Senior Social Worker (Inpatient Acute Psychiatry Unit) - EDRP

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. 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 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 Loss of Licensure or Certification: Once licensed or certified - social workers must maintain a full - valid - and unrestricted independent license or certification to remain qualified for employment Loss of licensure or certification will result in removal from the GS-0185 social worker series and may result in termination of employment Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 - Employee Occupational Health Services English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f) 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: Experience and 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 - the candidate 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 Preferred Experience: PE 1 Full and unrestricted licensure PE 2 Prior experiencing working in the VHA PE 3 Prior experiencing working in inpatient unit or other similar setting PE 4 Training in brief models of psychotherapy and treatment PE 5 Experience interacting with and participating in multidisciplinary treatment teams in a residential or inpatient setting PE 6 Training in evidence-based psychotherapies appropriate to Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit The full performance level of this vacancy is GS 12 Physical Requirements: The work is sedentary Some work may require movement between offices - hospitals - warehouses - and similar areas for meetings and to conduct work Work may also require walking/standing - in conjunctions with travel to and attendance at meetings and/or conferences away from the work site Incumbent may carry and lift light items weighing less than 15 pounds. Duties Possesses knowledge of human development throughout the lifespan - interventions based on research and theory - family and system interaction - formal diagnostic criteria - risk assessment - evidence-based practice and assessment tools Provides evidence-based treatment interventions Participates as a member of a multidisciplinary clinical team providing a full range of mental health services Contributes to the gathering of assessment information and the development of a detailed treatment plan for veterans serviced by the program Assists Suicide Prevention Team with ensuring continuity of care for Veterans recently hospitalized at non-VA facilities Demonstrates skill in the use of computer software applications for drafting documents - data management - maintaining accurate - timely and thorough clinical documentation - and tracking quality improvements Serves as an advisor - consultant and/or resource person to the staff within the medical center Participates as a member of medical center hospital committees as directed Maintains appropriate records and follow-up data on patients who are their responsibility Complies with national and local performance measures - including timely health care screening and completion of clinical reminders for all patients Complies with all CPRS documentation procedures - including timeliness standards for documentation and proper patient check out procedures (e.g. - entering diagnostic and procedure codes) Attends and participates in administrative and informational meetings as held by CTVHCS and MH&BM management Attends regular Psychology Service staff meetings - Medical Staff meetings - MH&BM staff meetings and complies with Psychology Service peer review procedures Other duties as assigned based on clinic needs Work Schedule: M-F 0730-1600 0800-1630 0830-1700 Telework: AdHoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position Functional Statement #: 56472-F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: 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 Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized #J-18808-Ljbffr