employees with total family income below $144,000; subsidy may cover up to 25% of eligible costs, subject to the stated monthly maximum and eligibility rules.
• Traditional federal pension, with five-year vesting, and federal 401(k) with up to 5% in contributions by VA.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term-care insurance; many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement.
• Education Debt Reduction Program student-loan reimbursement, subject to eligibility and program approval, with an award up to $200,000 and an eligibility period of one to five years.

What This Job Offers

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