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The incumbent functions as a Licensed Independent Provider (LIP). The incumbent may have a primary specialty clinic assignment, but will be trained and expected to provide cross-coverage to other clinics as needed.

Major duties include, but not limited to:

• Interviews Clients and Conducts Psychosocial Assessments
  Interviews Veterans to establish facts about the Veteran's situation, presenting problems and the impact of such problems on the Veteran's functioning and health. Interprets and explains VA's treatment and benefit programs.
• Makes Psychosocial Diagnoses
  Independently evaluates the Veteran's situation, including the Veteran's reaction and ability to deal with it, and arrives at a reasoned conclusion.
• Plans Effective Treatment
  Assures the transfer of health care, both inpatient and outpatient to the appropriate VHA and community resources. When provision of direct services are indicated develops psychosocial treatment plans in coordination with other social workers, case manager, managed care staff and discharge planners.
• Implements Treatment
  Provides clinical services to Veterans and family members/ significant others in support of the Veteran's treatment. Gives advice, guidance, emotional support, and other assistance. Provides individual and group counseling services.
• Evaluation, Education, Supervision, Coaching, and Mentoring
  Establishes a continuing relationship with the Veteran, evaluating progress towards goals and adjusting the treatment plan as appropriate.
• The incumbent provides clinical supervision to lesser experienced social worker staff members. Serves as a mentor to other Social Worker Staff member, particularly those at the entry level. Provides day-to-day direction for Social Workers and other Social Work Service Staff members.
• As a field instructor or preceptor, supervises Social Work graduate students and provides a training experience for them in Social Work. Works with students to develop training plans and goals.
• Provides reports to the school of social work field liaison on the student's progress.
• Outreach
  The incumbent is required to conduct active outreach to Veterans involved with the medical center and local community. This outreach may also include field interviews, assessments and referrals for Veterans contacted in community settings.
• Comprehensive Case Management
  The incumbent functions as an ongoing case manager by performing duties to facilitate independent community living by coordinating mental health and community care, as appropriate.
• Program Coordination
  As a Senior Social Worker, incumbent may assist with program coordination. The incumbent follows applicable program guidelines and procedures, both locally and nationally. The incumbent actively participates in the program conference calls and attends program trainings and meetings.
• Responsible for following local, VISN and VHA directives, policies and procedures. This includes following standards and documentation requirements as required for CARF and The Joint Commission.
• 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.
• The incumbent takes responsibility for improving professional skills, participating in planning and executing specific staff developments projects, attending seminars and institutes, and participating in training programs of per disciplines as requested.
• Incumbent maintains productivity at the established required level.
• The incumbent will coordinate treatment and communicate with the care lines to facilitate continuity of care for Veterans.
• The incumbent will document social work interventions and activities in patient's electronic health record and ensure appropriate hand off when transferring of patient care.
• The incumbent at times may participate in a rotation of on-call social workers, including modification of tour of duty to accommodate patient care needs on weekends.
• Acts as a liaison between VA and community resources, to include marketing and public relations duties as needed.
• Has advanced level of knowledge and understanding of the services and benefits available from community, State and Federal agencies.
• Travels where necessary, or as assigned in the capacity of community outreach support. The incumbent will maintain a current, unrestricted driver's license.
• Has advanced level of knowledge and understanding of the services and benefits available from community, State and Federal agencies.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:30am - 4:00pm
Telework: Not Authorized
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #:PD593 06869F
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• 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 and maintain CDT physical readiness.
• 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.
• Must be able to meet physical demands which include strenuous physical activity to include carrying persons and equipment, walking long distances over difficult terrain, running, climbing, working long hours in primitive or arduous conditions, long periods of standing, and bending and stooping.

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. In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English.
• 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. Note: 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. Current state requirements may be found by going to http://vaww.va.gov/OHRM/T38Hybrid/. NOTE: A COPY OF YOUR LICENSE/CERTIFICATION IS REQUIRED

Grade Determinations: Senior Social Worker, GS-12

Experience/ Education: 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 and 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. NOTE: TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED

Licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work 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. NOTE: A COPY OF YOUR LICENSE/CERTIFICATION IS REQUIRED


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, procedures, and/or practice guidelines pertaining to the service delivery area.

Preferred Experience Reference:

• Medical Social Worker, Oncology Group Therapy

Reference: As outlined in the VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G39
For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-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 to conduct 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.

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, resume, C.V., and/or other 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.