Summary

The Senior Social Worker practices in the Psychiatric Emergency Clinic (PEC) to provide emergency services as a licensed mental health provider. The Social Worker is required to function at a highly independent - advanced level. The incumbent serves a patient population with highly complex mental health problems.

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
• 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
• Physical Requirements: The physical demands of this position involve lifting - walking - standing - use of both eyes - ability to distinguish basic colors and shades - hearing aid (permitted)
• The environmental factors of this position involve being able to work outside and/or inside - to work with others - and to work alone
• English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f)
• Grade Determinations: Senior Social Worker - GS-12 - In addition to the basic requirements for employment - the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates
• 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)
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above - candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: 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
• Ability to incorporate complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice
• 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
• 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
• Ability to expand clinical knowledge in the social work profession - and to write policies - *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
• References: VA Handbook 5005/120 - part II - Appendix G39 - Social Worker Qualification Standard GS-0185.

Duties

• VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Major Duties: Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams in the provision of comprehensive health care services to Veterans and ensures equity of access - service - and benefits to this population
• Educate the Veteran and/or caregiver of the available services and assisting them in establishing the appropriate referrals based on the Veteran's preference or that of his/her surrogate decision-maker
• Understands the intimidation of bureaucracy - and will act as an advocate within the VA system when it serves the best interest of the Veteran/family
• Make rapid assessments and developing crisis management plans for admission to mental health inpatient programs - in collaboration with the PEC Psychiatrist
• Collect - develop - and analyze data using appropriate clinical indicators and monitoring activities to assure that the care provided is of the highest quality
• Serve as a liaison with community agencies - assist Veterans with referrals for services from community and government agencies - and help coordinate these services (e.g. - (San Diego Police - Psychiatric Emergency Response Team - crisis houses - Emergency Department Social Worker - etc.)
• Perform psychosocial assessment - treatment planning - and coordination of care for patients in the program areas served
• Perform individual and group psychotherapy
• Consult with other services - as needed
• Provide end of life and/or goals of care counseling
• The Senior Social Worker can provide individual - group - and family psychotherapy and advanced level case management interventions used in the treatment of veterans with serious psychiatric disorders
• The Social Worker provides services that access the continuum of care
• The Social Worker provides services on an outpatient basis
• The Social Worker develops and implements methods for measuring effectiveness of social work practice and services in the emergency psychiatric care and crisis intervention specialty areas - utilizing outcome evaluations to improve treatment services
• The incumbent can demonstrate the ability to design changes based on empirical findings
• The Senior Social Worker offers consultation to colleagues and students on the psychosocial treatment of patients treated in specialty areas - rendering professional opinions based on experience and expertise and role modeling effective social work practice skills
• The incumbent 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
• Work Schedule: 0730-1600 M-F Telework: No 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