Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval - award amount (up to $200 -000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.

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

Citizenship - You must be a citizen of the United States

English Language Proficiency - You must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f)

Education and/or Experience Combination - You must possess 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

Note: A doctoral degree in Social Work may NOT be substituted for the master's degree in Social Work

License or Certification* - You must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level

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: Senior Social Worker GS-12: 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

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 - Employee Occupational Health Services.

Duties

The Social Worker in this position acts in the role of senior social worker to an interdisciplinary team of professionals and trainees working with Veterans with a range of psychiatric disorders - provides supervision and consultation as appropriate - provides educational opportunities - provides direct patient care via individual and groups - participates in program development in consultation the Department of Mental Health - and provides administrative duties and reports related to such - as assigned by leadership

Duties may include but are not limited to: Conducts psychosocial assessments determine needs of veterans and family members

Collaborate with other disciplines in discharge planning and will ensure the timely and appropriate execution of discharge plans

Provides counseling or psychotherapy for individuals - families and groups

Serve as a liaison between the Department of Veterans Affairs and community resources - encompassing marketing and public relations responsibilities as necessary

Will furnish comprehensive social work services conforming to generally accepted practice standards - encompassing casework - individual - family - and group counseling - discharge planning - case management - and supplementary services as required

Address Advance Directives and Organ Donation - adhering to established standards within their department

Develops treatment plans in collaboration with the Veteran - their families and caregiver and with the interdisciplinary treatment team

Offers 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

Identifies high-risk patients and provides case management services

Establishes and maintains effective therapeutic relationships with Veterans and their families

Works with Veterans and families who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric - medical and social problems utilizing individual - group and family counseling and therapy skills

Provides 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

Provides customers with consistent information according to established policies and procedures

Handles conflict and problems in dealing with the consumer constructively and appropriately

Assists with other case management services within the MHBSS services as needed

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 8:00a.m to 4:30 p.m

EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive

Learn more

Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases when setting pay - a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade)

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 - adoptio

• Acts in the role of senior social worker to an interdisciplinary team of professionals and trainees working with Veterans with a range of psychiatric disorders.
• Provides supervision and consultation as appropriate.
• Provides educational opportunities.
• Provides direct patient care via individual and groups.
• Participates in program development in consultation with the Department of Mental Health.
• Provides administrative duties and reports related to such, as assigned by leadership.
• Conducts psychosocial assessments to determine needs of veterans and family members.
• Collaborates with other disciplines in discharge planning and ensures the timely and appropriate execution of discharge plans.
• Provides counseling or psychotherapy for individuals, families, and groups.
• Serves as a liaison between the Department of Veterans Affairs and community resources, encompassing marketing and public relations responsibilities as necessary.
• Furnishes comprehensive social work services conforming to generally accepted practice standards, encompassing casework, individual, family, and group counseling, discharge planning, case management, and supplementary services as required.
• Addresses Advance Directives and Organ Donation, adhering to established standards within their department.
• Develops treatment plans in collaboration with the Veteran, their families and caregiver, and with the interdisciplinary treatment team.
• Offers 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.
• Identifies high-risk patients and provides case management services.
• Establishes and maintains effective therapeutic relationships with Veterans and their families.
• Works with Veterans and families who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric, medical, and social problems utilizing individual, group, and family counseling and therapy skills.
• Provides 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.
• Provides customers with consistent information according to established policies and procedures.
• Handles conflict and problems in dealing with the consumer constructively and appropriately.
• Assists with other case management services within the MHBSS services as needed.

• Skill in a range of specialized interventions and treatment modalities used in specialty treatment programs or with special patient populations.
• Individual, group, and/or family counseling or psychotherapy.
• 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.
• Role modeling effective social work practice skills.
• Ability to expand clinical knowledge in the social work profession.
• Ability to write policies, procedures, and/or practice guidelines pertaining to the service delivery area.

• Master's degree in Social Work from a school of social work fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).
• Licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level.
• At least two years of experience post advanced practice clinical licensure.
• One year of experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in a specialized area of social work practice.
• Demonstrated possession of advanced practice skills and judgment.
• 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 (may be required).
• Licensed or certified by a state at the advanced practice level which included an advanced generalist or clinical examination (unless grandfathered).
• Ability to provide supervision for licensure.