The Social Worker is assigned to the Salt Lake City Veteran Affairs Medical Center (SLC VAMC) Access Crisis Team (ACT) - an interdisciplinary treatment team which provides crisis/mental health services to the Emergency Department (ED), Outpatient Mental Health (OPMH) and other outpatient clinics, as needed. The Social Worker works on a team which provides services seven days/week, 24 hours/day including holidays 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. Current state requirements may be found by going to http://vaww.va.gov/OHRM/T38Hybrid/. (1) 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. At the time of appointment, the supervisor, chief social work or social work executive will provide the unlicensed/uncertified social worker with the written requirements for licensure or certification, including the time by which the license or certification must be obtained and the consequences for not becoming licensed or certified by the deadline.] (a) 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 as a VA HANDBOOK 5005/120 September 10, 2019 PART II APPENDIX G39 II-G39-4 social worker. Most states require two years of post-MSW experience as a prerequisite to taking the licensure/certification exam, and VHA gives social workers one additional year to pass the licensure/certification exam. In states such as California, Washington, and others where the prerequisites for licensure exceed two years, social workers must become licensed at the independent, master's level within one year of meeting the full state prerequisites for licensure. Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Services. English Language Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). 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) 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 (1) Experience, Education, and Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements (2) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Ability to work with Veterans and family members from various socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other diversified backgrounds utilizing counseling skills. (b) 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. (c) 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. (d) Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients, staff, and representatives of community agencies. (e) 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 (1) 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- September 10, 2019 VA HANDBOOK 5005/120 PART II APPENDIX G39 II-G39-7 VA experience) and licensure or certification in a state at the independent practice level. NOTE: For appointment licensure or certification at this level please refer to paragraph 3c. OR (2) 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.( 3) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:(a) Knowledge of community resources, how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services, and ability to coordinate services.(b) Skill in independently conducting psychosocial assessments and treatment interventions to a wide variety of individuals from various socio-economic, cultural, ethnic, educational and other diversified backgrounds.(c) 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.(d) 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.(e) 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. References: 5005 Part II, Appendix G39 The full performance level of this vacancy is 11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of 9 to 11. Physical Requirements: Must be in overall good health, able to sit at a desk working at a computer, engage in light to moderate physical activity including sitting, walking, bending, and carrying supplies. Social Worker must be able to perform primarily light and sedentary duties with occasionally moderate physical demands, exercise patience, and control emotions, with reasonable accommodation if necessary, without endangering the health and safety of the social worker or others. Social Worker must be able to pass VA requirements for operation of a government vehicle. Position requires walking throughout the clinic and/or Medical Center, standing for extended periods of time, and involves sitting at a computer and in counsel and consultation with Veterans and interdisciplinary teams. Position may require minimal travel to meet with representatives/stakeholders in clinics, medical centers, and offices which provide assistance and support to Veterans. ["VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU Duties include but are not limited to: The Social Worker will provide treatment recommendations to the ED physician regarding whether the veteran is appropriate for inpatient psychiatric admission or whether they can be referred to outpatient services. This Social Worker will fully assess suicide/homicide risk factors and protective factors, and clearly interpret the safety of the patient. The Social Worker completes suicide behavior reports and notifications in accordance with policies and procedures. The Social Worker will provide assessment and treatment referrals for patients presenting with substance abuse. The appropriate screening, interventions, and referrals will be provided. The Social Worker is responsible to appropriately assess geriatric psychiatric patients using appropriate assessment tools. The Social Worker will determine if inpatient hospitalization is appropriate and admission will be facilitated, as needed. The Social Worker is responsible to ensure continuity of care for all patients presenting in mental health crisis, by providing intervention or facilitating services with another provider. When patients call the VA in crisis, the Social Worker will assess patients by telephone and provide crisis counseling/intervention, e.g. instruct patient to present to the emergency room or follow-up with established providers. The Social Worker will contact local police for wellness checks during appropriate circumstances. The Social Worker has the knowledge and skills to evaluate patients for involuntary psychiatric commitment according to applicable laws and regulations. The Social Worker will serve as a resource to all SLC VA staff regarding the local laws and regulations regarding involuntary psychiatric commitment. Social Worker may assist all VA staff (on inpatient medical floors, etc.) on evenings/weekends/holidays regarding urgent social work issues, e.g. child/elder abuse, mandated reporting. The Social Worker will independently conduct psychosocial assessments and formulate and implement treatment plans for individuals, groups and families from various socio-economic, cultural, ethnic, educational and other diversified backgrounds. The Social Worker will have knowledge of human development and behavior and the differential influences of the environment, society and culture. The Social Worker will have knowledge and experience in the use 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.\n*Announcement will be open until filled, up to 90 days* Work Schedule: Wednesday- Saturday; potentially Sunday-Wednesday. Four 10-hour shifts/week. Will be required to work evenings, weekends, and occasional overnight shifts in support of program/agency needs.\nCompressed/Flexible: Available\nTelework: Not Available\nVirtual: This is not a virtual position.\nFunctional Statement #: 07226A, 07227A\nRelocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized\nPermanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required"]