Senior Social Worker(BHIP)

Full Job Description

The Greater Los Angeles VA Healthcare Network is recruiting for a Senior Social Worker in the Behavioral Health Integration Program (BHIP) at Sepulveda Ambulatory Care Center (SACC).

BHIP teams deliver Veteran-centered, recovery-oriented care through evidence-based services including crisis intervention, assessment, case management, psychiatric treatment, and individual/group therapy in a collaborative, interdisciplinary setting.

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: Citizenship: Citizen of the United States 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.

Education: Must 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.

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

Licensure: Candidates must be 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.

Grade Determinations GS-12 Senior Social Worker: 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.

Experience: 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 and 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.

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.

Preferred Experience Experience providing mental health services to Veterans including individual and group psychotherapy. Competence using evidence-based treatment models.

Ability to work effectively with a multidisciplinary treatment team. Ability to work with Veterans who present with complex psychosocial needs. Experience with crisis management and care coordination.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Physical Requirements: Light lifting (under 15 pounds); light carrying (under 15 pounds); reaching above shoulder; use of fingers; both hands required; walking; standing; hearing (aid permitted).

Performance Level: The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12 Major Duties:

Duties include, but are not limited to: Conduct comprehensive biopsychosocial assessments of Veterans and family members to identify presenting problems, high-risk factors, strengths, and treatment needs; formulate psychosocial diagnoses and preliminary treatment plans.

Interpret and explain VA treatment programs, benefits, and community resources; provide counseling and education to Veterans and their families.

Independently develop Veteran-centered treatment goals and plans in collaboration with interdisciplinary teams; adjust interventions based on changing needs and responses.

Provide short-term evidence-based psychotherapy interventions and treatment modalities.

Organize and coordinate community services, establish referral networks, and maintain collaborative relationships with external agencies to support Veteran needs.

Document assessments, diagnoses, treatment plans, progress notes, and referrals in electronic medical records in compliance with VA standards and timelines.

Evaluate clinical practice through peer review, case conferences, and research activities; maintain licensure and professional standards.

Deliver orientation, training, and staff development programs for social workers and interdisciplinary team members; mentor entry-level social workers and provide clinical supervision for unlicensed staff and interns.

Serve as a Field Instructor for graduate social work students, collaborating with academic institutions to support learning objectives and professional growth.

Participate in facility committees, workgroups, and task forces; perform other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Telework: Ad hoc telework per supervisor discretion Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not Authorized