The Social Worker serves as the Mental Health psychiatric liaison to the Emergency Department (ED) in the Level 1b medical facility, VA Maryland Health Care System (Baltimore). Incumbent's experience and abilities demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and abilities, and incumbent is licensed as the advanced, independent level of practice. The incumbent works as the only social worker in the ED, providing rotating coverage from 7am through 11pm, 7 days per week. 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 SW Licensure Summary by State. English Language Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). GRADE DETERMINATIONS for GS-12 Senior Social Worker. In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. Experience/Education. The candidate must have at least two years of experience post advanced practice clinical licensure and should be in a specialized area of social work practice of which, one year must be equivalent to the GS-11 grade level. Senior social workers have experience that demonstrates possession of advanced practice skills and judgment. Senior social workers are experts in their specialized area of practice. Senior social workers may have certification or other post-masters training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university that includes a defined curriculum/course of study and internship or equivalent supervised professional experience in a specialty. Licensure/Certification. Senior social workers must be licensed or certified by a state at the advanced practice level which included an advanced generalist or clinical examination, unless they are grandfathered by the state in which they are licensed to practice at the advanced practice level (except for licenses issued in California, which administers its own clinical examination for advanced practice) and they 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: Skill in a range of specialized interventions and treatment modalities used in specialty treatment programs or with special patient populations. This includes individual, group, and/or family counseling or psychotherapy and advanced level psychosocial and/or case management. Ability to incorporate complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice. Knowledge in developing and implementing methods for measuring effectiveness of social work practice and services in the specialty area, utilizing outcome evaluations to improve treatment services and to design system changes. Ability to provide specialized consultation to colleagues and students on the psychosocial treatment of patients in the service delivery area, as well as role modeling effective social work practice skills. Ability to expand clinical knowledge in the social work profession, and to write policies, procedures, and/or practice guidelines pertaining to the service delivery area. References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/120 PART II APPENDIX G39. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. Physical Requirements: Light lifting (under 15 lbs.); light carrying (under 15 lbs.); reaching above shoulder; use of fingers; walking (intermittent); standing (intermittent); hearing (aid permitted); clear speech. The work is sedentary. Typically, the employee may sit comfortably to do the work. However, there may be some walking, standing, bending and carrying of light items like papers or books. No special physical demands are required to perform the work. ["Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf Social Work: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Social-Worker-Career-Flyer.pdf Major Duties: Senior Social Worker - Mental Health Psychiatric Liaison to the Emergency Department (ED) Incumbent incorporates complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment of Veteran patients, including making psychiatric diagnoses within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice in an emergency room setting. Incumbent ED Senior Social Worker works independently of any other Social Workers in the Emergency Department setting, additionally due to rotating coverage shifts is frequently working after normal business hours and on weekends when there is no supervisory consultation readily available. Incumbent independently completes psychosocial assessments on acute and non-acute patients to determine appropriate discharge from Emergency Department, coordinates appropriate referrals for follow up care, and increases access to Mental Health care in a timely manner. Incumbent Senior Social Worker in the ED coordinates psychiatric admission for involuntary patients in conjunction with the psychiatrist and medical team. They may also complete the documentation and coordinate with both the VA and local police to file Emergency Petitions (EP) for Veterans at risk in the community. Incumbent ED Senior Social Worker coordinates transfers outside of the VAMHCS when there are no available in-patient psychiatry beds; this includes accessing transportation services on weekends and after-hours. In collaboration with the Suicide Prevention Team the incumbent ED Senior Social Worker receives and manages calls from suicidal patients that call directly to the VAMHCS Baltimore operator after normal business hours or if SPT staff are unavailable. Incumbent completes Mission Critical Performance Measures including Suicide Risk Screen, Suicide Safety Plans, Depression and PTSD screens, and AUDIT-C screening and appropriate interventions. The ED Senior Social Worker will be trained in and will serve as back up clinician for the Mental Health Triage Clinic providing psychosocial assessment, diagnosis, and referral for new Veteran patients or those who have been out of care. Coverage may be requested anytime the Triage Clinic is open, typically Monday - Fridays, 7:30 am - 3:30 pm. Work Schedule: Variable-80 hours over a two week pay period but it could be either a 7am-3:30pm or 3:00pm - 11:30pm shift, including weekends - 80 hours over a two-week pay period but it could be either a 7am-3:30pm or 3:00pm - 11:30pm shift, including weekends. Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of existing pay, 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: Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 0000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]

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