Senior Social Worker-PTSD Clinical Team

Summary This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) – a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program approval – up to $200 000 award and an eligibility period of one to five years are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after a complete review of the EDRP application. Qualifications United States Citizenship: Non‑citizens may be appointed only 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. 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. 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. Senior social workers have experience that demonstrates possession of advanced practice skills and judgment. Senior social workers are experts in their specialized area of practice. Senior social workers may have certification or other post‑master’s 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. 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, and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, candidates must demonstrate the following KSAs: 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. 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. Physical Requirements: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation and would generally not require a pre‑placement examination. Exceptions: A pre‑placement examination is required for any occupation or assignment that requires the operation of a government‑owned or -leased motor vehicle to properly carry out assigned duties. Examinations may also be required for any occupation or assignment that requires a pre‑placement examination by virtue of another policy, regulation, or statute. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard – please visit Duties The incumbent provides direct patient care to veteran patients as a member of the PCT, frequently collaborating and consulting with the O/P SUD Program. Time spent with each program depends on program needs. In the PCT, the incumbent focuses on outpatient treatment of veterans with PTSD and related diagnoses, providing evaluation, individual and group psychotherapy, and interdisciplinary consultation with an emphasis on evidence‑based treatments such as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, Cognitive Processing Therapy, and Prolonged Exposure. In the O/P SUD program, the incumbent provides treatment to veterans with comorbid PTSD spectrum and SUD diagnoses, including psychological evaluation, individual and group psychotherapy, and interdisciplinary consultation with evidence‑based treatments such as motivational interviewing, stages of change, and cognitive‑behavioral approaches. Must demonstrate a skill in a range of specialized interventions and treatment modalities used in specialty treatment programs with specialized populations. Must have a high level of skill and expertise to establish and maintain effective therapeutic relationships with veterans and/or their families. Must independently complete thorough psychosocial assessments to determine the psychosocial functioning and needs of veterans and/or their families. Must actively participate as a member of an interdisciplinary treatment team, collaborating with veterans, families, and team members to develop and implement treatment plans. Must possess a working knowledge of mental health and substance abuse diagnoses and treatment procedures. Must facilitate discharge planning through collaboration with veterans, families, and the interdisciplinary treatment team. Must serve as a liaison between veterans and/or their families and VA and community resources to ensure thorough delivery of services; must possess knowledge and ability to implement treatment modalities, providing counseling and/or supportive groups for veterans and families. Must provide consultation and education to veterans and families regarding community resources, VA benefits, specialty programs, and advance directives. Must be available to provide consultation to other treatment team members regarding psychosocial needs of veterans and/or their families and the impact of identified psychosocial problems on the veteran’s health‑care planning. Is assigned administrative responsibility for clinical program development and is accountable for clinical program effectiveness and modification of service patterns as directed by the immediate supervisor. Is able to provide leadership, direction, orientation, coaching, in‑service training, staff development, and continuing education programs for assigned social work staff and serve as a preceptor for social work students when appropriate. Work schedule: Monday‑Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. Recruitment incentive (sign‑on bonus): not authorized. Permanent change of station: not authorized. EDRP authorized; former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact View email address on click.appcast.io – the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases; a higher step rate 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 off per year – 13–26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, and 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 birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child. Child‑care subsidy: After 60 days of employment – full‑time employees with a family income below $144 000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25 % of eligible childcare costs, up to a monthly maximum of $416.66. Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5‑year vesting) and federal 401(k) with up to 5 % VA contribution. Insurance: Federal health, vision, dental, term life, long‑term care – many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement. Ad‑hoc telework: as determined by agency policy. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. #J-18808-Ljbffr US Department of Veterans Affairs