Senior Social Worker

01Basic Requirements

English Proficiency Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). Citizenship Must be a citizen of the United States. Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a).

02Education

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.

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 SW Licensure Summary by State https://www.aswb.org/licenses/how-to-get-a-license/licensing-requirements-by-state-or-province/. Loss of Licensure or Certification.

Once licensed or certified, social workers must maintain a full, valid, and unrestricted independent license or certification to remain qualified for employment. Loss of licensure or certification will result in removal from the GS-0185 social worker series and may result in termination of employment.

04Grade Determinations

Senior Social Worker, GS-12 (Above the Full Performance Level) GS 12 Education and Experience. 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.

GS 12 Licensure: 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. GS 12 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 vacancy is a GS-12 position, which is above the Full Performance Level.

05Physical Requirements

The work of the position is primarily sedentary. It may require some lifting (10-20 lbs) occasionally. Reaching above shoulder; Frequent keyboarding (4-7 hours per day); Sitting (4-7 hours per day); Walking (up to 6 hours per day); Standing (up to 8 hours per day); Infrequent climbing/descending of stairs; Some bending; Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; Correctable near sighted and far-sighted vision; Hearing (Aid permitted).

Ability to complete a Basic Life Support (BLS) course is a position requirement

Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. The Oklahoma City VA Health Care System, Mental Health Service, is currently recruiting for (1) Senior Social Worker to help care for our Veterans at the Shawnee Community Based Outpatient Clinic.

VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UUTotal Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Major Duties and Responsibilities: Requires a high level of advanced practice skills and clinical judgment as this individual functions/supports the Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) model and is responsible for implementation and coordination of veteran centered care within the CBOC.

Responsible for assessing patients in crisis including front-line suicide assessment and prevention, assessing, and arranging for treatment of patients who require referral to acute and sub-specialty mental health units (Substance Treatment and Recovery (STAR/SUD), Trauma Recovery Services (TRS), Intensive Community Mental Health Recovery Services (ICMHRS), Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Recovery Center (PRRC), etc.) Services provided include individual and group psychotherapy, and psychoeducational classes, triage/consults, assessment, crisis intervention, advocacy, and coordination of linkages to other appropriate VA or community service providers/agencies as needed by the client.

Develops an assessment of the Veteran in collaboration with the interdisciplinary treatment team, the Veteran, family members, and significant others. Incorporates complex multiple causation in the differential diagnosis and treatment.

Must have an understanding of the problems of advancing age and respect for the diversification of the aging Veteran population, being sensitive to human growth and development, age appropriate needs and concerns of the geriatric Veteran and be able to provide current and advanced techniques to the treatment of this Veteran population. Provides individual, group, and (if credentialed and privileged) family psychotherapy and psychoeducational services, as well as advanced case management.

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. Acts as the subject matter expert on VA and/or community resources.

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. Experienced in making rapid assessments and developing crisis management plans for admission to mental health inpatient programs.

Provides education related to VA and community resources, entitlements, Advance Directives/Living Wills, and Mental Health Preferences and will refer Veterans/families to the appropriate department and/or personnel for identified health education needs. Responsible for the guidance, training, and orientation of clinical social workers, as well as providing clinical supervision for licensure.

Provides consultation to physicians, nurses and other personnel regarding social work services, benefits, and community resources. Work Schedule: Full-time, Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact [email protected], the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance.

Learn more Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. 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) 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: Situational (ad-hoc) per agency policy. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 54575-A. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized