Social Worker

Summary The Veteran Justice Outreach Social Worker is a Senior Social Worker located in the Social Work Service at the Chillicothe VAMC, Chillicothe, Ohio. The primary responsibilities are to provide continuous quality improvement activities, evaluation and consultation, placement services, treatment matching sessions, and referral and linkage to various community agencies for Veterans who are monitored by the courts, including treatment and specialty courts. Qualifications 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: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f). 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 is fully accredited. A doctoral degree in social work may not substitute 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 master of social work. Licensure: 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: Social Worker – GS‑12 Licensure Requirement – you must be licensed or certified by a state at the advanced practice level which includes an advanced generalist or clinical examination, unless you are grandfathered by the state in which you 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 you must be able to provide supervision for licensure. Experience Requirement: You must possess 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. Examples of specialized experience include, but are not limited to, assessing and documenting identified behaviors or symptoms of abuse, neglect, exploitation, and/or intimate partner violence. Use of clinical social work skills. Maintaining patient privacy and confidentiality per policies, handbooks, or directives. Acting as an advocate with appropriate community service providers and agencies when it serves the best interest of the patient and family members or caregiver. Independently assessing the psychosocial functioning and needs of patients and their family members – identifying strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and psychosocial acuity. Applicable experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment. Knowledge, skills, and abilities: skill in a range of specialized interventions and treatment modalities used in specialty treatment programs or with special patient populations. 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 The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the GS‑12. Physical Requirements: This position requires the operation of a government‑owned or leased motor vehicle to properly carry out assigned duties. Refer to VA Handbook 5019/1 – Part II – Appendix A for requirements related to motor vehicle operators. Traveling throughout the medical center and the community is required – as is performing activities involving sitting, talking, driving, walking, standing, bending, the use of a computer and telephone, and carrying such items as books, papers, and files not to exceed facility‑determined weights. Travel into the community where they provide care to Veterans is necessary, including care provided in emergency shelters, veteran homes, or other community locations, which may require the use of stairs, walking on uneven terrain, and reasonable exposure to the elements. Strenuous physical activity is not anticipated; however, the incumbent is expected to withstand stress and interact with crisis situations as part of day‑to‑day activity. Duties Total Rewards of an Allied Health Professional: Duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to: responsible for clinical programming and daily operation of the program, as well as the management of program data. Coordinate administrative, patient, and personnel activities for this program and with VA and non‑VA employment providers and Community Employment Coordinator to assure access and ongoing employment services as needed. Develop processes for verifying the Veteran status and VHA eligibility of justice‑involved Veterans. Identify VA and non‑VA resources that can assist justice‑involved Veterans with their community stabilization process. Provide outreach to Veterans in prison and jail settings. Provide referrals and directly link Veterans to VA resources – including Vet Centers – to the extent the Veteran is eligible. Conduct correspondence with incarcerated Veterans and other involved parties (e.g., corrections, parole, probation, family) as needed. Provide case management as needed to coordinate treatment with VA services and other involved institutions – including parole and probation. Coordinate with the national network of VJP Specialists to ensure continuity of care for justice‑involved Veterans released to communities and states that are far distant from the facility where they are incarcerated. Accompany and transport Veterans to appointments and other community resources as needed. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday – 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Recruitment Incentive (Sign‑on Bonus): Not Authorized. Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized. Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases (above minimum rate of the grade may be considered for higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA). Paid Time Off: 37–50 days of annual paid time off 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 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 401(k) with up to 5% contributions by VA, and federal health/vision/dental/term life/long‑term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement). Telework: Ad‑hoc telework as determined by agency policy. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 93634A. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized. #J-18808-Ljbffr