Social Worker - Mental Health Intensive Case Management (Mhicm/Icmhr)

Summary

These Mental Health Intensive Case Management (MHlCM) Social Worker positions are in Mental Health services at the VA Healthcare Systems, located at the Bangor, Portland, and Togus, Maine locations. These positions are full-time at 40 hours per week.

Due to a critical staffing shortage, 38 U.S.C. § 7412 waives the requirement to apply Veterans' preference for this job announcement.

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Overview

• Accepting applications

• Open & closing dates

03/04/2024 to 04/26/2024

• Salary

$66,214 - $106,549 per year

Actual pay will be adjusted upon selection after duty location is established.

• Pay scale & grade

GS 11

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Locations

3 vacancies in the following locations:

• Bangor, ME

• Portland, ME

• Togus, ME

• Remote job

No

• Telework eligible

Yes-as determined by the agency policy.

• Travel Required

75% or less

• You may be expected to travel for this position.

• Relocation expenses reimbursed

Yes-You may qualify for reimbursement of relocation expenses in accordance with agency policy.

• Appointment type

Permanent -

• Work schedule

Full-time -

• Service

Excepted

• Promotion potential

11

• Job family (Series)

0185 Social Work

• Supervisory status

No

• Security clearance

Other

• Drug test

No

• Position sensitivity and risk

Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

• Trust determination process

Credentialing

Suitability/Fitness

• Announcement number

CBTD-12334370-24-MK

• Control number

779821000

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This job is open to

• The public

U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Clarification from the agency

Open to United States Citizens including Past/Current/Upcoming Graduates of VHA Health Trainee Programs (HPT) are eligible to apply (must send proof such as an SF-50 or a WOC appointment letter with application).

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Duties

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

The Social Worker functions as the VA Maine Health Care System (VAMEHCS) Case Manager for the Mental Health Intensive Case Management (MHlCM) and is part of the multi -disciplinary treatment team, providing comprehensive case management to patients assigned to the MHICM team.

Duties may include, but are not limited to:

• Provides complex clinical services to clients with serious psychological problems on a regular and continuing basis, including suicide preventions, crisis intervention, short- and long-term treatment, emergency food and shelter location, legal referral, employment, structured placement, financial matters, socialization, and any problems encountered in daily living.

• Completes annual psychosocial assessments that are updated each year.

• Makes routine home visits for case management and/or coordination of care based upon the acuity of each Veteran following the assessment.

• Conducts community visits to clients to maintain and encourage community living.

• Collaborates with Community Residential Care homes where Veterans reside to facilitate community living in the least restrictive environment and to provide support services for the homes. At times, the client may request assistance with placement into a different facility.

• Accommodates the Veteran, when possible, in providing transportation to take Veterans to medical appointments, job sites, social activities, and other community resources.

• Responsible to spend at least 75% of their time in the community.

• Referrals may also be initiated by other interdisciplinary team members that identify psychosocial issues.

• Responsibilities include an ongoing assessment and adjustment of the Veteran's treatment and progress, as well as developing discharge plans.

• Works in conjunction with Inpatient MH Social Workers by providing assistance with difficult discharges, provides continuity of care by following up with clients discharged from Mental Health Inpatient care.

• Provides outreach services to clients and engages in community networking which may include coordination with lawyers, residential care home operators, physicians, clergymen, and representatives of other discipline s who are concerned with the client or same group of clients.

• Performs other related assigned duties as listed in functional statement.

Work Schedule: Full-time; Monday

• Friday; 07:30am-4:00pm

Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): May Be Authorized

Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): May Be Authorized

Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases

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: VA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process.

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: 402-F02755 & 402-F02758

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.

Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

NOTIFICATIONS:

• Veterans' preference does not apply for other current permanent Federal agency employees.

• This position is an AFGE Bargaining Unit position.

• This position is covered by locality-based comparability pay.

• This position is in the Excepted Service.

• May be required to attend conference at other facilities or other VA sites on occasion.

• Selectee may be required to work at any VA Maine Healthcare System campus, as needed.

• The incumbent may be required to travel to other VA campuses and CBOC's.

• Narrative responses to the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) will be required from the selectee in order to proceed with the appointment.

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Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.

• Selectee must have a valid unrestricted driving license.

• Selectee must have a safe driving record.

• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.

• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.

• You may be required to serve a probationary period.

• Subject to background/security investigation.

• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.

• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.

• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).

• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

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 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 the CSWE website to verify if that social work degree meets the accreditation standards for a Master of Social Work.

• Licensure: Persons hired or reassigned to social worker positions in the GS-185 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 on the OHRM website. For the GS-11 grade level and above, the candidate must be licensed or certified.

• 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:

GS-11: 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, (VA or non-VA experience) and licensure or certification in a state at the independent practice level. 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.

AND

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

1.Knowledge of community resources, how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services, and ability to coordinate services.

2.Skill in independently conducting psychosocial assessments and treatment interventions to a wide variety of individuals from various socio-economic, cultural, ethnic, educational and other diversified backgrounds.

3.Knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities, and treatment procedures (i.e., acute, chronic, and traumatic illnesses/injuries, common medications and their effects/side effects, and medical terminology) to formulate a treatment plan.

4.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.

5.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, Part II, Appendix G39 - Social Worker Qualification Standard.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-11.

Physical Requirements and Work Environment: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Services.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Additional information

• Current and former Federal employees must submit copies of their most recent SF-50, (Notice of Personnel Action). The SF-50 must identify the position title, series, grade, step, tenure, and type of service (Competitive or Excepted). In some cases, more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held.

THIS OPEN & CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT (OCA) ESTABLISHES A STANDING REGISTER OF ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS, which closes on April 26, 2024. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be March 13, 2024, with subsequent reviews every other week as additional vacancies occur, or on an as-needed basis, until positions are filled. Please see the "Next Steps" area of the announcement which provides additional information on the referral process for this type of announcement.

Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

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• Benefits

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new window

Learn more about federal benefits.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., 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.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.