The Senior Social Worker- Marriage & Family Therapy (MFT) has experience that demonstrates possession of advanced practice skills and judgment while providing psychotherapy services in an outpatient clinic or virtual setting. The Senior Social Worker has at least two years of experience as a licensed clinical social worker with specialized training and experience providing couples and family therapy.

Duties

The MFT Senior Social Worker practices in the MFT setting within the Mental Health Service. Assignments include clinical settings where they have limited access to onsite supervision such as CBOCs or satellite outpatient clinics. The incumbent functions as an independent social work provider including but not limited to the following functions or scope of assigned duties: (1) Functions as a Couples and Family Therapist in the General Mental Health Clinic (2) Conducts thorough clinical assessments with focus on identifying risk factors and the psychosocial needs of Veterans and their identified significant others. (3) Develops treatment plans indicating utilization of empirically based interventions and appropriate and relevant clinical practices in collaboration with the interdisciplinary treatment team in the General Mental Health Clinic. (4) Establishes and maintains effective therapeutic relationships with Veterans and their families and demonstrates advanced skill in providing individual, couples, family, and/or group therapy to Veterans and their significant others (5) Knowledge of crisis intervention strategies and the protocol for addressing medical and/ or psychiatric emergencies. (6) Provides consultation services to other staff regarding the psychosocial needs of Veterans and their families and the impact of psychosocial problems on health care and adherence to treatment plan within his/her scope of practice (7) Evaluates own practice through professional peer review, case conferences and other organizational means (8) Completes timely, accurate, and comprehensive documentation in the client's VA medical record for all visits with the Veteran, family, and/or significant others. (9) Knowledgeable of available VA and community resources and will assist Veterans and/or their families in connecting with appropriate and needed resources/service (10) Provides clinical supervision to lesser experienced Social Worker staff members, Serves as a mentor to other Social Worker staff members, particularly those at the entry level (11) Conducts workshops and classes for staff (12) Actively participates in program planning and development, advising the supervisor of shifting trends with caseloads and identifying the need for and making recommendations on program procedure or policy changes based upon work experiences. Inputs data into required program databases as appropriate Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 08:00a.m. to 4:30p.m. (Flexible tours of duty available) Telework: Available subject to supervisory approval Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Title/Functional Statement #:Senior Social Worker (Marriage Family Therapy OPC)/PD0000 and PD000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized for highly qualified applicants upon approval of hiring official. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• You may be required to serve a probationary period
• Subject to a background/security investigation
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)
• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Personnel

Qualifications

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 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). Licensure: Must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level. 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). GS-12 Grade Determinations: 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. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) 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. (b) Ability to incorporate complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice. (c) 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. (d) 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. (e) 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 Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G39. The full performance level of this vacancy is 12. Physical Requirements: Traveling throughout the medical center and the community is required, as is performing activities involving sitting, walking, and standing, bending and carrying such items as books, papers, and files. In carrying out responsibilities it may be necessary for the incumbent to travel into the community where he/she conducts interviews with the Veterans, their families, representatives of community health and welfare agencies and law enforcement agencies. The incumbent must possess current driver's license and drive a government vehicle in carrying out professional duties when deemed necessary. 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).

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address Carl T Hayden Veterans' Administration Medical Center 650 East Indian School Road Phoenix, AZ 85012 US
• Name: Jazmine Salido
• Phone: 505-767-6022
• Email: [email protected]