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.

01Basic Requirements

United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.

02Education

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 3 accreditation standards for a masters of social work.

03Licensure

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/ 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.

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).

04Grade Determinations

Social Worker, GS-9 Experience, Education, and Licensure: None beyond the basic requirements GS-9 - Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities.

In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Ability to utilize a Veteran centric approach when providing interventions and counseling for Veterans, their family members, caregivers, and survivors. (b) 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. (c) 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. (d) Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients, staff, and representatives of community agencies. (e) 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 non VA experience) and licensure or certification in a state at the independent practice level. GS-11 - Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities.

In addition to the experience above, candidates 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. (b) Skill in independently conducting psychosocial assessments and treatment interventions to a wide variety of individuals from various socio-economic, educational, and other backgrounds. (c) 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. (d) Skill in independently implementing different treatment modalities in working with individuals, families, and groups who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric, 7 medical, and social problems to achieve treatment goals. (e) 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.

NOTE: For appointment licensure or certification at this level please refer to paragraph 3c.OREducation: 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.

05Preferred Experience

Preferred experience includes providing intensive case management and supportive services to individuals experiencing homelessness, housing instability, mental health conditions, substance use disorders, and/or other complex psychosocial needs. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is a GS-11.

The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-9 to GS-11.

06Physical Requirements

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

VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Major Duties Clinical Functions GS-11 Demonstrate a high level of skill and expertise to establish and maintain an effective therapeutic relationship with Veterans and/or their families, caregivers, or survivors.

Demonstrate a high level of skill and knowledge of Veteran treatment and disposition in accordance with criteria for care planning across the Veteran care continuum and in a variety of clinical settings and levels of care. Demonstrate an ability to complete thorough assessments to determine the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and/or their families, caregivers, or survivors.

Actively participates as a member of the interdisciplinary treatment team in the development and implementation of treatment goals and interventions as well as collaborate with Veterans and/or their families, caregivers, or survivors. Maintains a working knowledge and experience in use of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities, and treatment procedures, including acute, chronic, and traumatic illnesses, common medications and their effects/side effects and medical terminology.

Demonstrates advanced knowledge of theories and modalities used in the specialized treatment of complex physical or mental illness. Utilizes accurate data, relevant research, literature, and evidence-based guidelines to maintain and improve processes and Veteran outcomes. Facilitate community placements through collaboration with Veterans and their families or caregivers as well as interdisciplinary treatment team members to ensure that appropriate community placements are completed in a timely manner.

Provides education related to VA and community resources, goals of care conversations, Advance Directives/Living Will/Mental Health Treatment Preferences and will refer Veterans, their families, caregivers, or survivors to the appropriate interdisciplinary team member for identified health education needs. Serves as a representative of the VA and participates in/coordinates educational outreach of VA resources and services.

Demonstrate the ability and knowledge to implement treatment modalities, provide educational classes, and/or supportive groups for Veterans and families, caregivers, or survivors. Provide consultation to interdisciplinary treatment team members regarding psychosocial needs of Veterans, their families, caregivers or survivors and the impact of the identified psychosocial problems on the Veteran's health care planning and compliance with treatment.

Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing with people from varied backgrounds. Demonstrates ability of professional behavior, servant leadership principles and holding crucial conversations with staff and trainees to enrich the learning and working environments. Complete clinical documentation in the electronic health record per policy. Participate in late night Urgent Care coverage.

Work Schedule: M-F, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Telework: Approved according to Agency guidelines. 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) Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #:00343F, 00344F Virtual: This is not a virtual position.