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. Their health care and psychosocial needs are complex and require a high degree of clinical oversight and creative problem solving. To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 01/30/2023. Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship Education: Must 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: 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/. (NOTE: For those who have a Florida LCSW license, you must be registered with the state as a "Qualified Supervisor" in order to provide supervision for licensure or specialty certification. All others must meet the requirements of their state of licensure to be able to provide supervision for licensure.) English Language: Must be proficient in spoken and written English 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). All persons employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education and licensure or certification that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all of the basic requirements in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: Such employees in an occupation that requires a licensure or certification, may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all of the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation. If an employee who was retained in an occupation listed in 38 U.S.C. § 7401 (3) under this provision leaves that occupation, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation. Grade Determinations: Senior Social Worker, GS-12 Experience: Must have a least two years of specialized 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. Preferred Experience: Those applicants with familiarity and skills in evidence-based practices are highly preferred. References: VA Handbook 5005/120, Part II, Appendix G39 Physical Requirements: The position requires performance of work which involves light physical effort, such as that involved in lifting light files, bending, standing, reaching, operating office equipment such as telephone, copier, fax machine, scanner, etc. ["The CBOC Social Worker is responsible for providing community based psychosocial intervention to address a broad range of medical and mental health issues. The incumbent serves veterans who tend to have serious, frequent and severe crises, lack family or adequate community support networks, frequently fails to comply with instructions and treatments; have significant deficits in coping skills and require continuing psychosocial support. The CBOC Social Worker provides a continuum of care encompassing individual, group, counseling, demonstrating possession of advanced practice skills and judgment. Some of the duties include, but are not limited to; Provide individual, group, and family psychotherapy and advanced level case management interventions used in the treatment of veterans with polytrauma injuries, spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, visual impairment, posttraumatic stress disorder, addictions, and other serious disorders. Performs specialized treatment of complex physical or mental illness. Provides consultation to referral sources and is responsible for development and maintenance of professional standards of practice and educating others regarding same. Interviews and conducts psychosocial assessments to establish veteran's treatment needs, presenting problems, and DSM V diagnoses. Responsible for the overall function of program development, recruitment of veteran patients, case management, networking with community resources, and coordination of care with the psychiatrist and medical staff on site as well as various departments at the Orlando VAMC and community facilities in the primary service area. Coordinates screening of veterans for specific programs such as PTSD, Substance Abuse, MHRRTP, CNH, VIST, HHA, TCM program and provides ongoing treatment and documentation per VA Guidelines and facility policy. 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. 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. Has extensive knowledge of medical center policies and procedures, VHA and VBA regulations, as well as a knowledge base of reporting to Florida Department of Children and Families. Receives and completes consults from interdisciplinary teams and other social workers on complex difficult cases using advance practice skills and expertise. Treatment planning includes collaboration with interdisciplinary teams such as TCM case manager, substance abuse staff, Psychiatry (inpatient/outpatient), Homeless Program, Physicians and Vet Centers. Provides independent consultation and makes recommendations to interdisciplinary team on course of treatment. 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. Other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: The primary tour of duty will be M-F 8am to 4:30pm. However, the selectee may also be required to work various shifts on a permanent or temporary basis, based on the needs of the service and patient care. Telework: May be available for highly qualified applicants Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: Senior Social Worker - Community Based Outpatient Clinic Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]
Providing Health Care for Veterans: The Veterans Health Administration is America’s largest integrated health care system, providing care at 1,255 health care facilities, including 170 medical centers and 1,074 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics), serving 9 million enrolled Veterans each year.