Senior Social Worker

Full Job Description

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, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.

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). 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 http://www.cswe.org/Accreditation to verify that the social work degree meets the accreditation standards for a masters of social work.

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 for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.

Senior Social Worker, GS-12 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.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. This position is a GS-12, which is above the full performance level.

Physical Requirements: This position is primarily sedentary and requires a minimal amount of walking within the clinic and standing, in addition to sitting at a standard work station and ability to work on the computer and telephone.

Major Duties:

VA Careers - Social Work: https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU List the major duties and responsibilities of the position.

Counseling and Psychotherapy - The CBOC Senior Social Worker provides individual, group, and (if credentialed and privileged) family psychotherapy and psychoeducational services, as well as advanced case management.

The incumbent will practice at an advanced, independent practice level and may receive training on various evidence-based treatments.

Treatment Planning/Goal Setting - The CBOC Senior Social Worker is responsible for collaboratively developing the treatment plan and setting achievable treatment goals with the Veteran/family.

The treatment plan will be completed by the Veteran's third visit for mental health services.

The plan will be updated yearly or more frequently if there is a change in the Veteran's condition or needs.

Referral to Service Providers - Throughout the course of treatment the CBOC Senior Social Worker is the subject matter expert on VA and/or community resources.

The incumbent will collaborate with other service providers in reassessing the Veteran's needs.

The incumbent is responsible for educating the Veteran and/or caregiver of the available services and assisting them in establishing the appropriate referrals based on the Veteran's preference or that of his surrogate decision-maker.

Resource Usage/Development - The CBOC Senior Social Worker is responsible for using the current social work resource file of VA and community social service programs and enhancing the content to the benefit of Veterans.

The incumbent will refer the Veteran to needed services.

Advocacy - The CBOC Senior Social Worker understands the intimidation of bureaucracy and will act as an advocate when it serves the best interest of the Veteran/family.

When appropriate and feasible, the incumbent will educate and encourage the Veteran/family to advocate on their behalf, thus fostering a sense of independence and empowerment.

Collaboration with Primary Care - The CBOC Senior Social Worker assumes a collaborative role with the primary care staff at the CBOCs, providing timely social work and psychological consultations for treatment of Veterans of all eras, including on an emergent or walk-in basis.

This may involve open access hours for warm handoff referrals from primary care for consultation, mental health screening, or crisis intervention.

The incumbent consults with CBOC primary care staff to address the impact of psychosocial and psychological areas of functioning on broader health care issues.

Crisis Intervention - The CBOC Senior Social Worker is experienced in making rapid assessments and developing crisis management plans for admission to mental health inpatient programs.

The incumbent has access to multiple resource directories in addition to previously developed resources to meet the demands of a crisis.

In the event of a medical or psychiatric emergency, staff will follow the protocol of the CBOC and Healthcare System.

Training/Education - The CBOC Senior Social Worker is responsible for furthering her/his own professional growth through education and training, appropriate to the area of assignment.

The incumbent may serve on various VISN, Medical Center, Mental Health Services, Social Work Services, or community-based committees as needed or required.

Work Schedule: 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday - Friday EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.

Contact Shelly Murdock at shelly.murdock@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance.

Learn more Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade 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 offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 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 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: Ad-Hoc Functional Statement #: 54575-A