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The Senior Social Worker is assigned administrative responsibility for clinical program development and is accountable for clinical program effectiveness and modification of service patterns in the Mental Health service. If you are a current permanent federal employee, apply to CBST-11861050-23-DW. 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: Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g this part). 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 tohttp://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 tohttp://vaww.va.gov/OHRM/T38Hybrid/. 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: Senior Social Worker, GS-12 (1) Experience/Education. The candidate must have 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. Senior social workers 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 adefined curriculum/course of study and internship or equivalent supervised professional experience in a specialty. (2) Licensure/Certification. Senior social workers must be licensed or certified by a state 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 ableto provide supervision for licensure. (3) In addition to the experience above, candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) 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. (b) Ability to incorporate complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice. (c) 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. (d) 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. (e) 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: Ability to make professional evaluations, decisions, and recommendation for treatment planning and implementation. Ability to establish goals/treatment through a collaborative process with the patient utilizing advanced counseling skills, including evidenced-based practices and screening/assessment. Ability to use a wide variety of individual and group counseling interventions; demonstrates sensitivity to diversity and possesses multicultural counseling skills Ability to fully utilize the current DSM in making diagnoses and formulation of treatment goals and application of appropriate clinical intervention using professional counseling practices. Supervisory Certificate to qualify for a GS12. References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/120 PART II APPENDIX G39 The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS12. Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting, 15-44 pounds Moderate carrying, 15-44 pounds Reaching above shoulder Use of fingers Both hands required Walking Standing Kneeling Repeated bending Both legs required Operation of crane, truck, tractor, or motor vehicle Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously Near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4 Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other Depth perception Hearing (aid permitted) ["Duties included but are not limited to: The Social Worker independently performs case finding functions and outreach, identifying and screening patients for psychosocial needs. The incumbent must possess the knowledge and ability to independently implement treatment modalities, and provide counseling or psychotherapy for individuals, families, and groups. The Social Worker independently conducts psychosocial assessments. The Social Worker independently diagnoses Veterans according to the latest version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders or other recognized diagnostic manuals of mental disorders. He/She develops treatment plans in collaboration with the Veteran and/or family and with the interdisciplinary treatment team. The incumbent possesses the skills to offer psychosocial intervention and utilizes professional judgment in determining the method and techniques to be used. The Social Worker acts as a subject matter expert and liaison with community agencies. The Social Worker has knowledge and experience in the use of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities, and treatment procedures. The Social Worker establishes and maintains effective therapeutic relationships with Veterans and their families. The Social Worker provides consultation services to VA staff regarding the psychosocial needs of the Veterans and the impact of their problems on their health and adherence to their treatment plan. The Social Worker uses word processing software to execute several office automation functions such as storing and retrieving electronic documents and files; activating printers; inserting and deleting text, formatting letters, reports, and memoranda; and transmitting and receiving e-mail. The Social Worker has general knowledge of Veterans' benefits and services relating to special programs, service-connected compensation, and non-service-connected pension. He/She facilitates referrals as needed. The Social Worker serves as a Social Work Service representative on Service and facility committees/work groups/task forces, and on community agency boards as assigned. The Social Worker interviews and conducts psychosocial assessments to establish Veteran's treatment needs, presenting problems, and DSM V diagnoses. The incumbent assesses high risk factors, acuity and need for services. It is the responsibility of the Social Worker to develop a treatment plan with the Veteran based on this assessment. The incumbent makes rapid assessments and develops crisis management plans for admission to mental health inpatient programs. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 7:30am-4:00pm Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000003F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]

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