OPMH Therapist

***This is an open continuous announcement. Certificates of eligible applicants will be issued as vacancies exist. Each location listed may or may not have a current vacant position.

Clinical Functions (95%)

Screening/Assessment - The Social Worker will develop a thorough psychosocial assessment of the veteran in collaboration with the interdisciplinary treatment team, the veteran and family members/significant others.

The goal of the psychosocial assessment is to highlight the veteran's strengths, limitations, and internal/external supports and service needs in order to optimize the veteran's functional status.

This includes assessing the Veteran's learning needs regarding mental health issues as well as other problems including substance abuse, psychiatric and medical disorders.

The social worker must possess working knowledge and experience in use of medical and mental health diagnosis, disabilities and treatment procedures, including acute, chronic and traumatic illnesses, common medications and their effects/side effects, and medical terminology.

Treatment Planning/Goal Setting - The Social Worker is responsible for contributing to the development of the treatment plan and setting achievable treatment goals with the veteran, family members/significant others and other Outpatient Mental Health clinical staff.

The Social Worker must facilitate discharge planning through collaboration with Veteran and their families as well as inter disciplinary treatment ream members to ensure that appropriate discharge plans are executed in a timely manner.

Referral to service providers - Throughout the course of treatment, the Social Worker is the subject matter expert on VA and/or community resources.

The Social Worker will collaborate with other service providers in reassessing the veteran's needs.

The Social Worker is responsible for educating the veteran and family members/significant others of the available services and assisting them in establishing the appropriate referrals based on the veteran's preference or that of his surrogate decision-maker.

Resource Usage/Development - The Social Worker is responsible for using the current Social Work resource file of VA and community social service programs and enhancing the content to the benefit of veterans.

The Social Worker will refer the veteran to needed services.

Advocacy - The Social Worker understands the intimidation of bureaucracy and will act as an advocate when it serves the best interest of the veteran and family members/caregiver.

When appropriate and feasible, the Social Worker will educate and encourage the veteran to advocate on his/her own behalf, thus fostering a sense of independence and empowerment.

Performs other clinical duties as assigned.

Administrative Responsibilities (5%)

The Social Worker is responsible for supporting the mission, policies and procedures of the Department of Veteran Affairs, The Veterans Health Administration (VHA), the appropriate Integrated Service Network (VISN) and the facility.

The Social Worker will enter all Veteran/family contacts in the electronic record using appropriate formats and templates.

This information will be entered in a complete, confidential, and professional manner to ensure information on the veteran is shared with other VA staff.

This information will be reviewed on a regular basis.

The Social Worker will establish and maintain positive working relationships with employees, volunteers, consumers and stakeholders within the VA and outside community agencies.

The Social Worker will attend all appropriate staff meetings (i.e. team meetings, Social Work staff meetings, Social Work supervision meetings, committee meetings, workgroups, etc., as appropriate) and perform other duties as required.

The Social Worker will collaborate in the performance improvement processes and comply with performance measures as required by the VA for their specific population and/or program.

The Social Worker will participate in activities that obtain feedback from clients and work to enhance services as needed.

The social worker will maintain a level of productivity and quality consistent with the complexity of the assignment and consistent with social work standard, Joint Commission standards and facility standards.

This social worker is responsible for furthering one's own professional growth through continuing education and for ensuring education is appropriate to the area of assignment.

The social worker is able to provide assistance with the orientation and learning of all experienced social workers and, if interested, to serve as a preceptor for social work students.

Work Schedule:
Monday through Friday; 8:00am-4:30pm

Telework:
Not Available

Virtual:
This is not a virtual position.

Recruitment Incentives:
Authorized for external applicants only.

Relocation Incentives:
May be authorized for all applicants.

Financial Disclosure Report:
Not required

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