This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.
Basic Requirements: . The basic requirements for employment as a VHA social worker are prescribed by statute in 38 U.S.C. § 7402(b)(9), as amended by section 205 of Public Law 106-419, enacted November 1, 2000. To qualify for appointment as a social worker in VHA, all applicants must meet the following: 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. Current state requirements may be found by going to http://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) 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 a defined 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 able to provide supervision for licensure. (3) 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. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation and would generally not require a pre-placement examination. Exceptions: A pre-placement examination is required for any occupation or assignment that requires the operation of a government-owned or -leased motor vehicle in order to properly carry out assigned duties. Examinations may also be required for any occupation or assignment that requires a pre-placement examination by virtue of another policy, regulation, or statute
The Women Veterans Senior Social Worker plays a vital role in supporting the well-being of women Veterans. Working within the BHIP clinic and the Women Veteran Program, this dedicated professional not only provides essential mental health services but also helps shape and enhance our Women Veterans Program. The Women Veteran Social Worker is a compassionate and skilled practitioner who can navigate the complexities of mental health care. On any given day, they might conduct thorough mental health assessments, develop personalized treatment plans, or provide critical consultation services to various departments, including inpatient facilities, primary care, and behavioral health providers. This collaboration ensures that veterans receive the most appropriate level of care for their specific needs. Direct therapeutic support forms a cornerstone of this role. The social worker employs various therapeutic approaches, working with individuals, families, couples, and groups to provide a wide spectrum of clinical care. The social worker expertise extends to treating depression, processing grief and loss, managing menopausal symptoms, and helping Veterans cope with anxiety. The social worker also provides specialized support for sensitive issues such as military sexual assault, eating disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder. This position relies heavily on the ability to work as part of a larger healthcare team. The social worker regularly collaborates with other healthcare professionals, ensuring a comprehensive and coordinated approach to veteran care. Through these partnerships and their direct work with Veterans, they contribute significantly to the ongoing development and enhancement of the Women Veterans Program The incumbent is responsible for completing the following duties/responsibilities: a. The incumbent will conduct psychosocial assessments to determine needs of veterans and family members. b. The incumbent will provide individual, family and group counseling. c. The incumbent is an active participant in the treatment planning process with other disciplines. d. The incumbent will provide same day mental health services, including crisis management. e. The incumbent will provide consultation/education to veterans and families on community resources, advance directives and VA benefits. f. The incumbent will act as a consultant to other team/staff members. g. The incumbent will act as liaison between VA and community resources, to include marketing and public relation duties as needed. h. The incumbent will provide case management to veterans and families, as needed, throughout the continuum of care. j. The incumbent will provide a full range of social work services within commonly accepted standards of social work practice which includes case work, individual, family and group counseling, case management and other services as appropriate. Work Schedule: full time Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 0000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) Authorized: This position is eligible for EDRP, a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA Directive 1021. Former EDRP participants are ineligible to apply for EDRP incentive. Contact VHA.ELRSProgramSupport@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance.