Career Center

The Social Worker is a clinical position in the Veteran Health Administration's. The Post 9/11 M2VA Case Management Program provides services to Veterans of the Post 9/11 era. Responsible for the day-to-day care management services provided by the Program. 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. 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). 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). Grandfathering Provision: The following is the standard grandfathering policy for all title 38 hybrid qualification standards. Please carefully review the qualification standard to determine the specific education and/or licensure/certification/registration requirements that apply to this occupation. All persons employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education and licensure or certification that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all of the basic requirements in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: Such employees in an occupation that requires a licensure or certification, may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all of the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation. If an employee who was retained in an occupation listed in 38 U.S.C. § 7401(3) under this provision leaves that occupation, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation. NOTE: If social workers covered under the grandfathering provision of the 1991 Federal law regarding licensure or certification of VHA social workers leave the GS-0185 social work series, they lose the grandfathering protection. If they choose to return at a later date to the GS-0185 series, they must be licensed or certified to qualify for employment as a social worker. 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. 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: 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, procedures, and/or practice guidelines pertaining to the service delivery area. References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G39 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-12. Physical Requirements: The physical demands of this position involve primarily walking, sitting, talking, use of fingers, both hands required, Near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4, Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other, Hearing (aid permitted). ["Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 7:30am to 4:00pm\nTelework: Available\nVirtual: This is not a virtual position.\nFunctional Statement #: 000000\nRelocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized\nPermanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required The Senior Social Worker provides direct care management and transition support services to Veterans deemed to be considered Seriously Injured (SI). The SI population of Veterans includes Veterans that have complex emotional, medical and behavioral needs, at risk for harm to self or others, who have sustained serious injuries while in service, as well as Veterans who screened positive for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). The Post 9/11 M2VA Case Management Program Senior Social Worker, with advanced training and experience with the military population, assumes responsibility for the Medical Care Management and treatment of those Veterans presenting complex, and challenging treatment issues including those associated with traumatic brain injury, post-concussion syndrome, those exhibiting life-threatening injuries requiring specialized treatment, Veterans suffering chronic disabilities leading to risk for harm to self or others, and Veterans suffering from debilitating mental health issues associated with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and/or other mental health injuries resulting from military service and the transition to becoming a civilian. Duties of the position include, but are not limited to: Conducting monthly case management screenings and assigning Veterans who screened positive for case management needs to a Social Worker based on seriously or non-seriously injured determination. Provides complex care management services, including coordination, outreach, advocacy and accountability skills with the advanced knowledge and experience to independently coordinate and collaborate the medical care needs of Veterans who are seriously injured and/or those exhibiting complex emotional, medical or behavioral conditions. Provide follow-up brief counseling to individuals, families or groups associated with the Veteran's care. Ensure that a current biopsychosocial assessment has been completed and engaging appropriate clinical staff in addressing the patient's and family's psychosocial needs are being addressed. Serve as an advocate for Post 9/11 transitioning service members, Veterans and their families in conjunction with the Transition Patient Advocate (TPA), helping them access needed services at the facility, and in the community. Complete and documenting a comprehensive care management assessment, updating the assessment as necessary based on clinical judgment, and developing a care management plan of care. Presents to various audiences the information and education of services provided by the Post 9/11 M2VA Case Management Program for transitioning service members and various Veteran Service Organization and community partners in the absence of the TPA. Receive Military Treatment Forms (MTF's) from and coordinating with VA Liaisons throughout the nation, on behalf of transitioning service members in receiving and coordinating for Post ETS VA medical appointments. Implement and facilitate the Post 9/11 M2VA Case Management Program Transition Group meetings designed to assist Transitioning Service members with understanding the challenges that are typical with transitioning out of military service and the VA healthcare and benefits that are available to assist with these challenges. Provides care management services to Veterans who have been identified as seriously injured as the result of their military service. Provides triage, assessment and referral, coordination of family conferences and regular medical follow-up appointments for Veterans residing throughout the VAPIHCS catchment area. Provides consultation to other staff regarding the high-risk psychosocial needs of Veterans and the impact of psychosocial problems on health care and adherence to treatment plan. Facilitates referrals based upon Veterans needs and eligibility. Possess or develop an understanding of the needs of Veterans who have suffered severe injury, or other debilitating condition as the result of their military service. Sensitivity to the special needs of these Post 9/11 Veterans with respect to their age, their developmental history and cultural related factors must be consistently taken into consideration. Balance the needs of customers while supporting VA missions. Consistently communicates and treats customers (Veterans, their representatives, visitors, and all VA staff) in a courteous, tactful, and respectful manner. Prioritizes the ability to provide the customer with consistent information according to established policies and procedures. Represent the Post 9/11 M2VA Case Management Program in briefs within and outside VAPIHCS. Performs other related administrative duties as assigned."]