The Senior Social Worker (Mental Health) is assigned to the Galveston, TX Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC). The incumbent will independently provide clinical psychosocial and case management services at an advanced practice level to eligible active duty service members, veterans and their family members to meet biological, psychological, social, and environmental needs. Incumbent performs specialized treatment of complex physical or mental illness. Incumbent incorporates complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment of veteran patients, including making psychosocial and psychiatric diagnoses within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice. Incumbent is able to provide outpatient assessment and medication management, supportive therapy, specialized group therapy for veterans with mood disorders, psychotic disorders, and traumatic brain injuries, family treatment and support for all veterans. Develops and implements methods for measuring effectiveness of social work practice and services in specialty areas, utilizing outcome evaluations to improve treatment services. Incumbent is able to demonstrate the ability to design changes based on empirical findings. The CBOC Outpatient Mental Health Social Worker designs and implements specific programs (i.e. specific therapy modalities) to meet the identified needs for the Rural Mental Health veteran population services at the CBOC Mental Health Clinic. Coordinates with outside medical facilities to promote continuity of care to include creation of a network of social services providers in the local community to enhance services provided by the VA and fill service gaps identified in the veteran's care and treatment due to limitations in veteran's services. Functions within the interdisciplinary team to coordinate with medical/mental health staff re: residential treatment and care in the community. Demonstrates the ability to teach and mentor staff and students in the special area of practice and to provide supervision for licensure or specialty certifications. Offers consultation to colleagues and students on the psychosocial treatment of patients treated in specialty areas, rendering professional opinions based on experience and expertise and role modeling effective social work practice skills. Remains involved in national, regional and local interest groups related to patient populations and CBOC specific issues. The Senior Social Worker is assigned administrative responsibility for clinical program development and is accountable for clinical program effectiveness and modification of service patterns. Evaluate and enhance the quality of service provided to Veterans by developing and implementing systems to monitor and improve services and delivery. The CBOC Outpatient Mental Health Social Worker works and collaborates with MEDVAMC Suicide Prevention Coordinators in providing case management services to the identified suicide high risk Veteran assigned to CBOC. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday; 8am to 4:30pm; with possible extended hours based on patient needs Financial Disclosure Report: Not required
Providing Health Care for Veterans: The Veterans Health Administration is America’s largest integrated health care system, providing care at 1,255 health care facilities, including 170 medical centers and 1,074 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics), serving 9 million enrolled Veterans each year.
