Social Worker- Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP)

Veterans Health Administration•White City, OR

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 social worker gathers information, identifies problems, makes diagnoses, plans and implements treatment, evaluates outcomes, and follows up. They use the current DSM to support diagnoses and treatment goals, make professional treatment recommendations, and refer Veterans to individual, group, or family services. Care delivery is under a licensed provider’s oversight and guidance. The role uses a range of case-management and treatment approaches, including cognitive-behavioral therapy, problem-solving therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, and motivational interviewing. Treatment goals are developed collaboratively with Veterans through shared decision-making and evidence-based practices. Case management includes coordinating care with clinics, programs, and facilities; providing resources and education; completing clinical reminders; administering measurement-based care; and addressing Veterans’ needs within the clinic. The social worker may serve as the Mental Health Treatment Coordinator for assigned Veterans. The social worker works on an interdisciplinary team, communicates with people from varied backgrounds, maintains compliant and timely electronic medical records and follow-up data, and meets applicable performance measures and screening requirements. The position has no collateral research obligations or supervisory responsibilities. Professional growth includes clinical supervision toward licensure and education appropriate to the assignment. The work 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, subject to individual eligibility and program 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 required master’s degree.
State licensure or certification to independently practice social work at the master’s degree level. A licensure or certification waiver may apply at GS-9 while state prerequisites are being completed; GS-11 requires licensure or certification.
Proficiency in spoken and written English.
U.S. citizenship, except where VA policy permits appointment of non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
For GS-9, demonstrate a Veteran-centered approach; ability to assess psychosocial functioning and needs and formulate and implement treatment plans; ability to implement treatment modalities with individuals, families, and groups; ability to establish effective working relationships and communicate with clients, staff, and community agencies; and fundamental knowledge of medical and mental-health diagnoses, disabilities, treatment procedures, medications, and medical terminology.
For GS-11, at least one year of post-MSW experience equivalent to GS-9 in health care or another social-work-related setting and independent-practice-level state licensure or certification, or a doctoral degree in social work may substitute for the experience requirement.
For GS-11, demonstrate knowledge of community resources and referral coordination; skill in independently conducting psychosocial assessments and interventions with varied populations; knowledge of medical and mental-health conditions and treatment procedures to formulate treatment plans; skill in independently implementing treatment modalities; and ability to consult with new social workers, graduate students, and other staff.
Complete required application and onboarding requirements, background/security investigation, and applicable identification requirements.
Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is required for VA Health Care Personnel.
Serve a one- or two-year trial period, during which continued employment is subject to written certification that it advances the public interest.
Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must be registered with Selective Service.

Responsibilities

Gather information, identify problems, diagnose, plan and implement treatment, evaluate care, and conduct follow-up.
Use the current DSM to formulate diagnoses and treatment goals and apply appropriate clinical interventions.
Make professional evaluations, decisions, and recommendations for treatment planning and implementation.
Refer Veterans to individual, group, and family treatment services as appropriate.
Provide individual, group, or family case-management interventions using approaches such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, problem-solving therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, and motivational interviewing.
Collaboratively establish treatment goals with Veterans using shared decision-making and evidence-based practices.
Coordinate care with other clinics, programs, and facilities; 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 perform the associated duties.
Serve on an interdisciplinary team focused on the intrapersonal, interpersonal, and relational functioning of individuals, groups, and families.
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.
Meet national and local performance measures, including timely health care screening and completion of clinical reminders.
Attend regular staff, service-line, and mental-health-service-line meetings.
Participate in VA SORCC committees with supervisory approval, as directed, and perform assigned collateral duties.
Further professional growth through clinical supervision toward licensure and assignment-appropriate education.

Benefits

Education Debt Reduction Program student-loan reimbursement, subject to eligibility and approval, with awards up to $200,000 and an eligibility period of one to five years.
Competitive salary and regular salary increases.
37–50 days of annual paid time off, 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 for birth, adoption, or foster-care placement.
Child-care subsidy may be available after 60 days for eligible full-time employees and qualifying families.
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.

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