Social Worker

Summary The Social Worker will provide psychotherapy services at the Lynchburg Community Based Outpatient Clinic which is within the Salem VA Health Care System and assigned to the Social Work Service. The Social Worker must use a high level of independent skill in assessing - treating the complex mental health and psychosocial needs of Veterans referred for mental health services. Completes thorough psychosocial assessments - diagnostic interviews and will provide individual and group psychotherapy. The Social Worker will provide psychotherapy services at the Lynchburg Community Based Outpatient Clinic which is within the Salem VA Health Care System and assigned to the Social Work Service. The Social Worker must use a high level of independent skill in assessing - treating the complex mental health and psychosocial needs of Veterans referred for mental health services. Completes thorough psychosocial assessments - diagnostic interviews and will provide individual and group psychotherapy. 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: 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 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 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) 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: GS9: Experience - Education - and Licensure None beyond the basic requirements Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the followingKSAs: (a) Ability to utilize a Veteran centric approach when providing interventions and counseling for Veterans - their family members - caregivers - and survivors (b) Ability to assess the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and their family members - and to formulate and implement a treatment plan - identifying the Veterans problems - strengths - weaknesses - coping skills - and assistance needed (c) Ability to implement treatment modalities in working with individuals - families - and groups to achieve treatment goals This requires judgment and skill in utilizing supportive - problem solving - or crisis intervention techniques (d) Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients - staff - and representatives of community agencies (e) Fundamental knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses - disabilities - and treatment procedures This includes acute - chronic - and traumatic illnesses/injuries common medications and their effects/side effects and medical terminology GS11: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 NOTE: For appointment licensure or certification at this level please refer to paragraph 3c Education In addition to meeting basic requirements - 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 Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities In addition to the experience above - candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of community resources - how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services - and ability to coordinate services (b) Skill in independently conducting psychosocial assessments and treatment interventions to a wide variety of individuals from various socio-economic - educational - and other backgrounds (c) Knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses - disabilities and treatment procedures (i acute - chronic and traumatic illnesses/injuries - common medications and their effects/side effects - and medical terminology) to formulate a treatment plan (d) 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 (e) 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 Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit The full performance level of this vacancy is GS11 The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS9 to GS11 Physical Requirements: In accordance with VA Handbook 5019 - Part II - Paragraph 3 - II-1 - 1(a) - A pre-placement physical examination to determine the physical - cognitive and emotional fitness of candidates for appointment in VA is required - and shall be completed prior to appointment - for all full-time individuals appointed under 38 U.S.C. - Chapter 73 - for Title 38. Duties DUTIES: GS-9 is the entry level grade for the GS-0185 Social Work series and is used for Social Workers with less than one year of post-MSW experience and who are not yet licensed or certified at the independent practice level The employer is responsible to arrange ongoing supervision for licensure qualification and must pass the licensure exam within the specified time frame to maintain his/her position with the Salem VAMC Must have the ability to establish and maintain effective therapeutic relationships with Veterans engaged with mental health or substance use services and/or their families The employee is able to work with Veterans and their families who are experiencing a wide range of complicated medical - psychiatric - emotional - behavioral - and psychosocial problems Completes thorough psychosocial assessments and diagnostic interviews to determine the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and/or their families The employee must be able to utilize this assessment in facilitating the Veteran's maximum use of treatment for attainment of the highest level of independence that is possible and practicable Responsible for contributing to the development of the patient centered treatment plan and setting achievable treatment goals with the Veteran - family members/significant others and other inpatient mental health clinical staff Need to be licensed at the practice level by the state in which they are licensed to provide this service within 3 years of their appointment as a social worker Be mindful of keeping their supervisor apprised of problems and recommended solutions to problems encountered in the candidate's area of responsibility GS-11: Individuals assigned as GS-11 Social Workers are at the full performance level A GS-11 social worker has a master's degree in Social Work granted by a graduate program fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) and maintains a license Must have a high level of skill and expertise to establish and maintain effective therapeutic relationships with Veterans engaged with mental health or substance abuse services and/or their families The employee is able to independently work with Veterans and their families who are experiencing a wide range of complicated medical - psychiatric - emotional - behavioral - and psychosocial problems Must possess a working knowledge and experience in use of medical and mental health diagnoses - disabilities - and treatment procedures - including acute - chronic - and traumatic illnesses - common medications and their effects/side effects - and medical terminology Provides consultation to other treatment team and staff members regarding psychosocial needs of Veterans and/or their families and the impact of the identified psychosocial problems on the Veteran's health care planning - compliance with treatment - and discharge planning Must possess and demonstrate ability to communicate effectively - both orally and in writing with people from varied backgrounds Be mindful of keeping their supervisor apprised of problems and recommended solutions to problems encountered in the candidate' area of responsibility VA Careers - Social Work: Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Work Schedule: Monday-Friday - 7:45 am-4::30pm Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized 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 - 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: Ad-hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position Functional Statement #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized #J-18808-Ljbffr