Senior Social Workers are licensed or certified to independently practice social work at an advanced level. Senior Social Workers typically practice in a major specialty treatment program area or program areas of equivalent scope and complexity. The Senior Social Worker is assigned administrative responsibility for clinical program development and is accountable for clinical program effectiveness and modification of service patterns. Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: 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. Verification of the degree can be made by going to http://www.cswe.org/Accreditation to verify that the social work degree meets the accreditation standards for a masters of 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. Current state requirements may be found by going to http://vaww.va.gov/OHRM/T38Hybrid/ 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. In addition to the experience above, candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) 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. (b) Ability to incorporate complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice. (c) 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. (d) 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. (e) 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: 1. Ability to make professional evaluations, decisions, and recommendation for treatment planning and implementation. 2. Ability to establish goals/treatment through a collaborative process with the patient utilizing advanced counseling skills, including evidenced-based practices and screening/assessment. 3. Ability to use a wide variety of individual and group counseling interventions; demonstrates sensitivity to diversity and possesses multicultural counseling skills 4. Ability to fully utilize the current DSM in making diagnoses and formulation of treatment goals and application of appropriate clinical intervention using professional counseling practices. References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/120 PART II APPENDIX G39 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting, 15-44 pounds Moderate carrying, 15-44 pounds Reaching above shoulder Use of fingers Walking Standing Kneeling Repeated bending Both legs required Operation of crane, truck, tractor, or motor vehicle Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously Near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4 Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other Depth perception Hearing (aid permitted) ["**If you ARE a VA/federal employee, apply to Announcement CBST-11869047-23-TB** Duties include but are not limited to: The Social Worker independently performs case finding functions and outreach, identifying and screening patients for psychosocial needs. The incumbent must possess the knowledge and ability to independently implement treatment modalities, and provide counseling or psychotherapy for individuals, families, and groups. The Social Worker independently conducts psychosocial assessments. The Social Worker independently diagnoses Veterans according to the latest version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders or other recognized diagnostic manuals of mental disorders. Acts as a subject matter expert and liaison with community agencies. He / She coordinates community-based services, including information and referral to or from other VA programs, government programs, and community agency programs. Develops treatment plans in collaboration with the Veteran and/or family and with the interdisciplinary treatment team. The incumbent possesses the skills to offer psychosocial intervention and utilizes professional judgment in determining the method and techniques to be used. Knowledge and experience in the use of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities, and treatment procedures. He / She identifies high-risk patients and provides appropriate intervention case management services. Establishes and maintains effective therapeutic relationships with Veterans and their families. The incumbent works independently with patients and families who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric, medical, and social problems. He / She is knowledgeable and skilled in utilizing evidence-based practice to include individual, group, and family counseling techniques. Provides consultation services to VA staff regarding the psychosocial needs of the Veterans and the impact of their problems on their health and adherence to their treatment plan. Evaluates their own practice as well as their colleagues through professional peer review, case conferences, and other organizational means. He / She communicates effectively, both orally and in writing, with people from varied backgrounds. Communicates effectively, both orally and in writing, with people from varied backgrounds. Uses word processing software to execute several office automation functions such as storing and retrieving electronic documents and files; activating printers; inserting and deleting text, formatting letters, reports, and memoranda; and transmitting and receiving e-mail. Uses the Veterans Health Information and Technology Architecture (Vista) to access information in the Medical Center Computer System. The Social Worker documents independently in CPRS electronic medical records, including psychosocial assessments, diagnostics, treatment, progress notes, follow up and referrals. Has general knowledge of Veterans' benefits and services relating to special programs, service-connected compensation, and non-service-connected pension. Serves as a Social Work Service representative on Service and facility committees/work groups/task forces, and on community agency boards as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; 8:00am - 4:30pm Telework: Yes Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 520-00003-F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]

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