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If you are a current, permanent VA employee or Federal employee from another agency, you should apply under CBST-12039429-23-KMS. This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until September 29, 2023 or until all positions are filled. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be July 26, 2023, with subsequent cut-off dates of every two weeks until all positions are filled. 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. 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. Grade Determinations: Senior Social Worker, GS-12 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 a defined curriculum/course of study and internship or equivalent supervised professional experience in a specialty. Examples of creditable experience include but not limited to independently assess psychosocial functioning, facilitate treatment plan with interdisciplinary team, provide case management and care coordination, links patient with services, resources, and opportunities, conducts assessment of at-risk patient to identify immediate needs, provides interventions independently for patient and families/care giver, provide range of interventions and treatment modalities, and provide consultation to staff about psychosocial needs of patients. Resume must include hours per week for work experience credit. 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. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. 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. (KSAs must be clearly reflected in resume under description of duties in order to be found qualified for this position/grade level). Preferred Experience: none References: VA Handbook 5005/120, Part II Appendix G39, Social Worker Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office. The position is above full performance level, GS-12. Physical Requirements: Light lifting (under 15 pounds), use of fingers, both hands required, walking and standing (up to 8 hours), hearing (aid permitted). (See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Services). (See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Services). ["VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU Position requires specialized knowledge of psychiatric emergency assessment, suicide/homicide risk assessments, crisis intervention, chronic/acute mental health conditions, community resources, and appropriate treatment interventions. The duties of the Senior Social Worker - CBOC in the Mental Health Service include but are not limited to: Demonstrates significant experience and ability to independently implement treatment modalities and provide counseling or psychotherapy for individuals, families, and groups. Identifies and screens patients for psychosocial needs and demonstrates the ability to independently develop, monitor and alter treatment plans based on the identified psychosocial needs of Veterans/families, empirical measurement-based care data and clinical expertise. Performs psychosocial assessments demonstrating differential diagnostic techniques, knowledge of multiple causation and age-related considerations. Independently performs psychotherapy utilizing measurement-based care strategies to track progress, alter treatment interventions based on outcome data and ensure evidence-based therapy model fidelity. Establishes and maintains effective therapeutic relationships with veterans and their families. Independently work with patients and families who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric, medical and social problems utilizing individual, group and family counseling and psychotherapy skills. Coordinate community-based services, including information and referral for additional services from other VA programs, other government and community agency programs as appropriate. Independently identifies high-risk patients and provides psychotherapy and case management services utilizing suicide risk assessment and mitigation strategies, differential diagnosis and evidence-based treatment modalities. Provides crisis intervention services, seeking to address the cause as well as the presenting complaint, coordinates family conferences and serves as liaison to family members. Working knowledge and experience in use of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities and treatment procedures; this includes acute, chronic and traumatic illnesses/injuries and common medications utilized in the field of mental health. Engages in program and practice evaluations including developing and implementing processes for measuring practice effectiveness and service efficacy, preparing reports and responses to Mental Health Clinic management related to evaluations and makes recommendations based on outcome data from evaluations with the intent of improved overall service delivery and system design changes to improve service delivery at their local CBOC assignment and throughout Mental Health Services. Additionally, the incumbent: - Provides timely psychosocial assessment of Veteran's mental health and psychosocial needs (s), consistent with the goals of the CBOC. - Responsible for the development and review of Veteran treatment plans including the integration of the Veteran's strength into identified goals, inclusion of Measurement-based care data obtained in the provision of services and ensuring developed treatment plans include goals identified in the Veteran's own words. - Is proficient in the use of the Mental Health Suite and measurement -based care measures according to accreditation body requirements and Mental Health Service policy. - Utilizes various treatment modalities such as individual, casework, community organization and community outreach activities to alleviate or remove problems that interfere with the Veteran's ability to improve functional levels. - Coordinates care by assuring Veterans are seen in a timely manner and are referred and seen for comprehensive service delivery, and linking and referring Veterans to the VA Medical Center, VA Regional Offices and/or community agencies if warranted. - Documents all client contacts in progress notes in a complete, confidential and professional manner to ensure information about clients is shared with other VA staff. Reviews and enters progress notes and treatment plans on a regular basis as prescribed in the program's handbook and policies. - Provides Advanced Directive information and education. - In conjunction with the healthcare team, identifies and assesses risk, safety, supports and implements appropriate interventions/treatment for those who are experiencing abuse, neglect, exploitation or are experiencing domestic or intimate partner violence. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8 am to 4:30 pm Telework: Available (Ad-hoc) Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]

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