Social Worker

Summary MHICM: The clinical and program activities assumed under this position are conducted as part of ICMHR Program. MHICM RANGE clinicians execute the same duties - but with a focus on Veterans residing in more rural areas. The goal of MHICM and MHICM RANGE is to develop - implement - and assess the benefit of a behaviorally oriented program of psychosocial rehabilitation - intensive case management - and community-based treatment for chronic mentally ill Veterans. 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 In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) - no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English 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 Note: 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 Licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work 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 Exception VHA may waive the licensure or certification requirement for persons who are otherwise qualified - pending completion of state prerequisites for licensure/certification examinations This exception only applies at the GS-9 grade level For the GS-11 grade level and above - the candidate must be licensed or certified At the time of appointment - the supervisor - chief social work or social work executive will provide the unlicensed/uncertified social worker with the written requirements for licensure or certification - including the time by which the license or certification must be obtained and the consequences for not becoming licensed or certified by the deadline.] For appointments at the GS-9 grade level - VHA social workers who are not licensed or certified at the time of appointment must become licensed or certified at the independent - master's level within three years of their appointment as a social worker Most states require two years of post-MSW experience as a prerequisite to taking the licensure/certification exam - and VHA gives social workers one additional year to pass the licensure/certification exam In states such as California - Washington - and others where the prerequisites for licensure exceed two years - social workers must become licensed at the independent - master's level within one year of meeting the full state prerequisites for licensure A social worker who does not yet have a license that allows independent practice must be supervised by a licensed independent practitioner of the same discipline who is a VA staff member and who has access to the electronic health record Different states have different levels of licensure or certification - making it difficult for VHA staff to determine the independent practice level Each state - Puerto Rico - and the District of Columbia completed surveys identifying the level of licensure or certification allowing independent practice Copies of the surveys are on file in the VHA Office of Care Management and Social Work Services - and a summary spreadsheet of the levels of licensure or certification is available to social work professional standards board members for purposes of determining whether the social worker's level of licensure or certification meets the VHA qualification standards All states except California use a series of licensure exams administered by the ASWB Information can be found at The ASWB is the association of boards that regulates social work ASWB develops and maintains the social work licensing examination used across the country and is a central resource for information on the legal regulation of social work The ASWB offers three examinations The master's examination is generally used by states for the independent practice level of licensure or certification - while the advanced generalist and the clinical examinations are used for the advanced practice level of licensure or certification Differences between the master's and the advanced exams demonstrate the expectation that advanced practice social workers will have a more sophisticated knowledge of practice theory & its application 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: In addition to the basic requirements stated above - the following qualification criteria must be met for each grade The candidate's qualifications must clearly demonstrate the level of competence required for the grade Social Worker - GS-9 Experience - Education - Licensure None beyond the basic requirements Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Ability to utilize a Veteran centric approach when providing interventions and counseling for Veterans - their family members - caregivers - and survivors Ability to assess the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and their family members - and to formulate and implement a treatment plan - identifying the Veterans problems - strengths - weaknesses - coping skills - and assistance needed Ability to implement treatment modalities in working with individuals - families - and groups to achieve treatment goals This requires judgment and skill in utilizing supportive - problem solving - or crisis intervention techniques Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients - staff - and representatives of community agencies Fundamental knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses - disabilities - and treatment procedures This includes acute - chronic - and traumatic illnesses/injuries common medications and their effects/side effects and medical terminology Social Worker - GS-11 Experience and Licensure Appointment to the GS-11 grade level requires completion of a minimum of one year of post-MSW experience equivalent to the GS-9 grade level in the field of health care or other social work-related settings - (VA or nonVA experience) and licensure or certification in a state at the independent practice level NOTE: For appointment licensure or certification at this level please refer to paragraph 3c OR Education In addition to meeting basic requirements - a doctoral degree in social work from a school of social work may be substituted for the required one year of professional social work experience in a clinical setting Qualification section continued in Education section below: Duties VA Careers - Social Work: Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Major Duties: Provide intensive case management services to assigned Veterans and significant others - consistent with the goals and methods of ICMHR Work will be conducted in the community and in Veteran's homes Independent decision making will be required to provide treatment to Veterans diagnosed with Serious Mental Illness Utilizes knowledge of theories and modalities - such as Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) in the specialized treatment of Veterans with Severe Mental Illness (SMI) Independently conducts psychosocial assessments and evidence-based treatment interventions to a wide variety of Veterans from various socio-economic - cultural - ethnic - education and other diversified backgrounds Independently implements a variety of evidence-based treatment modalities in working with individuals - families - and groups who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric - medical - and social problems to achieve treatment goals Provides consultation services to new social workers - social work graduate students - and other staff about the psychosocial needs of Veterans and the impact of psychosocial problems on health care and compliance with treatment Independently assesses the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and their family members - identifying the Veteran's strengths - weaknesses - coping skills - and psychosocial acuity In collaboration with the Veteran - family/caregiver - and interdisciplinary treatment team - the social worker facilitates the delivery of health care services Provides professional - independent social work services to Veterans with Severe Mental Illnesses Provides case management and care coordination to facilitate appropriate delivery of health care services - incorporates complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment of Veterans - including making psychosocial and psychiatric diagnoses within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice Provides a range of interventions and evidence-based treatment modalities to include individual - group - and/or family counseling or psychotherapy Incumbent will complete required clinical forms for monitoring service delivery and outcomes as determined by the ICMHR Program Director as well as staff at the Northeast Program Evaluation Center (NEPEC) Supports CARF and Measurement Based care by administering measures that will assist with tracking progress of Veteran treatment and goals Provides outreach and assertive provision of services to treatment resistant members Engages in mobilization of environmental and organizational supports - including family members - professionals - and other interested parties For example - provides individual - family - and group therapies as well as educational programs for Veterans - families - and staff Also responsible for linking members to other VA programs and to community resources Works assertively and consistently with inpatient teams to assure continuity of care by providing consultation regarding clinical needs - treatment plans - and case management services for assigned Veterans Works assertively to promote appropriate treatment - rehabilitation - and expeditious discharge of assigned members - consistent with program goals and with the individual treatment plans Works with other clinical programs and product lines that share in the care of assigned ICMHR members - including but not limited to each product line and other recovery programs In pursuit of programmatic and treatment goals - maintain effective working relationships with other professional and administrative personnel both within the Medical Center and in the community Assesses Veterans for safety in an on-the-spot evaluation prior to transporting that Veteran in a government vehicle Procedures for the safe transport of Veterans will be followed in accordance with Social Work Service guidelines and ICMHR Program SOP Must have a valid driver's license and be able to safely operate a government assigned vehicle Major Duties will continue in Education section below Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 7:30AM - 4:00PM Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Duties section continued in Education Section below: #J-18808-Ljbffr