Senior Social Worker (Behavioral Health Access Team) - EDRP Approved

Summary This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application. Duties Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional The Behavioral Health Access Team (BHAT) Senior Social Worker is a senior practitioner that works as part of a multidisciplinary team comprised of Psychiatric providers, Psychologists, Nurses, Medical Support Assistants, and other Social Workers of varying practice levels, that provide immediate access, on demand, same day Mental Health Services to Veterans enrolled in the El Paso VA Health Clinic. The BHAT Senior Social Worker performs crisis intervention, same day assessments, biopsychosocial assessments, treatment planning, evidence-based group and individual psychotherapy, care coordination with other VA services, and referrals to community agencies and hospitals. The BHAT Senior Social Worker possesses independent practice skills and judgment in the field of social work practice. They are independently licensed, demonstrate highly effective social work practice, teach, guide, and mentor less experienced social workers, draft policies, procedures, functional statements, and proposals for management review, and take a lead role in continuous program improvement. BHAT treatment interventions are evidence-based and individualized to each veteran based on the presenting case complexity, mental illness acuity, co-morbidity, substance abuse disorders, resistance to standard treatments, and utilization of inpatient psychiatric resources. The BHAT Senior Social Worker orients, trains, and oversees new Social Work staff, as well as other interdisciplinary and allied staff in BHAT systems, processes, and workflows. provides clinical supervision and training to Social Work interns, graduates working toward as assigned serves as a mentor and coach to other Social Workers, assumes responsibility and shows initiative for their learning and professional development, evaluates BHAT social work practice through participation in professional peer reviews. Utilizes deescalation strategies, conducting suicide risk assessments, developing and implementing crisis management plans, establishing safety plans, coordinating admission to inpatient psychiatric programs, and coordinating after-care treatment. In the event of a medical or psychiatric emergency, staff will follow the protocol of his/her respective mental health clinic and the El Paso VA Health Clinic. completes same day triage assessments, crisis assessments, suicide risk assessments, and biopsychosocial assessments of Veterans in collaboration with the interdisciplinary treatment team, the Veteran, and Veteran's family members/caregivers, in accordance with all applicable policies and procedures. collaborates with the veteran in treatment plan development, based on their biopsychosocial assessment, setting achievable treatment goals with the Veteran, and identifying outcome-based measures for each goal. Treatment goals are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time bound. Duties are continued in the Education Section. Work Schedule: Monday

• Friday, 8 AM
• 4:45 PM Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact the EDRP Coordinator at [email protected] for questions/assistance. Learn more Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade). Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience. Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child. Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66. Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: This is an onsite position. Telework may be offered when deemed necessary by the department AD-HOC (Employees who telework on an occasional, episodic, or short-term basis, and have completed required telework training and telework agreement.) (Portion of day acceptable). Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 55957-F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Qualifications 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: You must be proficient in spoken and written English 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. License or Certification
• You must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level. 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). Grandfather Provision. A Social Worker employed in VHA on the effective date of the qualification standard (9/10/2019) who did not meet all the basic requirements in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed, the following provisions apply: Employees may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level or changed to lower grade within the occupation but may not be promoted beyond the journeyman level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. Employees in an occupation that requires a licensure/certification/ registration only at higher grade levels must meet the licensure/ certification/registration requirement before they can be promoted to those higher grade levels. Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. Employees who are converted to title 38 hybrid status under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of re-entry to the occupation. Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the