Social Worker

Full Job Description

The individual's clinical duties are assigned to Team B in the Mental Health Product Service Line of the Minneapolis, Minnesota Veterans Affairs class 1A (High Complexity) Medical Center.

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: Social workers must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j, this part.

Education Requirement: Master of Social Work: Must possess a master's degree in social work from a school of social work fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.

Note: 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. COPY OF TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED.

Licensure Requirement: Appointment at the GS-11 Full Performance Level: Persons hired or reassigned to full performance 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.

OR Appointment at the GS-9 (Entry or Developmental Level): 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 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.

Grade Determinations: GS-9 None beyond the basic requirements.

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.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities.

In addition to the experience above, the applicant's resume 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. 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 non-VA experience) and licensure or certification in a state at the independent practice level.

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.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, the applicant's resume must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a)Knowledge of community resources, how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services, and ability to coordinate services.

Skill in independently conducting psychosocial assessments and treatment interventions to a wide variety of individuals from various socio-economic, educational, and other backgrounds.

Knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities and treatment procedures (i.e.

acute, chronic and traumatic illnesses/injuries, common medications and their effects/side effects, and medical terminology) to formulate a treatment plan.

Skill in independently implementing different treatment modalities in working with individuals, families, and groups who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric, medical, and social problems to achieve treatment goals.

Ability to provide consultation services to new social workers, social work graduate students, and other staff about the psychosocial needs of patients and the impact of psychosocial problems on health care and compliance with treatment.

References: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://department.va.gov/employees/va-qualifications-standards/ Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position.

Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination. Major Duties:

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.

VA Careers - Social Work: https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU Major duties include, but are not limited to: Patient Care: Performs case finding functions and outreach, identifying and screening patients for psychosocial needs.

Incumbent must possess the knowledge and ability to independently implement treatment modalities, provide counseling or psychotherapy for individuals, families and groups and conducts psychosocial assessments.

Develops treatment plans in collaboration with the veteran/family and with the interdisciplinary team.

Incumbent possesses the skills to offer psychosocial interventions and measures outcomes to interventions.

Incumbent is able to coordinate community-based services, including information and referral for additional services from other VA programs, other government programs and community agency programs.

Identified high-risk patients and provides case management services.

Incumbent provides crisis intervention services, seeking to address the cause as well as the presenting complaint, coordinates family conferences and serves as liaison to family members.

Has working knowledge and experience in use of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities and treatment procedures.

Establishes and maintains effective therapeutic relationships with veterans and their families.

Incumbent is able to independently work with patients and families who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric, medical and social problems utilizing individual, group and family counseling and therapy skills.

Independently provides consultation services to other staff regarding the psychosocial needs of veterans and the impact of psychosocial problems on health care and adherence to treatment plan.

Ability to evaluate incumbents' own practice through professional peer review, case conferences and other organizational means.

Incumbent is able to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with people from varied backgrounds.

General knowledge of veterans' benefits and services relating to special programs, service-connected compensation, non-service-connected pension.

Facilitates referrals based upon veterans needs and eligibility. Able to meet the needs of customers while supportive VA missions.

Consistently communicates and treats customers (veterans, their representatives, visitors, and all VA staff) in a courteous, tactful, and respectful manner.

Incumbent is able to provide the customer with consistent information according to established policies and procedures.

Handles conflict and problems in dealing with the customer constructively and appropriately.

Has working knowledge and skill in the use of word-processing, data management and other computer systems, especially those programs in use by VHA.

The majority of case management services are provided in the community setting and requires the individual to travel in the metropolitan area.

The incumbent may serve on committees, councils, workgroups, and/or task forces. The incumbent obtains and/or participates in continuing education.

Work Schedule: Monday through Friday; 08:00 to 16:30 Telework: Ad-Hoc only. Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.

Contact VHAEDRPProgramSupport@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more