Social Worker

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 http://www.cswe.org/Accreditation 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 http://vaww.va.gov/OHRM/T38Hybrid/. 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. Social Worker, GS-9 (1) Experience, Education, and Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements. (2) 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-11Experience 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 (2)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, candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: 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, 8 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.

Preferred Experience

Prefer experience working in interdisciplinary teams, brief evidence-based interventions, and brief/focused assessments. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is 11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of 9 to 11.

Physical Requirements

See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Services.

VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU Duties at the GS-9 level include but are not limited to: - Conducts initial psychosocial screenings and gathers clinical data to support diagnostic clarification, under supervision. - Assist in the coordination of patient care and follow up, under the guidance of licensed clinical staff.- Supports patient engagement and care management activities through structured follow-up, patient outreach, and data collection. - Participates in interdisciplinary case conferences, team huddles, and care planning under the supervision of a licensed provider. - Documents care coordination and clinical updates in the medical record in accordance with local and national standards, with oversight. - Develop skills in motivational interviewing, patient education, and the delivery of brief evidence-informed interventions, under clinical supervision. - Attends and participates in relevant trainings, supervision sessions, and educational activities to gain proficiency in PCMHI and collaborative care principles. - Assists in identifying treatment barriers and contributes to care planning under supervision. - Participates in performance improvement and program evaluation activities as appropriate for developmental level. - Seeks consultation and supervision in clinical decision making and ethical concerns.

At the GS-11 level, duties include but are not limited to: - Serves as a key point of contact for patients enrolled in the collaborative care model, conducting structured assessments, facilitating measurement based care, and ensuring follow up and continuity. - Coordinates care between primary care, mental health, and psychiatry team members, ensuring alignment with clinical recommendations and timely treatment adjustments. - Reviews and interprets clinical assessments, provider documentation, and psychiatric recommendations to support integrated treatment planning. - Provides patient education related to mental health conditions, medication adherence, coping strategies, and self-management techniques. - Communicates directly with PCPs and psychiatric consultants to relay clinical updates and recommend treatment changes based on measurement-based outcomes. - Documents all contacts and clinical decisions thoroughly and in compliance with local and national documentation standards. - Participates in interdisciplinary case reviews, team huddles, and ongoing consultation processes. - Engages in quality improvement initiatives, program evaluation activities, and supports efforts to improve access, coordination, and veteran outcomes within PCMHI. - May provide consultation and member mentorship to trainees or less experienced staff participating in PCMHI services.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 60061F, 60060F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact [email protected], the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized