Senior Social Worker

Senior Social Workers (SSWs) are licensed or certified to independently practice social work at an advanced level. SSWs typically practice in major specialty treatment programs, responsible for clinical program development and ensuring effectiveness. SSWs are assigned to settings without social work supervision, such as CBOCs or satellite clinics, addressing special patient populations with highly complex health or mental health problems requiring expert-level psychosocial interventions. 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: Be a citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified U.S 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: 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 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). 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. Licensure: 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. Preferred Experience: Must be fully licensed. Must have 5 years of mental health experience. Reference For more information on this qualification standard, please visit The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. Physical Requirements The Social Worker carries out all duties related to screening, assessment, treatment planning, case management and aftercare follow up for Veterans. Work is in Social Work specifically with Veterans and their families, which requires skill in dealing with individuals in crisis and exposure to potentially dangerous situations. The work is a mixture of in the office desk work and in the community social work. The position will require a moderate level of keyboarding , standing (up to 2 hours), walking (up to 2 hours), bending, and moderate lifting (15-44 pounds), reaching above shoulder, use of fingers, both hands required, both legs required, 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). Work Environment The work environment involves everyday risks requiring normal safety precautions typical of such places as offices, meeting and training rooms, or other hospital and/or clinic areas. The work area is adequately lighted, heated and ventilated. The community locations will vary depending on where the Veteran is residing or receiving services. Veterans may be transported by the Social Worker via government vehicle. Occasional travel by air and car will be required that may present uncontrollable environments. A current, unrestricted driver's license and driving ability are necessary. #J-18808-Ljbffr