CAREER CENTER

Current, permanent VA employees or Federal employees from another agency should apply under CBST-11872857-23-AK. The incumbent Social Worker will be the Military Sexual Trauma (MST) Coordinator. The MST Coordinator will serve as a point person and source of information and problem-solving for MST-related issues at the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System (CAVHS) as well as the affiliated community based outreach centers (CBOC). 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: 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/. Grade Determinations: SOCIAL WORKER (Program Coordinator), GS-12 Experience/Education: The candidate must have one year of experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level. Experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment, demonstrating progressively more professional competency. Candidate may have certification or other post-master's degree training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university that includes a defined curriculum/course of study and internship, or equivalent supervised professional experience. Licensure/Certification: Individuals assigned as social worker program coordinator must be licensed or certified at the advanced practice level, and must be able to provide supervision for licensure. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: - Knowledge of program coordination and administration which includes consultation, negotiation, and monitoring. - Knowledge and ability to write policies, procedures, and/or practice guidelines for the program. - Ability to supervise multidisciplinary staff assigned to the program .- Skill in organizing work, setting priorities, meeting multiple deadlines, and evaluating assigned program area(s). - Ability to provide training, orientation, and guidance within clinical practice. Preferred Experience: - Experience in treating Military Sexual Trauma - Experience and interest in treating trauma-related anxiety - Excellent computer and written/verbal communication skills - Experience providing suicide/homicide risk assessments, safety plans, and initial treatment for Veterans in crisis - Experience treating behavioral health conditions such as chronic pain, sleep disturbance, diabetes treatment adherence, and tobacco cessation - Background in brief, individual and group evidence-based therapies (i.e., Motivational Interviewing/Motivational Enhancement Therapy, Behavioral Activation, Mindfulness and Acceptance-based interventions, Problem Solving Therapy, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Chronic Pain, Written Exposure Therapy, Prolonged Exposure in Primary Care) - Experience providing tele-mental health services References: VA Handbook 5005/120, Part II Appendix G39, Social Worker Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-12. Physical Requirements: Light lifting (under 15 pounds), light carrying (under 15 pounds), reaching above shoulder, walking, standing, hearing (aid permitted). (See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Services). ["VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU The duties of the Social Worker (Program Coordinator) in the Mental Health Service include but are not limited to: Administrative MST Coordinator Functions (50% Program Coordination): The MST Coordinator primarily plays a problem-solving role in implementing policy. They should become familiar with the local processes involved in each clinical area at CAVHS and develop mechanisms to become aware when a problem has arisen. They explore the problem in question, work with relevant staff/offices to help facilitate corrective action, and, as appropriate, offer recommendations to leadership for further action. - Ensuring that MST screening is being conducted properly, and that Veterans who screen positive and are interested in treatment are referred and connected with appropriate services in a timely manner. At the facility's discretion, this may also include the responsibility to provide an initial response to all MST consults submitted for advisement purposes (see section II. below), in which case the MST Coordinator should typically be given greater than 0.2 FTE protected time. - Coordinating with facility business offices and clinical service/care lines to ensure Veterans are not being charged for MST-related care, and that Veterans eligible for MST care only are able to access the appropriate services. - Serves as the primary contact for Veterans and other staff members with questions about MST or local MST-related services. The MST Coordinator should publicize his or her contact information to clinical providers, business office staff, and frontline staff (e.g., phone operators and clerks). - Acts as an advocate for Veteran MST survivors in their interactions with relevant VHA clinics and offices, intervening when necessary to ensure that MST policies are correctly implemented. - Regularly publicizes information about the role of the MST Coordinator to facility frontline staff, such as telephone operators, to ensure these staff can assist Veterans in reaching the MST Coordinator. - Provides training specific to MST screening, including how to complete the MST Clinical Reminder, for relevant service/care lines, such as primary care. - Provides training or instructional resources on proper documentation of MST-related care encounters for relevant service/care lines. - As needed, helps develop procedures and processes that identify local mental health providers and primary care providers who must complete MST mandatory training requirements (see VHA Directive 1115.01). - Communicates with the appropriate mental health and primary care service/care line leadership to publicize the importance of compliance with the MST mandatory training requirements (see VHA Directive 1115.01). - Collaborates with facility partners and leadership to ensure that material on MST services is visibly posted or displayed within the facility. Clinical Functions: The incumbent: - Possesses skill and expertise in establishing and maintaining effective therapeutic relationships with Veterans and/or their support systems. The incumbent independently works with Veterans who are experiencing a wide range of complicated medical, psychiatric, emotional, behavioral, financial, and psychosocial issues. - Independently completes an appropriate (brief) psychosocial assessment to determine the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and/or their support systems. The incumbent utilizes the assessment, in conjunction with the Veteran, to facilitate development of a treatment plan which maximizes the use of treatment programs/resources and leverages appropriate support systems to ensure goal attainment. - Actively participates and collaborates with the interdisciplinary treatment team and with Veterans and/or their support systems to develop and implement treatment goals and interventions. - Possesses a working knowledge and experience in the use of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities, and treatment procedures, including acute, chronic and traumatic illnesses, and medical terminology. - Possesses knowledge and ability to independently implement appropriate interventions, facilitate psycho-educational classes, individual and group psychotherapy and supportive groups for Veterans and/or their support systems. The incumbent has knowledge of and provides specialized interventions and treatment modalities specific to the Primary Care setting. - Utilizes evidence based protocols including but not limited to: Written Exposure Therapy, Prolonged Exposure in Primary Care, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia and Problem Solving Training. Work Schedule: TBD with employee Telework: Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]

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