Senior Social Worker (PACT/PCMHI)

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Soldotna (AK); On-site; USD 75,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid Time Off: 37–50 days annually

Child Care Subsidy

Traditional federal pension

Annual salary increases

Job summary

A governmental health service in Alaska is seeking a Senior Social Worker responsible for providing a range of clinical and psychosocial services within a primary care outpatient clinic. The role involves conducting assessments, developing treatment plans, and offering crisis intervention. Applicants must possess a master's degree in social work and relevant licensure, with at least two years of post-graduate clinical experience. The position promotes a supportive environment for both clients and families, aiming for well-rounded mental health care.

Qualifications

• Must be a U.S. citizen.
• Must have a master's degree in social work.
• Must be licensed to practice social work at the master's level.
• Proficient in spoken and written English.
• At least two years of experience in advanced practice.

Responsibilities

• Conducting psychosocial assessments and developing treatment plans.
• Providing crisis intervention services.
• Offering specialized consultation to treatment teams.
• Conducting individual and group therapy.
• Monitoring veterans' progress and adjusting treatment plans.

Skills

Psychosocial assessment

Crisis intervention

Individual and group therapy

Community service coordination

Advanced clinical judgment

Therapeutic techniques

Education

Master's degree in social work

Job description

Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) – a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program approval (award amount up to $200,000 and eligibility period one to five years) is determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.

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. To qualify for this position applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.

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)
• 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 includes 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, including 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
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard – please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• 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: working alone, working closely with others, light lifting under 15 pounds, light carrying under 15 pounds, use of fingers, hearing (aid may be permitted), operation of motor vehicle

Duties

• Total Rewards of an Allied Health Professional Recruitment Incentive – Authorized Functions of Position 100% clinical. Responsible for a variety of social work and mental health functions within the CBOC primary care outpatient clinic. Conducts psychosocial assessments.
• Develops treatment plans in collaboration with the veteran/family and with the interdisciplinary treatment team – identifying the patient's problems, strengths, weaknesses, coping skills and assistance needed.
• Possesses the skills to offer psychosocial interventions and measures outcomes of interventions. Coordinates community-based services – including information and referral for additional services from other VA programs, other government programs and community agency programs. Identifies high-risk patients and provides case management services and psychotherapeutic interventions.
• Provides crisis intervention services – seeking to address the cause as well as the presenting complaint – coordinates family conferences and serves as liaison to family members.
• Has working knowledge and experience in use of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities and treatment procedures. Addresses Advance Directives and mental health preferences in accordance with the standards of their work area.
• Will apply whole health principles to provide wellness/prevention education and may facilitate psychoeducational support groups as appropriate. Provides treatment recommendations and consultation to other disciplines and treatment team members involved with the treatment of clients referred to them – including teams at the CBOC and throughout the Alaska VA Healthcare System.
• Makes use of guides in a creative flexible manner and must use sound judgment in selecting techniques or introducing new practices and methods – adapting these as necessary to fit the needs of the patient population with which he/she serves. Based on assessment data – plans appropriate clinical treatment for individual clients.
• Promotes a psychotherapeutic atmosphere among the treatment staff.
• Promotes – supervises or provides individual and group therapy.
• Conducts therapy in difficult multifaceted cases.
• Serves as key member of the interdisciplinary team providing the full range of behavior therapy and other psychological therapies for a widely diverse client base.
• Effectively uses a variety of clinical modalities e.g. behavior therapy, behavior modification, cognitive therapy – and motivational interviewing.
• Maintains currency in evidence based therapeutic techniques and when appropriate – uses newly proven or experimental treatments.
• Continually monitors Veteran's progress.
• Independently exercises authoritative judgment in the adjustment of treatment plans.
• Determines when reassessment is appropriate and adjusts treatment plan.
• Provides advanced level psychosocial treatment to a wide variety of individuals from various socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, educational and other diverse backgrounds.
• High level of knowledge of psychosocial treatment and evidence based practice methods for the treatment of individuals, families, and groups to achieve treatment.
• Independently evaluates his/her own practice through participation in professional peer review, case conferences, case studies, or other organized means.
• Work Schedule: 8 am – 4:30 pm Monday through Friday.
• Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized. Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized. EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.
• Learn more: 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.
• 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 Available. Virtual – This is not a virtual position.
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.