This position provides psychological services to Veterans diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and requires evaluation and treatment at the Beckley VAMC outpatient mental health clinic. The Veterans are between the age of 18-70 years of age. The position requires the incumbent to possess or develop an understanding of the Veteran's needs. Respect to age, developmental requirements, and culturally related factors must be consistently achieved.

Duties

VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU Major Duties: PTSD Therapist (85% of time) Provides evidence-based psychotherapy to Veterans and eligible family members, including evidence-based interventions for PTSD, such as PE, CPT, and/or EMDR. Ability to diagnose mental disorders and conduct psychosocial assessments for Veterans suffering from a wide variety of mental disorders. Provides a full range of therapeutic interventions including assessment, individual and group psychotherapy for individuals with mental health and medical disorders utilizing empirically supported modalities when indicated. Consults with medical center staff on a wide variety of patient care issues. Senior Social Workers may be involved in program evaluation and/or research activities. Consistently tracks all assigned consults and verifies that consults are answered in a timely manner. Works closely with all Veteran participants to educate them regarding the importance of attending all appointments as scheduled and canceling appointments in advance when absence is unavoidable. Provides services via VVC as clinically indicated. Consistently reviews clinical reminders and counsels Veterans as appropriate regarding issues such as alcohol use, smoking cessation, etc. Academic/Teaching/Training (5% of time) Provides guidance and consultation to staff and teams to which assigned. May be involved in the training of medical students, medical and psychiatric residents, nursing students, fellows and other graduate or post-graduate trainees, as appropriate. Serves as a consultant to other medical center staff and trainees and assists in their formulation of the psychological characteristics and appropriate treatment expectations regarding their patients. Research/Program Evaluation (5% of time) Is responsible for timely completion of all clinical charting and documentation required by the Medical Center or healthcare system, as appropriate. May present outcome data and research at VA and regional or national scientific or professional meetings, as appropriate. Supports the Mission, Vision, Values, and Goals of the Medical Center and actively participates in Performance Improvement activities. All employees are encouraged to identify opportunities to take immediate actions that are intended to increase the patient's level of satisfaction or exceed the patient's/family's expectation of service. Other Significant Responsibilities (5% of time) Collaborates with staff on Mental Health Treatment Team Serves on Medical Center, VISN, and/or National VA committees or task forces. Represents Mental Health on decision-making committees at the Medical Center, VISN or National VA committees. Represents the Medical Center or VISN at professional/program community group/events and committees. Work Schedule: Monday to Friday 8:00 to 4:30pm Telework: AD-HOC Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 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. 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 http://www.cswe.org/Accreditation to verify that the social work degree meets the accreditation standards for a masters of 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. Physical Requirements: The physical demands of this position involve lifting, walking, standing, use of both eyes, ability to distinguish basic colors and shades, hearing aid (permitted). The environmental factors of this position involve being able to work outside and/or inside, to work with others, and to work alone. English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f). Preferred Experience: Mental Heath Grade Determinations: Senior Social Worker, GS-12, In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. 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) 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, *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. References: VA Handbook 5005/120, part II, Appendix G39, Social Worker Qualification Standard GS-0185. 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 Beckley VA Medical Center 200 Veterans Avenue Beckley, WV 25801 US
• Name: Traci Johnson
• Phone: 404-360-1584
• Email: [email protected]