The incumbent in this position functions as a Social Worker for the Amarillo VA Health Care System Behavioral Health Care Line in Amarillo, under the immediate supervision of the Chief, Behavioral Health Service or designee. The Social Worker has a Master's Degree in Social Work and has demonstrated professional competence at an independent level.

Duties

VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU Social Work: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Social-Worker-Career-Flyer.pdf The Social Worker is a member of this multi-disciplinary treatment team and will participate in all aspects of the behavioral health/substance use disorder programs and is responsible for the delivery of treatment to the Veteran. Develops appropriate treatment plan. Completes an initial, comprehensive assessment and provides resources and referrals based on this assessment. Independently develops a personalized, treatment plan with measurable objectives. Treatment plan is developed in collaboration with Veteran and guided by VA/DOD Clinical Practice Guidelines to insure best outcome for individual. Provider will include referrals for specialty care (e.g., substance use disorder program, MHICM, suicide prevention), domiciliary programs, intensive outpatient treatment and other appropriate interventions. Of utmost concern will be the safety of the client and assurance of effective outcomes for stabilization. Provides individual and family clinical services. Services consist of evidence-based psychotherapy and evidence-informed therapy with the goal of reducing symptoms and increasing skill development. Utilizes measurement-based care to track patient progress and guide treatment decision making. Appropriately monitors and addresses suicidal and homicidal risk. Implements motivational skills to encourage clients to utilize effective interventions, complete practice assignments between sessions, and attend sessions at recommended frequency. Utilizes professional skills in addressing clients who are unstable or indifferent to treatment and demonstrates empathic engagement skills to assist Veterans in behavioral health and substance use recovery. Establishes a positive, working relationship with the client. Regularly monitors and evaluates progress towards goals, discusses progress with client, and addresses barriers to treatment. Adjusts treatment plans based on treatment response, change in psychosocial stressor or life circumstance, and change in suicide risk. Follows-up with client after referral or if the client misses a counseling session. Maintains comprehensive case documentation and shows follow-through on plans. Provides psychoeducation to Veteran and family to assist with greater understanding of illness and treatment expectations. Work Schedule: Monday to Friday 8:00am 4:30pm Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience. Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child. Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66. Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 00000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Note: This is a Bargaining Unit Position.

Requirements

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. 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: 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. Exception: VHA may waive the licensure or certification requirement for persons who are otherwise qualified, pending completion of state prerequisites for licensure/certification examinations. This exception only applies at the GS-9 grade level. For the GS-11 grade level and above, the candidate must be licensed or certified. English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). 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: Social Worker GS-9: Experience, Education, and Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Ability to work with Veterans and family members from various socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other diversified backgrounds utilizing counseling skills. (b) Ability to assess the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and their family members, and to formulate and implement a treatment plan, identifying the Veterans problems, strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and assistance needed. (c) Ability to implement treatment modalities in working with individuals, families, and groups to achieve treatment goals. This requires judgment and skill in utilizing supportive, problem solving, or crisis intervention techniques. (d) Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients, staff, and representatives of community agencies. (e) Fundamental knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities, and treatment procedures. This includes acute, chronic, and traumatic illnesses/injuries; common medications and their effects/side effects; and medical terminology. Social Worker GS-11 Experience and Licensure. Appointment to the GS-11 grade level requires completion of a minimum of one year of post-MSW experience equivalent to the GS-9 grade level in the field of health care or other social work-related settings, (VA or non-VA experience) and licensure or certification in a state at the independent practice level. OR Education: In addition to meeting basic requirements, a doctoral degree in social work from a school of social work may be substituted for the required one year of professional social work experience in a clinical setting. In addition to the experience above, candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of community resources, how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services, and ability to coordinate services. (b) Skill in independently conducting psychosocial assessments and treatment interventions to a wide variety of individuals from various socio-economic, cultural, ethnic, educational and other diversified backgrounds. (c) Knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities and treatment procedures (i.e. acute, chronic and traumatic illnesses/injuries, common medications and their effects/side effects, and medical terminology) to formulate a treatment plan. (d) Skill in independently implementing different treatment modalities in working with individuals, families, and groups who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric, medical, and social problems to achieve treatment goals. (e) Ability to provide consultation services to new social workers, social work graduate students, and other staff about the psychosocial needs of patients and the impact of psychosocial problems on health care and compliance with treatment. Preferred Experience: At least one year conducting assessment of patients' needs in a health care setting. Experience in working with a multidisciplinary treatment team (at least 1 year). At least one-year experience in electronic medical record documentation of health and behavioral issues. At least one-year experience in working with mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, PTSD. Experience in EBP's (evidenced based psychotherapies). References: VA Handbook 5005-120 dated September 10,2019. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-09 to GS-11. Physical Requirements: The work is sedentary. Some work may require movement between offices, hospitals, warehouses, and similar areas for meetings and to conduct work. Work may also require walking/standing, in conjunctions with travel to and attendance at meetings and/or conferences away from the work site. Incumbent may carry and lift light items weighing less than 15 pounds.

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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

The master's degree in social work must be fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). Verification of accreditation may be made obtained from: Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) - Accreditation

NOTE: If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application.

NOTE: If your school was accredited by Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) at the time of graduation but is no longer listed on the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) website, you must provide documentation of accreditation with your application packet.

Contacts

• Address Thomas E Creek VA Medical Center 6010 Amarillo Boulevard, West Amarillo, TX 79106 US
• Name: VISN 17 SSU USAS Group
• Email: [email protected]