Summary

This is an open continuous announcement that will remain open until filled. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis. Eligible applicants will be referred every two weeks for consideration until a selection is made.

Qualifications

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
• English Language Proficiency
• In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) - no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English
• 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
• 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
• Licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work 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
• Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements stated above - the following qualification criteria must be met for each grade
• The candidate's qualifications must clearly demonstrate the level of competence required for the grade
• Experience: 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 and 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
• 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
• Preferred Experience and Certifications Basic Life Support (BLS) - Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) - or Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) certification Full independent licensure at the advanced practice level At minimum five years post licensure experience in a medical and/or mental health/behavioral health setting providing assessment - treatment and case management
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: Eligible applicants must be physically and mentally able to perform efficiently the essential functions of the position - with or without reasonable accommodation - without hazard to themselves or others
• Depending on the essential duties of a specific position - usable vision - color vision - hearing or speech may be required
• However - in most cases - a specific physical condition or impairment of a specific function may be compensated for by the satisfactory use of a prosthesis or mechanical aid.

Duties

• The Senior Social Worker selected for this position will need to have experience that demonstrates possession of advanced practice skills and judgment - especially in crisis intervention and working with an interdisciplinary team
• They will be using short-term - solution focused counseling with individuals and families who may be in crisis as well as providing education and referral for resources and benefits - case management - and post-intervention follow-up
• Duties include but are not limited to: Provide a range of duties to include clinical assessment - case management - discharge planning - group work - and serve as subject matter experts to manage highly complex Veterans
• Provide orientation for new social workers - ongoing training to social workers - provide clinical licensure supervision for social workers pursuing licensure - and participate in MSW student training program
• Demonstrate possession of advanced practical skills and judgment especially in mental health diagnosis and treatment - crisis intervention - and discharge planning
• Demonstrate excellent customer service skills to work with Veterans - their families - an all interdisciplinary - and internal and external stakeholders - to include VA and community partners
• Demonstrate experience and use evidence based behavioral health interventions with Veterans and families to address psychosocial and mental health needs with the goal to progress through the continuum of care resulting in successful and follow up care
• Work Schedule: 8:00AM - 4:30PM May vary depending on deployment and/or assigned facility needs Telework: Not Available Travel: Not Required Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized