Job Description

Summary

The Social Worker independently provides clinical psychosocial and case management services at an advanced practice level to eligible Veterans and their family members to meet biological - psychological - social - and environmental needs. Their health care and psychosocial problems and needs are complex and require a high degree of clinical oversight and creative problem solving. The clinic are part of the Durham Veterans Affairs Health Care System (DVAHCS).

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 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
• 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)
• GS-11 Experience and Licensure
• Appointment to the GS-11 grade level requires completion of a minimum of one year of post-MSW experience equivalent to the GS-9 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
• 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-11.

Duties

• The incumbent is required to interact not only with the patient but also family - significant others - community agencies - and other staff
• Duties include but not limited to the following: Interviews Veterans and their family members/significant others to establish facts about the veteran's situation - presenting problems and their causes - and the impact of such problems on the veteran's functioning and health as part of a comprehensive psychosocial assessment
• Interprets and explains VA's treatment and benefit programs
• Reviews all data - subjective and objective - and makes a clinical assessment identifying needs and strengths
• Independently evaluates the client's situation - including the veteran's reaction and ability to deal with it - and arrives at a reasoned conclusion
• Assesses at-risk factors and develops a preliminary disposition plan involving the veteran and family or significant others
• Provides individual and group counseling services - including psychotherapy in some settings
• Assists and encourages Veterans and significant others in facing problems - thinking them through - evaluating the situation realistically - considering alternative courses of action - and arriving at plans for using resources to resolve problems
• Demonstrates acceptance - interest - encouragement - and selective use of questioning - explanation - and guidance in working with Veterans to help them explore their problems
• Work involves intensive Social Work services requiring the exercise of mature professional judgment and the flexible use of a wide range of advanced Social Work practice skills
• Establishes a continuing relationship with the veteran - evaluating progress towards goals and adjusting the treatment plan as appropriate
• Monitors veteran's progress - maintains comprehensive documentation - ensures expert diagnosis and treatment of clinical disorders - and shows competent discretion in decision to adjust treatment
• Serves as a mentor to other Social Workers - particularly those at the entry level
• Provides training to students - residents - interns - and fellows from other disciplines
• Meets workload expectations for the position - including documentation standards - productivity and bookable hours
• VA Careers - Social Work: Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Work Schedule: 8:00AM-4:30PM Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases When setting pay - a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade)
• Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on prior [work experience] or military service experience
• Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment - up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth - adoption - or foster care placement of a child
• Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment - full time employees with a total family income below $144 -000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 00000

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About Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration

The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,321 health care facilities, including 172 VA Medical Centers and 1,138 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics) to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. VHA Medical Centers provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy. In addition, most of our medical centers offer additional medical and surgical specialty services including audiology & speech pathology, dermatology, dental, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, podiatry, prosthetics, urology, and vision care. Some medical centers also offer advanced services such as organ transplants and plastic surgery.

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Permanent employment, Full time, Work experience placement, Remote work, Relocation package, Flexible hours,

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