Medical social worker Jobs in Syracuse, NY

Internal Number: 863375200

Summary

The Intensive Community Mental Health Recovery (ICMHR) Case Manager; Mental Health Intensive Case Management (MHICM) and Rural Access Network for Growth Enhancement (RANGE) - Social Worker is a full time position aligned under the Mental Health ICC. The ICMHR Social Worker works closely with the ICMHR Team and if based at a CBOC - may also meet regularly with the CBOC Behavioral Health BHIP team.

Qualifications

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: Be a citizen of the United States
• (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3 - section A - paragraph 3g this part)
• 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 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://
• 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
• English Language Proficiency
• Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 § 7403(f)
• Grade Determinations:GS-9 (Entry Level)Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities: In addition to the basic education requirement - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Ability to utilize a Veteran centric approach when providing interventions and counseling for Veterans - their family members - caregivers - and survivors
• (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
• GS-11 (Full Performance Level)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 - and licensure or certification in a state at the independent practice level
• OR 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
• 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 - educational - and other backgrounds
• (c) Knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses - disabilities and treatment procedures (
• 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: VA HANDBOOK 5005/120 PART II APPENDIX G39 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-9 to GS-11
• Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience - including volunteer work done through National Service programs ( - Peace Corps - AmeriCorps) and other organizations ( - professional
• philanthropic
• religions
• spiritual
• community
• student
• social)
• Volunteer work helps build critical competencies - knowledge - and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment
• You will receive credit for all qualifying experience - including volunteer experience.

Duties

• The ICMHR Social Worker provides intensive case management services to assigned Veterans and significant others - consistent with the goals and methods of the ICMHR Program
• Intensive case management services includes: frequent - direct contacts with Veterans to provide therapy and support with the goal of symptom reduction - increased contact frequency in times of crisis - flexible Veteran contact - and focusing on strengthening the Veteran's ability to address acute and chronic problems independently
• The Social Worker provides care within the framework established by National ICMHR Directives and collaborates and consults with other interdisciplinary treatment teams to promote and enhance Veteran care
• The Social Worker may also provide individual/family psychotherapy and group therapy as applicable
• Lists the major duties and responsibilities of the position: (duties include - but are not limited to) Maintain a strong working relationship with community agencies and could include
• local psychiatric units and discharge planners - SROs - and other VA providers and VA facilities
• The Social Worker completes psychosocial assessments - initial treatment plans - updated treatment plans and discharge summaries as clinically indicated
• Collects and submits program participant data - as outlined by the Northeast Program Evaluation Center (NEPEC)
• The Social Worker stays aware of National ICMHR Directives by participating in ICMHR conference calls and attends training offered by the ICMHR Team
• Follow all local policies and procedures
• This includes following policies and documentation requirements as required for CARF and Joint Commission accreditation
• The Social Worker will participate in program planning and development - advises the supervisor of trends with caseloads - identifies needs for program procedure or policy changes and makes recommendations
• Communicate effectively - both orally and in writing with people from varied backgrounds and is able to evaluate his/her own practice through professional peer review - case conferences and other organizational means
• Document Social Work interventions and activities in patient's clinical record and ensures appropriate hand off when transferring of patient care
• Provide consultation services to other staff regarding the psychosocial needs of Veterans and the impact of psychosocial problems on health care and adherence to treatment plan
• Coordinate treatment and communicates with the other services to facilitate care of Veterans
• Incumbent also has general knowledge of Veterans' benefits and services relating to special programs - service connected compensation - non-service connected pension
• Facilitates referrals based upon Veterans needs and eligibility
• Participates in committee assignments - discipline specific meetings and initiatives - as deemed necessary by the service manager
• Participates in a rotation of on-call social workers - including modification of tour of duty to accommodate patient care needs on weekends
• May provide supervision to a Social Work Intern or be generally involved with the MSW training program
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 08:00 am - 4:30 pm Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases Paid Time Off: days of annual paid time offer per year ( 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 $
• 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: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO):Not authorized