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This position is located at the Eastern Oklahoma VA Health Care System. The Social Worker works in the geriatric specialty medical area providing services to Geriatric Veterans. Services include provision of high-quality case management, clinical treatment, advocacy, and coordination of linkages to other appropriate VA or community service providers and/or agencies as needed by the client. This is accomplished in collaboration with other members of the interdisciplinary treatment team. 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 the CSWE website to verify if that social work degree meets the accreditation standards for a master of social work. Licensure. Persons hired or reassigned to social worker positions in the GS-185 series in VHA must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level. English Language Proficiency. Social workers must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance 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: To qualify as a GS-12 Senior Social Worker, 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. 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 able to provide supervision for licensure. Experience: 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 a defined curriculum/course of study and internship or equivalent supervised professional experience in a specialty. In addition, you must demonstrate the professional knowledge, skills, and abilities listed below: Ability to deal effectively with individuals or groups representing widely divergent backgrounds, interests, and points of views, placing a strong emphasis on creating an environment where these differences are valued and can be freely expressed. Knowledge of, and ability to apply, advanced professional psychosocial theories and techniques, including relevant evidence-based practices, to the full range of patient populations. Knowledge of suicide risk factors including environmental and behavioral factors and experience dealing with multiple diagnoses including alcohol and drug abuse, post-traumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder and other psychiatric diagnosis. Skill in making rapid assessments and developing crisis management. The social worker will follow VA SOP's and MCM's in the event of a medical or psychiatric emergency. Ability to collaborate and communicate effectively with professional and nonprofessional health care personnel at all organization levels and provide patient/staff education. Skill in interpersonal relationships, including conflict resolution and the ability to work collaboratively with the supervisors from other service lines and departments. Preferred Experience: Minimum of two years full-time experience providing direct care to patients in an outpatient mental healthcare setting, and experience as a program/project coordinator, clinical administrator, and/or supervisor. References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G39 (Social Worker Qualification Standard) Physical Requirements: The incumbent must be able to exercise a high degree of emotional and mental discipline at all times in order to continue to carry out duties effectively. This is especially necessary during time periods when the incumbent encounters significant or extreme duress as a result of interactions with patient etc. ["VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU Advanced and expert 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 interventions used in the treatment of geriatric veterans. Develops and implements methods for measuring effectiveness of social work practice and services in the medical specialty area of geriatric social work utilizing outcome evaluations to improve treatment services. Incumbent is able to demonstrate the ability to design changes based on empirical findings. Offers consultation to colleagues and students on the psychosocial treatment of patients treated in the specialty area of Geriatrics, rendering professional opinions based on experience and expertise and role modeling effective social work practice skills. Demonstrates the ability to teach and mentor staff and students in the special area of practice and to provide supervision for licensure or specialty certifications. Is responsible for intensive case management for Geriatric patients meeting criteria set-forth for such services. Maintains reports per protocol. Will also be involved in providing psycho-educational classes, psychotherapeutic support groups, as well as individual psychotherapy opportunities when determined appropriate in relation to disease adjustment. Conducts psychosocial assessments and develop clinically driven treatment plans which will be developed with the Veteran's input in order to assist him/her in meeting their needs. Assists Veterans in identifying disability resources, initiating applications, obtaining medical information and follow up paperwork as needed or appropriate. Provides education to medical providers, mental health providers and staff in general regarding the role of the social worker in the area of Geriatrics. Evaluates his/her practice on an on-going basis through participation in professional peer review, case conferences, research studies, or other organized means. Is active in and accepts responsibility for the development and maintenance of professional standards of treatment. The Social Worker will fulfill ethical responsibilities to Veterans, colleagues and VA in accordance with relevant discipline Code of Ethics, VHA Code of Ethics, and local Ethics policies, which includes but is not limited to compliance with all laws and regulations related to confidentiality and release of information, and protecting Veterans' personal identifying information. Work Schedule: FT, Monday thru Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Telework: Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]

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