Senior Social Worker - Outpatient Flow Coordinator (OFC)
What you'd do
This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.
Major duties
The Outpatient Flow Coordinator (OFC) Senior Social Worker provides Coordination of Care for all Veterans discharging from an Acute Inpatient Mental Health Ward or from an Intensive Inpatient Substance Abuse or Trauma Recovery Program. The incumbent of the position will develop strong working relationships with both external and internal stake holders in regards to assuring proper follow up for hospitalized Veterans and those returning from Residential Treatment Facilities. Duties include but are not limited to: Manages follow up appointments for Veterans who have been discharged from VAMC or Community Based Acute Psychiatric hospitals. Also, manages follow up appointments for Veterans Discharging from Residential Treatment Programs. Fosters positive relationships with SATP, TRP, MST, BHIP, and Suicide Prevention Coordinators in order to facilitate seamless transitions into their programs from Acute Psychiatric and Residential Programs. Provides on-going case management and early treatment interventions to promote sustained stability for Veterans who are discharging from an Acute Mental Health Ward or Residential Treatment Facility. Develops appropriate professional relationships with the Veterans, assisting them in the Recovery Process and assuring that they are able to engage in needed Outpatient Mental Health Follow Up. Manages Follow Up appointments for Veterans Discharging from Residential Treatment Programs. Follows Veterans discharging from these programs for 30 days, providing care coordination to help the Veterans receive and keep their Post Discharge Follow Up appointments. Performs case finding functions and outreach, identifying and screening patients for psychosocial needs. Develops service plans with the Veteran that addresses the factors that contributed to the mental health hospitalization/rehabilitation and other co-occurring factors within a recovery model framework. Provides consultative services to the Inpatient programs (both VA operated and Community Operated), as well as, to the Trauma Recovery program, Substance Abuse Treatment Program, and the Behavioral Health Integration Program, as needed to assure seamless transitions from Acute Psychiatric Hospitalization and Residential Treatment Programs. Conducts psychosocial assessments; utilizes the Diagnostic & Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-IV) as the basis for diagnostic impressions and conclusions. Develops treatment plans in collaboration with the veteran/family and with the interdisciplinary treatment team. Possesses the skills to offer psychosocial interventions and measures outcomes to interventions. Coordinates community-based services, including information and referral for additional services from other VA programs, other government programs and community agency programs, as well as, working with the programs as the Veteran transitions back to outpatient care at the Fayetteville NC VA Coastal Healthcare System. Establishes and maintains effective therapeutic relationships with veterans and their families. Works with patients and families who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric, medical and social problems utilizing individual, group and family counseling and therapy skills. Operates from a psychosocial rehabilitation and recovery model of care in all veteran patient and family interactions. Facilitates referrals based upon veterans needs and eligibility. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm Telework: This position is eligible for Ad-Hoc telework. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
What you need to qualify
Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States. 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. 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. (1) 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 U.S.C. § 7403(f). 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). Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met for the grade level. 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. Preferred Experience: Two (2) years of mental health experience. Two (2) years of care coordination/case management experience to include discharge planning. Reference: VA Handbook 5005, Part II Appendix G39, Social Worker Qualification Standard GS-185 Veterans Health Administration. For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Services.
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