Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

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Duties:

The incumbent conducts comprehensive biopsychosocial mental health assessments, guides treatment planning, and provides evidence-based psychotherapy to individuals, families, couples and groups. The incumbent is responsible for the independent management of highly complex mental health cases to include, but not limited to, serious mental illness, posttraumatic stress disorder, trauma, depression, anxiety, and chronic suicidality. The incumbent is highly skilled and experienced in the use of Evidence Based Psychotherapy (EBP), Evidence Based Psychosocial Interventions (EBPI) and evidence-informed psychosocial interventions, as part of their clinical work with Veterans and families. Applicants should specify EBPs that they have received training in, are proficient in, and/or are certified in.

The BHIP Individual Psychotherapist:

• Utilizes Measurement Based Care (i.e., PHQ9, GAD7, etc) as part of clinical assessment and on-going reassessment to inform treatment goals and adjust clinical approach based on data, ultimately improving treatment outcomes.
• Independently completes comprehensive risk assessments using the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) and other clinical measures. Completes Comprehensive Suicide Risk Evaluation (CSRE) and MH Safety Plan as clinically indicated.
• Completes thorough psychosocial, risk, and diagnostic assessments, as clinically indicated, to determine the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and/or their families. The incumbent must be able to utilize assessments to inform treatment planning.
• Competent and confident in diagnosing mental health conditions and identifying correlating evidence-informed or EBP/EBPI treatment interventions as first line considerations in treatment planning.
• Uses shared decision making to independently develop a Veteran-centered treatment plan, or to contribute to an existing treatment plan. The incumbent sets SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, time-based) treatment goals/objectives with the Veteran and significant others in collaboration with the IDT as applicable. All goals/objectives are aimed at maximizing Veteran independence and recovery.
• Possesses knowledge and ability to independently provide EBP, EBPI, and evidence informed episodes of care to treat and assist Veterans with recovering from a wide range of mental health disorders, including but not limited to: substance use disorders, depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, trauma-related disorders, psychotic disorders, bipolar disorders, and personality disorders. The incumbent also provides skills building interventions for common psychosocial stressors or symptoms, including interpersonal problems and grief.
• Exhibits a high level of skill and expertise in establishing and maintaining effective therapeutic relationships with Veterans in the BHIP and their families. The incumbent can independently work with Veterans and their families who are experiencing a wide range of complicated medical, psychiatric, emotional, behavioral, and psychosocial problems.
• Maintains general knowledge of Veteran's benefits and services, community resources, and process for making appropriate referrals to community and other governmental programs or agencies. Provides consultation and education to Veterans and their families and facilitates referrals based upon Veterans' needs and eligibility. Serves as a liaison between Veterans and/or their families and VA and community resources to ensure thorough delivery of services. When appropriate and feasible, the Social Worker will educate and encourage the Veteran to advocate on his/her own behalf, thus fostering a sense of independence and empowerment.
• Provides education related to VA and community resources, entitlements, Advance Directives/Living Will (including psychiatric interventions) and will refer Veterans and family members/significant others to the appropriate interdisciplinary team member for identified health education needs.

VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU
Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

Work Schedule: 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM, Monday - Friday
Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized
Telework: Ad-hoc
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 00000

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.
• 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).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

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.
• English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).
• 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.

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).

GS-12 Experience and Licensure. Appointment to the GS-12 grade level requires completion of a minimum of one year of post-MSW experience equivalent to the GS-11 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.

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, 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.

This is the full performance level. Social workers at this level are licensed or certified to independently practice social work. Incumbents are assigned to all program areas, including but not limited to: inpatient or outpatient medicine, surgery, mental health, neurology, rehabilitation medicine, and geriatrics. Employees provide professional, independent social work services in the assigned area.

References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II Appendix G39, Social Worker Qualification Standard GS-0185 Veterans Health Administration.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12

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.