Senior Social Worker (ARTS)

Summary This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval - award amount (up to $200 -000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply. 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 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 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) Grade Determinations: GS-0185-12 - Senior Social Worker 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-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 Licensure/Certification 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 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 Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12 This position will be filled at the GS-12 grade level Physical Requirements: This position requires hearing (aid permitted) Duties VA Careers - Social Work: Incumbent is assigned to the Veterans Affairs - NCHCS Mental Health Service - Addiction Recovery Treatment Services (ARTS) Program - and functions as a part of an outpatient addiction interdisciplinary team Services are carried out in full accordance with specific program goals and broad objectives of the VA health care system Responsibilities are focused on providing direct services and improving support systems - as well as administrative - consultative - and educational activities Incumbent employs a full range of social treatment modalities with individuals - couples - families - and groups Services will generally be provided in the clinic - and under certain circumstances - via telehealth The purpose of this position is to function as a Senior Mental Health Social Worker - providing outpatient substance abuse services at the Behavioral Health Clinic The incumbent applies advanced strategies to a full range of patient problems - with an emphasis on the treatment of patients suffering from substance use and other addictive disorders - many of whom may also have co-morbid psychiatric disorders (depression - anxiety - PTSD - and other mental health disorders) The incumbent has advanced knowledge of assessment techniques - diagnosis - intervention - and behavioral health that qualifies them to provide advice and consultation to professionals representing a variety of disciplines The incumbent is also required to exercise judgment in the selection or adaptation of standard and accepted theories - techniques - and practices in treating patients or developing new techniques and programs for the treatment of clinical populations Work Schedule: Monday through Friday - 8:00 a.m to 4:30 p.m. Subject to change to meet the needs of the Agency Compressed/Flexible: Not available Telework: Available ad hoc per agency policy Virtual: This is not a virtual position Functional Statement # 00000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive Contact - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not authorized #J-18808-Ljbffr U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs