Social Worker-Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program

Veterans Health Administration; Ann Arbor (MI); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System seeks a Mental Health Clinical Social Worker within the BHIP team in the Mental Health Clinic. This outpatient role emphasizes veteran-centered assessment and collaborative treatment planning.

Applicants must meet basic requirements including CSWE-accredited MSW and licensure or eligibility; some referrals may occur during credentialing with licensure required within three years.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in social work from CSWE-accredited school.
• Licensed or eligible for licensure at independent practice level.
• Proficiency in English (spoken and written).
• U.S. citizenship required.

Responsibilities

• Utilize veteran-centric interventions and counseling for Veterans and families.
• Assess psychosocial functioning and formulate treatment plans.
• Implement modalities with individuals, families, and groups to achieve goals.
• Establish and maintain effective relationships with clients and community partners.
• Apply knowledge of medical/mental health diagnoses to inform care.

Skills

Veteran-centered approach

Psychosocial assessment

Treatment planning

Crisis intervention

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Education

MSW from CSWE-accredited program

Job description

This is a Mental Health Clinical Social Work position embedded in a Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) team in the Mental Health Clinic within the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System. This is a multifunctional position with an emphasis on Outpatient Mental Health.

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.
• English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).
• Education. You must possess 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. NOTE: 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. You 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.

For assignments at the GS-9 level, VHA may waive the licensure or certification requirement for persons who are otherwise qualified, pending completion of state prerequisites for licensure/certification examinations. 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 as a social worker. 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 Experience, Education, and Licensure.

None beyond the basic requirements.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities.

• Ability to utilize a Veteran centric approach when providing interventions and counseling for Veterans, their family members, caregivers, and survivors.
• 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.

Social Worker GS-11 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.

• 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