Senior Social Worker

Overview 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 as well as supporting the behavioral health needs of those in crisis. Qualifications Basic Requirements: Citizenship 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 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) Grade Determinations: Senior Social Worker - GS-12 (1) 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 (2) 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 (3) Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities In addition to the experience above - candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) 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 (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 (4) 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 Senior social workers typically practice in a major program area such as but not limited to: Polytrauma Rehabilitation Center or Polytrauma Network Site a Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation Center - or a national VHA referral center - such as a national Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder or a national Transplant Center - or other program areas of equivalent scope and complexity The senior social worker may have administrative responsibility for clinical program development and is accountable for clinical program effectiveness and modification of service patterns Assignments include clinical settings where they have limited access to onsite supervision such as CBOCs or satellite outpatient clinics The senior social worker collaborates with the other members of the treatment team in the provision of comprehensive health care services to Veterans - ensures equity of access - service - and benefits to this population - ensures the care provided is of the highest quality The senior social worker provides leadership - direction - orientation - coaching - in-service training - staff development - and continuing education programs for assigned social work staff They serve on committees - work groups - and task forces at the facility - VISN and national level - or in the community as deemed appropriate by the supervisor - Social Work Executive or Chief of Social Work Services This assignment is to be relatively few in number based on the size of the facility/service and applying sound position management This assignment must represent substantial additional responsibility over and above that required at the full performance grade level and cannot be used as the full performance level of this occupation 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 (e.g hospital - primary care mental health integration) where brief - evidence-based interventions and warm handoffs are routine Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12 Physical Requirements: The work environment involves everyday risks or discomforts that require normal safety precautions typical of such places as offices - training rooms - and libraries The work area is adequately lighted - heated - and ventilated The incumbent must also work outdoors in all types of weather There may be occasional exposure to moderate risks or discomforts in storage areas or hazardous waste sites The work is primarily sedentary - although some physical effort may be required - e.g. - walking - standing - climbing ladders - stooping - kneeling - and carrying light items such as manuals or briefcases. Duties VA Careers - Licensed Clinical Social Worker: Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Incumbent is responsible to provide a variety of 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 Responsibilities includes consultation and education to CBOC staff and service providers - the collection and maintenance of statistical data - program planning evaluation and modification - and the supervision of students as assigned Senior Social Worker will collaborate with the other members of the PACT - and CBOC staff in the provision of comprehensive health care services to Veterans - will ensure equity of access - service - and benefits to this population - and collect - develop - and analyze data from this program - using clinical indicators to assure care provided is of the highest quality The major duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to: Senior Social worker assigned to support Social Work Service programming Incumbent must possess the knowledge of implementing treatment modalities and how to do the following: 1) identify level of functioning - degree of impairment in occupational - social - academic - interpersonal and family area 2) evaluate and assess lethality - 3) perform mental status exams (MSE) - 4) identify psychiatric manifestations of various medical conditions - 5) assess and intervene with patients of suspected abuse and provide counseling or psychotherapy for individuals - families and groups Determines the presenting problem - psychosocial factors impacting the problem - and obstacles to treatment and/or follow through with recommended treatments Provides social work case management coordination with members of the treatment team - to ensure a collaborative effort to meet the treatment goals for a Veteran Acts as a liaison with community professionals regarding needed services for Veterans and/or their families Establishes and maintains effective therapeutic relationships with Veterans and/or their families with proficiency Utilizes assessment in developing and implementing a comprehensive treatment plan for attainment of the highest level of independence that is possible and practicable Participates actively as a member of the interdisciplinary treatment team through collaboration with Veterans and family - in the development and implementation of treatment goals and interventions Implements psychotherapeutic treatment modalities - provide educational classes - and/or treatment and supportive groups for Veterans and families based on knowledge and ability Provides consultation and education to Veterans and their families regarding community resources - VA benefits and specialty programs - and advance directives - which includes the process for accessing and/or coordinating community-based services - information - and referral for additional services from other VA programs - other government programs - and community programs Provides consultation to other treatment team and staff members regarding psychosocial needs of Veterans and/or their families and the impact of the identified psychosocial problems on the Veteran's health care planning and compliance with treatment PACT social workers may provide back up for the Acute Care social workers and Emergency Department social workers at times when a need occurs The incumbent will maintain an unrestricted - unsuspended license to practice social work Must be able to provide supervision for licensure Perform other duties as assigned Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 8:00AM - 4:30PM Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): May be authorized for highly qualified candidates Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): May be authorized for highly qualified candidates Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year) 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 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: May be available for highly qualified candidates Virtual: This is not a virtual position Functional Statement #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized #J-18808-Ljbffr