Social Worker - Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP)

Social Worker duties include, but are not limited to:

• Screening/Assessment - In conjunction with the interdisciplinary medical team, the BHIP Social Worker screens and assesses the Veteran's psychosocial needs and barriers in order to facilitate his or her access to appropriate VA and community resources. Through collaborative relationships with the Veteran, his or her family/caregiver and other VA programs and VA staff, the BHIP Social Worker coordinates the gathering of information vital to the process of setting appropriate treatment goals and time frames for achieving those goals. Assessment information, comprising the Psychiatry Assessment Template.
• Treatment Planning/Goal Setting - From screening/assessment information, in coordination with the BHIP treatment team, the Veteran and his/her family, the BHIP Social Worker determines realistic goals with the Veteran, including such factors as a) problems, b) goals, c) objectives, c) specific concrete interventions. Treatment plans are written utilizing the MHS software.
• Psychotherapy - The BHIP Social Worker will provide a full range of psychotherapeutic services to utilize the most appropriate evidence-based psychotherapy in order to provide quality care in the outpatient programs of the Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program at the Shelbyville CBOC location. The incumbent will participate in telemental health or similar activities in order to provide services for Veterans located away from the Medical Center. The incumbent provides ethical individual and group mental health services to eligible Veterans diagnosed with mental and behavioral health conditions.
• Referral to service providers - To facilitate the continuity of a Veteran's recovery, the BHIP Social Worker will arrange referrals to needed VA and/or community resources (e.g., services available through area agencies on aging, community support groups, etc.). The BHIP Social Worker will collaborate with other service providers in re-assessing the Veteran's needs during the eligibility determination process, coordinating access to information needed for the referral.
• Resource Usage/Development - As a subject matter expert on the services and resources available to Veterans through both VA and the community, the BHIP Social Worker will monitor patterns of resource availability, identifying unmet needs and the resultant impact on the Veteran's psychosocial functioning. The BHIP Social Worker will communicate with appropriate stakeholders (e.g., the Chief of Social Work, the Social Work Practice Council, other VA programs, community partners) to encourage the development of new and innovative resources.
• Advocacy - The BHIP Social Worker will advocate for Veterans to ensure that they have access to all needed care and resources within VA and in the community. By availing the Veteran of his or her choices in complex decisions and by guiding the veteran through complicated enrollment procedures and bureaucratic processes, the BHIP Social Worker facilitates the best possible outcome for the Veteran. When appropriate and feasible, the BHIP Social Worker will educate and encourage the Veteran and his or her family/caregiver to advocate on his/her own behalf, fostering independence and empowerment.
• Crisis Intervention - The BHIP Social Worker will assess and intervene in crises presented by the Veteran and participate in developing crisis management and safety plans to minimize the event of future crises.
• Education/Health promotion and prevention - The BHIP Social Worker will provide education about VA and community resources, entitlement programs, VA benefits and Advance Directives/Living, completing the advanced directive or living will as requested. The BHIP Social Worker will refer Veterans and their families/caregivers to the appropriate interdisciplinary team member for identified health education needs.
• Non-patient care responsibilities - The BHIP Social Worker will enter all Veteran/family contacts in the electronic medical record using appropriate formats and templates. This information will be entered in a complete, confidential, timely and professional manner to promote relevant and effective communication with other VA employees about the Veteran's care. The BHIP Social Worker will establish and maintain positive working relationships with employees, volunteers, patients/consumers and other stakeholders within the VA and in outside community agencies. Perform other duties as requested or assigned.

Work Schedule:

• Full Time
• 0730-1600 or 0800-1630

Telework: In accordance with VA Policy and Supervisor discretion
Virtual: This is not a virtual position
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required
Functional Statements: 92042-0, 92043-0
Social Work:

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 (). 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:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• 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 http://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. Indiana requires Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
  • 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 appointments at the GS-9 grade level, VHA social workers who are not licensed or certified at the time of appointment must become licensed or certified at the independent, master's level within three years of their appointment

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).

Grade Determinations:

Social Worker, GS-9 (Graduate)

Experience, Education, and Licensure: None beyond the basic requirements

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

• Ability to utilize counseling skills when working with Veterans and family members
• 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
• 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
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients, staff, and representatives of community agencies
• 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

Entry Level Assignments. Individuals assigned as GS-9 grade level social workers are considered to be at the entry level and are closely supervised, as they are not yet functioning at the independent practice level conferred by independent licensure or certification. Social workers at the GS-9 entry level are typically assigned to program areas that do not require specialized knowledge or experience.

Social Worker, GS-11 (Full Performance Level)

Experience and Licensure:
Appointment to the GS-11 grade level requires completion of a minimum of one 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:
In addition to meeting basic requirements, 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.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

• Knowledge of community resources, how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services, and ability to coordinate services
• Skill in independently conducting psychosocial assessments and treatment interventions to a wide variety of individuals from various socio-economic, educational, and other backgrounds
• 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
• Skill in independently implementing different treatment modalities in working with individuals, families, and groups who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric, 8 medical, and social problems to achieve treatment goals
• 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

Full Performance Level Assignments. This is the full performance level. Social workers at this level are licensed or certified to independently practice social work. Incumbents are assigned to all program areas, including but not limited to: inpatient or outpatient medicine, surgery, mental health, neurology, rehabilitation medicine, and geriatrics. Employees provide professional, independent social work services in the assigned area.

Preferred Experience: Incumbent must have experience conducting individual psychotherapy with adults.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit .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 9 to GS 11.Promotion

Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level.

Physical Requirements: The work of the social worker is community based with moderate physical activity. The incumbent must be able to operate a government vehicle several hours each day, walk up to a mile at a time, climb 2 to 3 flights of stairs at a time, and lift small objects . The incumbent must be capable of using a computer given all clinical charting is electronic.