Clarification from the agency

First area of consideration is current permanent employees of Jesse Brown Medical Center. Second area of consideration are current permanent VISN 12 employees and third area of consideration is VHA employee nationwide.

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VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU

• Responsible for completing and documenting, in a timely manner, comprehensive biopsychosocial assessments/mental health intakes for scheduled and walk-in outpatient veterans seeking mental health services.
• Must be able to ascertain the critical nature and immediacy of the veteran's need(s) to determine the most appropriate and safest treatment for the veteran. This includes assessment of risk for harm to self/others, as well as other mental health crises, which may at times require coordination of acute psychiatric admissions, in conjunction with the Attending Psychiatrist and/or Clinic Coordinator.
• When completing PAC assessments, the incumbent utilizes knowledge of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) in order to reach preliminary diagnosis(es) for further disposition collaborating with the Attending Psychiatrist and/or Clinic Coordinator.
• Extensive knowledge of VISN VA resources is required for effective treatment planning.
• Extensive knowledge of community resources for veterans in need of services that may not be available through the VA or are more conveniently located to the veteran's residence.
• Functions as a member of an interdisciplinary/interprogrammatic team, including psychiatrists, nurses, psychologists and addiction counselors.
• Collaborates on a daily basis with other team members in the assessment, recommendation, and coordination of treatment/referral of veterans seeking mental health treatment.
• Responsible for training and orienting social work interns and new social work staff to VA mental health services at the VA.
• Provides additional therapeutic services in the medical center as needed.
• Performs various functions as delineated in the Scope of Practice for that position.
• Conforms to ethical and legal standards consistent with VA, State, Federal, and NASW guidelines.
• Complies with VA, VHA, JBVA, Social Work Services, Mental Health Service Line, and Psychiatric Assessment Clinic policies and procedures.
• Follows policies and documentation requirements as required for CARF and The Joint Commission accreditation as well as other internal and external requirements.
• Complies with HIPAA standards of confidentiality, as well abiding by policies and procedures meant to safeguard PII, PHI, other digital information, equipment and facilities.
• Responsible for improving professional skills, participating in planning and executing specific staff development projects, attending seminars and institutes, and participating in training programs of other disciplines as requested.
• Documents in the Electronic Medical Record (EMR) in accordance with the guidelines established by the program and VHA. Progress notes are to be concise and comprehensive, and documentation will be entered in a timely fashion.
• Performs other related duties as assigned to address programmatic needs.
• Willing to accepts additional and special assignments that are necessary to meet program goals or customer needs.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• 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 Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements: The following are the basic requirements and qualifications for appointment as a Social Worker in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA).

English Language Proficiency Requirement - Per VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, Section A, Paragraph 3j: No person will be appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C., chapter 73 or 74, to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA who is not proficient in written and spoken English.

Education Requirement - You 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). Note: 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.

Transcripts Required Licensure: Candidates must possess a full, current, and unrestricted license to independently practice as a Social Worker at the master's degree level in a State, Territory, Commonwealth of the United States, or the District of Columbia. Copy of Licensure Required.

Exception to Licensure/Certification:

Exception to Licensure/Certification: 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. At the time of appointment, the supervisor, chief social work or social work executive will provide the unlicensed or uncertified social worker with the written requirements for licensure or certification, including the time by which the license or certification must be obtained and the consequences for not becoming licensed or certified by the deadline.

A. For appointments at the GS-9 grade level, VHA social workers who are not licensed or certified at the time of appointment must become licensed or certified at the independent, master's level within three years of their appointment as a social worker. Most states require two years of post-MSW experience as a prerequisite to taking the licensure/certification exam, and VHA gives social workers one additional year to pass the licensure/certification exam. In states such as California, Washington, and others where the prerequisites for licensure exceed two years, social workers must become licensed at the independent, master's level within one year of meeting the full state prerequisites for licensure.

B. A social worker who does not yet have a license that allows independent practice must be supervised by a licensed independent practitioner of the same discipline who is a VA staff member and who has access to the electronic health record.

C. Different states have different levels of licensure or certification, making it difficult for VHA staff to determine the independent practice level. Each state, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia completed surveys identifying the level of licensure or certification allowing independent practice. Copies of the surveys are on file in the VHA Office of Care Management and Social Work Services, and a summary spreadsheet of the levels of licensure or certification is available to social work professional standards board members for purposes of determining whether the social worker's level of licensure or certification meets the VHA qualification standards. All states except California use a series of licensure exams administered by the ASWB. Information can be found at https://www.aswb.org/. The ASWB is the association of boards that regulates social work. ASWB develops and maintains the social work licensing examination used across the country and is a central resource for information on the legal regulation of social work. The ASWB offers three examinations. The master's examination is generally used by states for the independent practice level of licensure or certification, while the advanced generalist and the clinical examinations are used for the advanced practice level of licensure or certification. Differences between the master's and the advanced exams demonstrate the expectation that advanced practice social workers will have a more sophisticated knowledge of practice theory and its application.

Grade Determination: In addition to the basic requirements as stated above, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade level of the candidate.

GS-11 Grade level - Experience and Licensure/Certification: 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.
OR

Substitute of Education for Experience:

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.

References: VA Handbook 5005/120, Part II, Appendix G39, Social Worker Qualification Standards, dated 9/10/2019.The position is at full performance level of GS-11.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, résumé, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.