Senior Social Worker

Summary NOTE: The 2‑page Resume requirement does not apply to this occupational series. For more information – refer to Required Documents below. This Senior Social Worker is assigned to PACT in a CBOC with responsibility to provide social work services to adult and geriatric Veterans receiving care, as well as provide open access to Veterans seeking these services and timely response to individuals in psychosocial crisis in PACT and support the behavioral health needs of those in crisis. Qualifications Citizenship – Must be a citizen of the United States. (Non‑citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3 – section A – paragraph 3g of this part.) 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 4 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 English Language Proficiency – Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f). 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. Licensure/Certification – Senior social workers must be licensed or certified by a state at the advanced practice level which includes 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. Demonstrated Knowledge‑Skills‑Abilities – Candidates must demonstrate the following KSAs: a) Skill in a range of specialized interventions and treatment modalities used in specialty treatment programs or with special patient populations, including 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. Assignments – For all assignments above the full performance level – the higher‑level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty) – and variety and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. Senior social workers are licensed or certified to independently practice social work at an advanced level; typically practice in a major program area such as Polytrauma Rehabilitation Center or other comparable program. The senior social worker may be assigned administrative responsibility for clinical program development and is accountable for clinical program effectiveness and modification of service patterns. Preferred Experience – Prior VA or military population experience, including familiarity with military culture, service‑connected conditions, and VA systems and resources; experience in primary care, CBOC, PACT, or other integrated medical/behavioral health settings where brief, evidence‑based interventions and warm handoffs are routine. Duties Provide social work services for Veterans, including psychosocial assessments, treatment planning, short‑term solution‑focused counseling with individuals and families who may be in crisis, education and referral for resources and benefits, and case management. Consult and educate CBOC staff and service providers; collect and maintain statistical data; plan, evaluate and modify programs; supervise students as assigned. Collaborate with the PACT and CBOC staff to deliver comprehensive health care services to Veterans, ensuring equity of access, service, and benefits, and collecting, developing, and analyzing data from this program using clinical indicators to assure high‑quality care. Support Social Work Service programming; implement treatment modalities; identify level of functioning, assess lethality, perform mental status exams, identify psychiatric manifestations of medical conditions, assess and intervene with suspected abuse, provide counseling or psychotherapy for individuals, families, and groups. Determine presenting problem, psychosocial factors, obstacles to treatment, and follow through with recommended treatments. Coordinate social work case management with the treatment team to meet treatment goals for a Veteran. Act as liaison with community professionals regarding needed services for Veterans and/or their families. Establish and maintain effective therapeutic relationships with Veterans and/or their families with proficiency. Utilize assessment in developing and implementing comprehensive treatment plans to achieve highest independence possible and practicable. Participate as member of interdisciplinary treatment team; collaborate with Veterans and families in developing and implementing treatment goals and interventions. Implement psychotherapeutic modalities; provide educational classes, and/or treatment and supportive groups for Veterans and families. Provide consultation and education to Veterans and families regarding community resources, VA benefits, specialty programs, and advance directives, including process for accessing and coordinating community‑based services, and referral for additional services from other VA programs, government programs, and community programs. Consult with other treatment team and staff regarding psychosocial needs of Veterans and/or their families and impact on health care planning and compliance with treatment. Provide backup for Acute Care social workers and Emergency Department social workers when needed. Maintain an unrestricted, unsuspended license to practice social work; able to provide supervision for licensure. Perform other duties as assigned. Work schedule: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–4:30 PM. #J-18808-Ljbffr