The Inpatient CLC Unit(s) Social Worker functions as a member of an interdisciplinary team & other support staff to provide mental health care, discharge planning, case management, treatment planning & strengths-based & recovery oriented treatment for Veterans on the Eagle Living Center (ELC) & Mountain view Living Center (MVLC). Services include provision of high-quality case management, clinical treatment, advocacy, and coordination
*** This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until September 26, 2025 or until the position is filled. The initial cutoff date for referral of eligible applications will be September 26, 2025. Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as needed basis until positions are filled. *** 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. 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. 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 tohttp://vaww.va.gov/OHRM/T38Hybrid/.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). Exception. VHA may waive the licensure or certification requirement for persons who are otherwise qualified, pending completion of state prerequisites for licensure/certification examinations. This exception only applies at the GS-9 grade level. For the GS-11 grade level and above, the candidate must be licensed or certified. At the time of appointment, the supervisor, chief social work or social work executive will provide the unlicensed/uncertified social worker with the written requirements for licensure or certification, including the time by which the license or certification must be obtained and the consequences for not becoming licensed or certified by the deadline. Grade Determinations: Social Worker, GS-9 Experience, Education, and Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Ability to utilize a Veteran centric approach when providing interventions and counseling for Veterans, their family members, caregivers, and survivors. Ability to assess the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and their family members, and to formulate and implement a treatment plan, identifying the Veterans problems, strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and assistance needed. Ability to implement treatment modalities in working with individuals, families, and groups to achieve treatment goals. This requires judgment and skill in utilizing supportive, problem solving, or crisis intervention techniques. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients, staff, and representatives of community agencies. Fundamental knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities, and treatment procedures. This includes acute, chronic, and traumatic illnesses/injuries; common medications and their effects/side effects; and medical terminology Social Worker, 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 nonVA 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, educational, and other 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, 8 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. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: This position provides direct services to patients and their families through casework. Incumbents must be physically and mentally able to efficiently perform the essential functions of the position without hazard to themselves or others. Normal work of the position requires visual acuity (with the ability to read typewritten characters without strain, corrective lenses permitted), keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. This position requires potentially moderate levels of lifting and carrying (15-44 pounds). The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders. The incumbent must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on patient needs. Must complete annual Employee Health requirements, such as annual TB screening or testing, as a condition of employ.
VA Careers - Licensed Clinical Social Worker: https://youtube.com/embed/U_xC25QsN0w Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Conduct psychosocial assessments with a wide variety of individuals from various socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other diversified backgrounds. Communicates effectively, both orally and in writing, with people from varied backgrounds. Incorporates complex, multiple causation factors, in establishing differential diagnosis and treatment of Veteran patients, including making psychosocial assessments and psychiatric diagnoses. Assess the psychosocial functioning and needs of patients, formulate and implement a treatment plan, identifying the patient's problems, strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and assistance needed. Carries a caseload of regular status CLC patients and is responsible for developing a seamless discharge plan for patients. Works closely with VA and community-based outpatient treatment teams, programs, agencies, and other applicable resources in establishing and coordinating a referral process for follow up care as appropriate. Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with clients, staff, and representatives of community agencies, and may function as a liaison to the same. Possesses basic knowledge of Veteran benefits and services relating to special programs, service connected compensation, non-service connected pension, etc. Facilitates referrals based upon veterans needs and eligibility. Assists with other programs and duties as necessary within the Social Work Service Line. Works with patients & families who are experiencing basic emotional, medical, & social problems utilizing individual, group, & family counseling skills. Provides individual, group, & family psychotherapy and advanced level case management interventions used in the treatment of Veterans with polytrauma injuries, SCI, TBI, visual impairment, PTSD, addictions, terminal illness, & other serious disorders. Has general knowledge of medical & mental health diagnoses, disabilities, and treatment procedures to include acute, chronic, & traumatic illnesses/injuries; common medications & their effects/side effects; & basic medical terminology. Develops & implements methods for measuring effectiveness of their individual social work practice & can demonstrate the ability to implement changes based on empirical findings. The social worker may serve on committees, councils, workgroups, &/or task forces. Provides consultation & guidance to colleagues, role models effective social work practice skills, teaches or provides orientation to less experienced social workers, develops innovations in practice interventions, & may provide clinical supervision for social work licensure or certification. Completes suicide risk assessments, assists Veterans in the development of Safety Plans. Responds to Veterans in crisis & coordinates with the Suicide Prevent Office as appropriate in the care of Veterans considered at risk for suicide. Establishes & maintains positive working relationships with employees, volunteers, consumers & stakeholders within the VA and outside community agencies. Attends of all appropriate staff meetings (interdisciplinary treatment team meetings, Social Work staff meetings, departmental/section staff meetings, other committees as appropriate, etc.). Completes the continuing education hours need for maintaining Professional Licensure. Demonstrates professional behavior that conforms to VA regulations and policy, State & Federal laws, & ethical codes of appropriate professional social work accrediting organizations. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:30am - 4:00pm Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases 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) 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: This position is authorized for telework - situational (ad hoc) and has NOT been authorized as virtual or remote. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 56987-0 / 56988-0 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized.