This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application. Learn more 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. 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. 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 the CSWE website (https://www.cswe.org/Accreditation.aspx) to verify if that social work degree meets the accreditation standards for a master of social work Licensure: Persons hired or reassigned to social worker positions in the GS-185 series in VHA must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level. Exception: VHA may waive the licensure or certification requirement for persons who are otherwise qualified, pending completion of state prerequisites for licensure/certification examinations. Failure to become licensed or certified within the proscribed amount of time may result in termination of employment. 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: GS-12 Senior Social Worker: Experience/Education. The candidate must have 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. 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. Licensure/Certification. 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. 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. References: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G39 Social Worker Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. Physical Requirements: The position requires some bending, walking and stooping, constant use of hands/fingers for duties such as entering information into the computer, and the ability to talk and hear. This position requires the ability to read printed material and distinguish colors, such as reading computer screens and the ability to accurately perceive depth so as to move around work space safely and to appropriately make contact with patients and staff. ["VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU The Senior Social Worker located at a Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) independently provides clinical psychosocial and case management services at an advanced practice level to eligible veterans and their family members to meet biological, psychological, social and environmental needs. Major duties and responsibilities include: The incumbent coordinates screening of veterans for specific programs such as PTSD, SUD, MST, Homeless Services, Veterans Justice Outreach and provides ongoing treatment and documentation per VA Guidelines and facility policy. The incumbent has a primary responsibility for providing education on advance health care planning and facilitates psycho-educational and support groups on a variety of topics for veteran and their families. The social worker has the ability to expand clinical knowledge in the profession, provide consultation and guidance to colleagues, role model effective social work practice skills, teach or provide orientation to less experienced social workers, develop innovations in practice interventions, and provide clinical supervision for social work licensure or certification. Provides training to Social Work interns, residents and staff from other disciplines. Topics include the impact of psychosocial and psychiatric issues that may directly affect their care. The CBOC social worker has extensive knowledge of medical center policies and procedures, VHA and VBA regulations. The Social Worker receives and completes consults from interdisciplinary teams and other social workers on complex difficult cases using advance practice skills and expertise. Incumbent is able to provide, crisis, individual, group, and family psychotherapy and advanced level case management interventions used in the treatment of veterans with polytrauma, traumatic brain injuries, post-traumatic stress disorder, addictions, and other serious disorders. Incumbent also provides consultation to referral sources and is responsible for development and maintenance of professional standards of practice and educating others regarding same. The Social Worker documents independently in CPRS electronic medical records, including psychosocial assessments, diagnostics, treatment, progress notes, follow up and referrals. The Social Worker interviews and conducts psychosocial assessments to establish veteran's treatment needs, presenting problems, and DSM IV diagnoses. The incumbent assess high risk factors, acuity and need for services. The Social Worker interprets and explains VA treatment and benefit programs. It is the responsibility of the Social Worker to develop a treatment plan with the veteran based on this assessment. The incumbent along with the veteran will develop the treatment plan that includes measurable time limited treatment goals. The treatment plan will be reviewed during therapeutic sessions and reassessed as appropriate. Treatment planning includes collaboration with interdisciplinary teams such as Transition Care Management, substance abuse staff, Psychiatry (inpatient/outpatient), Homeless Program, Physicians and Vet Centers. The social worker provides independent consultation and makes recommendations to interdisciplinary team on course of treatment. These decisions are based on the social worker's advanced practice skills, professional judgment and expertise regarding the veteran's condition and treatment. The Social Worker acts as an advocate when appropriate and feasible while encouraging the veteran and family to advocate on their own behalf thus fostering a sense of independence and empowerment. At all times the incumbent will represent the VA in the community in a positive and professional manner. The incumbent makes rapid assessments and develops crisis management plans for admission to mental health inpatient programs. In the event of an alleged abuse case, medical or psychiatric emergency, the medical center policy will be followed. The incumbent ensures that the interdisciplinary team is kept informed of any concerns with the patient and/or caregiver. This social worker evaluates his/her practice on an on-going basis through participation in professional peer review, case conferences, research studies, or other organized means. Is active in and accepts responsibility for the development and maintenance of professional standards of treatment. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM\nTelework: Not Available\nVirtual: This is not a virtual position.\nFunctional Statement #: 000000\nRelocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized\nEDRP Authorized: Contact Brian Huhman, Brian.Huhman@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance\nPermanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required"]