Social Worker-Mental Health -RRTP

VA Careers - Social Work:

Screening/Assessment - The social worker will interview patients and develop a psychosocial assessment of the Veteran. The social worker may gather and evaluate information from sources other than the patient, with the patient's consent, to validate patient reports and provide a more comprehensive assessment. The goal of the 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. The social worker will also develop a record of patient history (Integrative Summary or Interpretive Summary), psychosocial assessment and psychosocial diagnosis for each assigned patient.

Treatment Planning/Goal Setting - It is the responsibility of the social worker, working within the interdisciplinary treatment team to develop a treatment plan based on assessment data and the input from the Veteran. The treatment plan will include measurable goals, objectives and treatment methods based upon the patient assessment. The treatment plan will be used to direct a course of treatment.

Providing Information and referral - Throughout the course of treatment the social worker will maintain expertise 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/or caregiver 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 development - The social worker will remain apprised of changing and emerging Veteran needs. The social worker will identify service gaps and collaborate with others within the VAHCS and/or community to encourage development or modification of services necessary to meeting the needs of Veterans.

Advocacy - The social worker will recognize potential barriers Veterans may face when attempting to access services and will act as an advocate when it serves the best interest of the Veteran and/or family. When appropriate and feasible, the social worker will educate and encourage the Veteran/family to advocate on own behalf, thus fostering a sense of independence and empowerment.

Crisis Intervention - The social worker will make rapid assessments and develop crisis management plans in MH RRTP. This includes the development and facilitation of written crisis plans, suicide risk assessments, collaborative safety action plans, and assessment of homicidal ideation. In the event of a medical or psychiatric emergency, staff will follow the protocol to facilitate safe and supportive placement for a Veteran on the acute psychiatric unit consistent with VAHCS, Mental Health Service Line, and MH RRTP policy.

Education/Health promotion and prevention - As appropriate, the social worker will provide health care education and/or referral to qualified health care educators to Veterans and their families. The MH RRTP social worker will provide education to Veterans related to Advance Directives/Living Will's and will facilitate completion for Veterans enrolled in MH RRTP.

Coordination of non-institutional and institutional services - The Social worker will review the progress notes from the other providers to accurately determine the strengths and limitations of each Veteran being referred for mental health services. Social worker will educate the Veteran, their families and the team of all the options available to them and will collaborate with the Veteran and family on the preferred option.

Supportive counseling - Social worker will provide the Veterans and their caregivers with ongoing supportive counseling. The purpose of such counseling is to assist the Veteran/caregiver in effectively coping with issues of daily living, including dealing with the psychosocial impact of dealing with issues of physical/mental illness and/or addiction.

Administrative responsibilities - The social worker will enter all Veteran/family contacts in the electronic record using appropriate formats and templates. It is the responsibility of the social worker to ensure that urgent medical documentation is available for view by other medical staff, therefore, it is required that the social worker ensure timely co-signature (if needed) by directly contacting the clinical mentor/supervisor, the Social Work Executive, or the immediate supervisor to sign off on the medical documentation. Information will be entered in a complete, confidential, and professional manner to ensure information on the patient is shared with other VA staff.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 7:30am-4pm-nights and weekends may be required
Telework: Adhoc
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized