Senior Social Worker (PCMHI) - EDRP Approved, Rec/Relo Incentive may be offered.

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; McAllen (TX); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

US Department of Veterans Affairs in the United States seeks a Senior Social Worker (GS-0185-12) to provide a full range of psycho-diagnostic services and therapies within VATVCBHCS. The role requires an MSW from a CSWE-accredited school and state licensure to practice at the master’s level, plus at least two years of post-licensure experience, including supervisory responsibilities.

Applicants will participate in program evaluation, clinical supervision, and may conduct teaching seminars.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Social Work from a CSWE-accredited program.
• Licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master’s level.
• Two years of post-advanced-licensure experience, with one year at GS-11 level.

Responsibilities

• Provide a full range of psycho-diagnostic services and psychological testing as appropriate.
• Deliver a range of psychological therapies, including group and individual formats.
• Conduct evaluations for patients with mental health and medical disorders to guide treatment planning.
• Serve as a clinical supervisor for employees and supervise interns as assigned.
• Develop, teach, and support seminars/workshops related to psychology services.
• Engage in research activities related to program evaluation and clinical practice.

Education

MSW CSWE-accredited

Job description

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) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.

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 - You must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f)

Education

You must possess 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. Note: A doctoral degree in Social Work may NOT be substituted for the master's degree in Social Work.

License or Certification

You must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level.

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).

Senior Social Worker, GS-0185-12

Licensure Requirement

You 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 must be able to provide supervision for licensure.

Advanced practice levelsocial 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. All states except California use a series of licensure exams administered by the ASWB. Information can be found at https://www.aswb.org/.

Experience Requirement

You must possess 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. Examples of specialized experience include, but are not limited to: assessing and documenting identified behaviors or symptoms of abuse, neglect, exploitation and/or intimate partner violence; use of clinical social work skills; maintaining patient privacy and confidentiality per policies, handbooks or directives; acting as an advocate with appropriate community service providers and agencies when it serves the best interest of the patient and family members/caregiver; independently assessing the psychosocial functioning and needs of patients and their family members, identifying the patient's strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and psychosocial acuity. Applicable experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment.

In addition to the experience above, you must demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• 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.

Preferred Experience

• Licensed within discipline
• Experience providing individual and group psychotherapy for a wide array of
• Diagnoses
• Experience as a therapist in the VA
• Experience in PCMHI and/or primary care setting

Reference

For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-12.

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.

Duties Continued

• May be selected by the Chief of Psychology to serve as the psychology service representative on various Psychology Service, Mental Health Service Line, or VISN administrative committees or work groups.
• May coordinate programming within both various mental health and primary care programs in coordination with managers of such programs as well as with discipline supervisors of affected staff assigned to these programs.
• May be involved in research activities, especially as related to program evaluation responsibilities.
• May serve as a clinical supervisor for employees in lower grades.
• Provides a full range of psycho-diagnostic services including the use of psychological testing for patients within VATVCBHCS in areas of specific interest and within scope of expertise, referring to the PCMHI psychologist for guidance and interpretation as appropriate.
• Performs psychological evaluations for individual with mental health and medical disorders for purposes of diagnostic clarification and treatment planning recommendations within scope of expertise, referring to the PCMHI psychologist for guidance and interpretation as appropriate. These evaluations employ a comprehensive diagnostic interview, review of available records, collateral contract when available, as well as objective, and cognitive tests when indicated.
• Provides a range of psychological therapeutic interventions, including group and individual formats, with individuals with mental health and medical disorders utilizing empirically supported modalities when indicated, within scope of expertise, referring to the PCMHI psychologist for guidance and interpretation as appropriate. Services may be delivered in a face-to-face and/or telehealth format.
• Consults with and serves as resource for other professional personnel concerning the needs for, evaluation of, and development of psychological services in VATVCBHCS, within scope of expertise, referring to the PCMHI psychologist for guidance and interpretation as appropriate
• May be asked to serve as a clinical supervisor for unlicensed social worker interns.
• May be asked to prepare and teach seminars/workshops for VATVCBHCS trainees/staff on topics within interest/competency areas.
• May choose to conduct approved psychological research that supports the mission of VATVCBHCS alone in collaboration with other professional in VATVCBHCS or affiliated academic institutions.