Senior Social Workers are licensed/certified to independently practice social work at an advanced level and typically practice in a major specialty treatment program area. They are assigned administrative responsibility for clinical program development, accountable for clinical program effectiveness and modification of service patterns. If you are not a current, permanent VA employee or Federal employee from another agency, you should apply under CBST-12128768-23-ER.

Duties

VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU Independently performs case finding functions and outreach, identifying and screening patients for psychosocial needs. The incumbent must possess the knowledge and ability to independently implement treatment modalities, and provide counseling or psychotherapy for individuals, families, and groups. Independently conducts psychosocial assessments. Independently diagnoses Veterans according to the latest version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders or other recognized diagnostic manuals of mental disorders. Develops treatment plans in collaboration with the Veteran and/or family and with the interdisciplinary treatment team. The Social Worker acts as a subject matter expert and liaison with community agencies. Coordinates community-based services, including information and referral to or from other VA programs, government programs, and community agency programs. Knowledge and experience in the use of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities, and treatment procedures. Identifies high-risk patients and provides appropriate intervention case management services. Provides crisis intervention services addressing the cause and presenting complaint. Coordinates family conferences and serves as liaison to family members. Establishes and maintains effective therapeutic relationships with Veterans and their families. Works independently with patients and families who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric, medical, and social problems. Knowledgeable and skilled in utilizing evidence-based practice to include individual, group, and family counseling techniques. Provides consultation services to VA staff regarding the psychosocial needs of the Veterans and the impact of their problems on their health and adherence to their treatment plan. Evaluates their own practice as well as their colleagues through professional peer review, case conferences, and other organizational means. Communicates effectively, both orally and in writing, with people from varied backgrounds. Communicates and interacts with patients in a manner that considers cognitive, emotional, spiritual, cultural, and age factors. Uses word processing software to execute several office automation functions such as storing and retrieving electronic documents and files; activating printers; inserting and deleting text, formatting letters, reports, and memoranda; and transmitting and receiving e-mail. Uses the Veterans Health Information and Technology Architecture (Vista) to access information in the Medical Center Computer System. The Social Worker documents independently in CPRS electronic medical records, including psychosocial assessments, diagnostics, treatment, progress notes, follow up and referrals. General knowledge of Veterans' benefits and services relating to special programs, service-connected compensation, and non-service-connected pension. Facilitates referrals as needed. Serves as a Social Work Service representative on Service and facility committees/work groups/task forces, and on community agency boards as assigned. Interviews and conducts psychosocial assessments to establish Veteran's treatment needs, presenting problems, and DSM V diagnoses. The incumbent assesses 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. 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. 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. Ensures that the interdisciplinary team is kept informed of any concerns with the patient and/or caregiver. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8 am to 4:30 PM Telework: Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 520-00003-F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

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: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). 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. Licensure. 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. 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: Senior Social Worker, GS-12 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. Examples of creditable experience include but not limited to independently assess psychosocial functioning, facilitate treatment plan with interdisciplinary team, provide case management and care coordination, links patient with services, resources, and opportunities, conducts assessment of at-risk patient to identify immediate needs, provides interventions independently for patient and families/care giver, provide range of interventions and treatment modalities, and provide consultation to staff about psychosocial needs of patients. Resume must include hours per week for work experience credit. 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: (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. (KSAs must be clearly reflected in resume under description of duties in order to be found qualified for this position/grade level). Preferred Experience: Experience with Suicide Prevention. References: VA Handbook 5005/120, Part II Appendix G39, Social Worker Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office. The position is above full performance level, GS-12. Physical Requirements: Work is sedentary but also demands standing, walking, bending, twisting, and carrying light. Work is performed in an office/clinic setting with minimal risks that requires normal safety precautions; the area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated. However, the work environment requires someone with the ability to handle several tasks at once in sometimes stressful situations. Must possess a valid driver's license and be able to drive a Government Owned Vehicle. (See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Services). (See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Services).

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 Biloxi VA Medical Center 400 Veterans Avenue Biloxi, MS 39531 US
• Name: Erin Rankin
• Phone: 501-918-1245
• Email: [email protected]