Senior Social Worker

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; California (MO); On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs seeks a Senior Social Worker to address complex veteran needs, especially PTSD, with advanced psychosocial skills and evidence-based interventions. The role may include telemental health and program consultation.

Requires MSW from a CSWE-accredited program and state licensure, plus post-advanced practice experience. The position emphasizes leadership in clinical practice, program development, and outcome-focused treatment planning to improve veteran care

Qualifications

• Must have MSW from an CSWE-accredited school.
• Licensed or certified to independently practice MSW at the master’s level.
• English language proficiency in speaking and writing.
• Two years post-advanced practice experience; pediatric/geriatric experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Address the complex needs of veterans with PTSD.
• Provide advanced psychosocial assessment and counseling.
• Apply evidence-based PTSD treatments and telemental health when needed.
• Offer specialized consultation to colleagues and students.

Skills

Advanced clinical practice

Counseling psychotherapy

Complex differential diagnosis

Clinical consultation

Education

MSW CSWE-accredited

Job description

Summary

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.

Summary

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.

Qualifications

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
• 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: Social workers must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005 - Part II - chapter 3 - section A - paragraph 3j - this part
• 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)
• Grade Determinations: GS-12 Senior Social Worker 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 5005/120 - Part II - Appendix G39 - Social Worker Qualification Standard - GS-0185 - Veterans Health Administration - dated September 10 - 2019
• The full performance level of this vacancy is 12
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is a GS-12
• Physical Requirements: Hearing required (aid permitted).

Duties

• VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU Major duties for the position include - but are not limited to: The incumbent will specifically address the complex needs of veterans with PTSD
• The incumbent has successfully completed or will complete competency-based training in Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) - Prolonged Exposure (PE) and/or other empirically supported PTSD treatment modalities and assessments
• The incumbent applies advanced strategies to a full range of patient problems in the work setting
• They have advanced knowledge of culturally sensitive psychological assessment techniques - diagnosis - intervention - and behavioral health that qualifies them to provide advice and consultation to professionals representing a variety of disciplines
• The incumbent is also required to exercise judgment in the selection of or adaptation of standard and accepted psychological theories - techniques - and practices in treating patients or developing new techniques and programs for the treatment of clinical populations
• The incumbent may also provide telemental health services as needed/appropriate
• Work Schedule: Monday through Friday - 8:00 a.m
• to 4:30 p.m.
• Subject to change to meet the needs of the Agency Compressed/Flexible: Not Available Telework: Eligible - ad hoc as per agency policy Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
• Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized