Clarification from the agency

ALL US CITIZENS. *** If you ARE A CURRENT federal employee, please apply to vacancy CBSU-12953345-26-BAW open to current federal employees. *** NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

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This position serves as the Case Manager for two virtual Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) teams. While many team members are remote, the Social Worker Case Manager is an on-site position. The social worker functions in accordance with the policies, principles, professional ethics, and techniques of accepted Social Work practice to include the National Association of Social Work, professional licensing code, and state laws.

Direct clinical and associated administrative responsibilities include:
1. The Case Manager (CM) completes a comprehensive assessment of the concerns, needs, and preferences of the Veteran related to their mental health care. Subsequent reassessments/monitoring are created in collaboration with the Veteran, their family or caregiver, and interprofessional team, as clinically indicated.
2. desired or expected goal(s) and outcome(s), as well as a resource assessment to identify available benefits, assistive options, and appropriate services and resources within and outside VHA. Resources may include existing natural supports, and internal skills and coping mechanisms.
3.The CM plans and implements a care plan through coordination and collaboration with the Veteran, the family or caregivers, and VHA and community providers. The intensity and duration of CM services are dependent on the Veteran's Care needs. The CM assists Veterans/caregivers with system navigation, and linking them in a timely manner to health, mental health, health education, self-management and social services, community-based resources, or benefits, as clinically indicated. The CM will facilitate proactive, patient-centric communication and information sharing between the Veteran or Servicemember, their family or caregiver, providers, and other care team members.
4. The CM will engage, develop, and maintain therapeutic relationships with both the Veteran, families, and caregivers, utilizing resiliency-based, recovery oriented, Veteran-centered communication and practice techniques as well as time-limited psychotherapy (in unique situations) to facilitate progress, growth, and positive lifestyle changes. The CM may conduct psychosocial screening and evaluations for the wide range of mental conditions utilizing best practices for initial and follow-up assessment (i.e., measurement-based care), as well as participates in the development of appropriate treatment plans.
5. The CM provides emergency/crisis intervention services to outpatients experiencing acute psychological crises, helping to stabilize these individuals, assisting in the referral arrangements for transfer to a psychiatric facility for inpatient care if necessary and providing follow up care as needed.
6. The CM will provide Same Day Access services, including screening for risk and other needs assessments, determining appropriate level of care for services, referring Veterans to appropriate services, and assisting with immediate needs.
7. The CM coordinates effective and timely referrals to ensure the appropriate level and type of care, working collaboratively with VA teams across ECHCS, community care providers, and other VA facilities. The CM manages transitions of the Veteran to other interfacility VA programs (e.g., Salt Lake City Telemental Health Clinical Resource Hub), as well as other VHA, DoD, federal, state, and local home and community-based services (to include the Office of Community Care).
8. The CM uses CM best practice processes, procedures, tools, and templates in their work to allow for better tracking, monitoring, and reporting of quality and performance metrics.
9. The CM completes all clinical charting and documentation accurately and in a timely manner as required by and according to procedures outlined by applicable accrediting organization, VHA, Medical Center, and Service policies.
10. The CM engages in various administrative activities, to include peer review to assess the quality of professional care standards provided in the organization, participating in team-, clinic-, and service-based staff meetings, and engagement in continuing education activities to maintain professional licensure and any certification, to include Basic Life Support. The CM maintains 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. The CM may serve on committees, work groups, and task forces as needed.
11. The CM is responsible for all other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday thru Friday 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m
Telework: Not available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: GS9: 554-52426-A, GS11: 554-62427-A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.Contact anthony.salas3@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS:
Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States. Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
English Language Proficiency. Social Workers must be proficient in spoken and written English.
Education. Have a master's degree in social work from a school of social work fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). Graduates of schools of social work that are in candidacy status do not meet this requirement until the School of Social Work is fully accredited. A doctoral degree in social work may not be substituted for the master's degree in social work. Verification of the degree can be made by going to https://www.cswe.org/Accreditation to verify that the social work degree meets the accreditation standards for a masters of social work.
Licensure. Persons hired or reassigned to social worker positions in the GS-0185 series in VHA must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level. Current state requirements may be found by going to http://vaww.va.gov/OHRM/T38Hybrid/.Exception: VHA may waive the licensure or certification requirement for persons who are otherwise qualified, pending completion of state prerequisites for licensure/certification examinations. This exception only applies at the GS-9 grade level. For the GS-11 grade level and above, the candidate must be licensed or certified.

GRADE DETERMINATION
GS-09
Experience, Education, and Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

1. Ability to utilize counseling skills when working with Veterans and family members.
2. Ability to assess the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and their family members, and to formulate and implement a treatment plan, identifying the Veterans problems, strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and assistance needed.
3. Ability to implement treatment modalities in working with individuals, families, and groups to achieve treatment goals. This requires judgment and skill in utilizing supportive, problem solving, or crisis intervention techniques.
4. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients, staff, and representatives of community agencies.
5. Fundamental knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities, and treatment procedures. This includes acute, chronic, and traumatic illnesses/injuries; common medications and their effects/side effects; and medical terminology.

GS-11
Experience and Licensure. Appointment to the GS-11 grade level requires completion of a minimum of one (1) year of post-MSW experience equivalent to the GS-9 grade level in the field of health care or other social work-related settings, (VA or non-VA experience) and licensure or certification in a state at the independent practice level.OR
Education. A doctoral degree in social work from a school of social work may be substituted for the required one year of professional social work experience in a clinical setting. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

1. Knowledge of community resources, how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services, and ability to coordinate services.
2. Skill in independently conducting psychosocial assessments and treatment interventions to a wide variety of individuals from various socio-economic, educational, and other backgrounds.
3. Knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities and treatment procedures (i.e. acute, chronic and traumatic illnesses/injuries, common medications and their effects/side effects, and medical terminology) to formulate a treatment plan.
4. Skill in independently implementing different treatment modalities in working with individuals, families, and groups who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric, medical, and social problems to achieve treatment goals.
5. Ability to provide consultation services to new social workers, social work graduate students, and other staff about the psychosocial needs of patients and the impact of psychosocial problems on health care and compliance with treatment.

May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).

Preferred Experience: Experience providing case management in an outpatient mental health setting. Preference for advanced practice license.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-09 to GS-11.

Physical Requirements: Physical demands of the work are generally minor, as the position requires sitting, standing, and walking. The emotional demands can be stressful in working with high-risk for suicide veteran population and their families. A high level of self-awareness is essential. Work is primarily sedentary. May require prolonged standing, moderate walking, and manual dexterity. Requires carrying light items, such as books, files, or laptop computer.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.