Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below. This a multidisciplinary vacancy announcement. All VHA Employees are welcome to apply. This is position is also open to all U.S. Citizens.

Videos

VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU
VA Careers - Licensed Clinical Social Worker: https://youtube.com/embed/U_xC25QsN0w

The Clinical Resource Hub (CRH) Women's Health Social Work position is a VISN based position located in VISN 2. A Clinical Resource Hub - CRH is a repository of clinical and administrative staff that serve Veterans Affairs facilities within a Veterans Integrated System Network - VISN. Staff are hired by the CRH to provide interprofessional services to VISN facilities that are underserved or experiencing gaps in care. Services provided by CRH staff are conducted via multiple modalities, but primarily VA Video Connect - VVC. The Women's Health Social Worker is assigned to provide psychological services for female-identified veterans, conducting mental health assessments, treatment planning, and time-limited, evidence-based individual, group, and couples psychotherapy focused on Women's Health needs e.g., reproductive health, relationship issues, breast cancer, preventative health. Incumbent will also provide crisis intervention and make referrals/coordinate care for other services as needed. The incumbent may be involved in training and education in psychology training programs.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Maintains high level of skill expertise in establishing effective therapeutic relationships with female-identified veterans and their families, independently working with those experiencing a wide range of complex medical, psychiatric, emotional, behavioral, and psychosocial problems. Completes thorough psychosocial assessments, treatment and discharge planning.
• Participates actively as a member of the CRH specialty treatment team collaborating on care for female-identified veterans and their families.
• Possesses knowledge of current literature and experience in use of mental health and substance abuse diagnoses and treatments, including acute, chronic and traumatic illnesses.
• Serves as a liaison between female-identified veterans and/or their families and VA and community resources; offers consultation/education on these services and makes appropriate referrals.
• Possesses knowledge and ability to independently implement evidence-based psychotherapy and/or skills groups for female-identified veterans and their families.
• Provides consultation to treatment team and staff members regarding psychosocial needs of female-identified veterans and their families.
• Demonstrates ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing with people from diverse backgrounds.
• Provides emergency/crisis intervention services to outpatients experiencing acute psychological crises, helping to stabilize them, and assisting in transfer to inpatient care if necessary; provides follow-up care as needed.
• Serves on committees and work groups as per supervisor; attends all required meetings.
• Furthers professional growth through continuing education appropriate to the area of assignment.
• Maintains a level of productivity and quality consistent with the complexity of the assignment and professional, Joint Commission, facility, and national standards as outlined by CRH and VHA.

Work Schedule: To be determined by supervisor.
Telework: Not Available - This a a remote position
Remote: This is a remote position. This position has been granted a 180-day extension from return to office. This extension will be reviewed on an ongoing basis and does not imply permanent remote work status.

Note: This position may be filled by a Social Worker or a Psychologist. These two positions are advertised separately on USAJobs. If you are a Psychologist and are interested in applying, please apply here

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• 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 trial period.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• 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).

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. 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 3 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.
• English Language Proficiency: Social workers must be proficient in spoken and written English.
• 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. At the time of appointment, the supervisor, chief social work or social work executive will provide the unlicensed/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

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-09:

Experience, Education, and Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements.

Grade Determinations: GS-09 - The entry level grade and would be for social workers that are new graduates, those that have less than one year experience and are not licensed/certified, or social workers with experience but not licensed to practice at the independent practice level.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities for the grade level are as follows:

• Ability to work with Veterans and family members from various socio-economic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other diversified backgrounds utilizing counseling skills
• Ability to assess the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and their family members, and to formulate and implement a treatment plan, identifying the Veteran problems, strengths, weaknesses\s, copying skills and assistance needed. Knowledge of human development and behavior physical and psychological, and the differential influences of the environment, society, and culture.
• Ability to implement treatment modalities in working with individuals, families, and groups to achieve treatment goals. This requires judgment and skills in utilizing supportive problem solving, or crisis intervention techniques.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients, staff, and representatives of community agencies.
• 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.

Grade Determinations for 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.

NOTE: For appointment licensure or certification at this level please refer to paragraph 3c. 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 AND

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities.
In addition to the experience above, candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

• Knowledge of community resources, how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services, and ability to coordinate services.
• 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.
• 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.
• Skill in independently implementing different treatment modalities in working with individuals, families, and groups who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric, 7 medical, and social problems to achieve treatment goals.
• 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: Women's Health / Licensed Provider Preferred

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

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: Work is sedentary but also demands standing, walking, bending, twisting, and carrying light items.

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 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.