Social Worker

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; New York (NY); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Federal benefits

Telework available

Job summary

The VA New York Harbor Healthcare system is recruiting one Social Worker for the Social Work service at the Brooklyn Campus location. The social worker will provide direct practice, multidisciplinary care, community outreach, training, research, and student supervision.

Qualifications include an MSW from a CSWE-accredited program, state licensure for independent practice, and strong skills in psychosocial assessment, treatment planning, and collaboration with veterans, families, and healthcare

Qualifications

• Master's degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited program.
• Licensed or certified social worker in the state at independent practice level.
• Experience in psychosocial assessments and developing treatment plans.
• Ability to work with veterans and their families.
• Experience collaborating with interdisciplinary teams.

Responsibilities

• Provide professional social work services to clients with a broad range of psychosocial and environmental problems.
• Independently manage complex cases with professional judgment.
• Deliver individual, group, family, and program development services.
• Apply theories and models to client biopsychosocial situations.
• Collaborate with other disciplines and community agencies.
• Train social work and multidisciplinary staff.
• Supervise students and coordinate with Schools of Social Work.

Skills

Veteran-centric care

Psychosocial assessment

Treatment planning

Crisis intervention

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Communication

Community resource coordination

Education

Master's degree in Social Work CSWE

State licensure as social worker

Job description

Summary

The VA New York Harbor Healthcare system is currently recruiting one Social Worker for the Social Work service at the Brooklyn Campus location. The services provided by the social worker include direct practice - multidisciplinary practice - community practice - training - research - and student supervision.

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

• Driver's License: A current - valid state-issued Driver's License is required for this position
• Applicant may be required to provide their license at the time of interview
• A clean driving record report from the DMV and a copy of their driver's license will be required during the online onboarding process
• 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 4 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/
• 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
• 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: In addition to the basic requirements for employment - the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates
• 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 non-VA 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
• Preferred Experience: Experience working in a hospital setting or with homecare programs
• Experience working with geriatric population.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-11
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-9 to GS-11
• Physical Requirements: See VA Handbook 5011.

Duties

• Major duties include but are not limited to: Provide professional social work services to clients with a broad range of psychosocial and environmental problems
• Independently manage complex cases - exercising mature professional judgment
• Deliver individual - group - family - couple - and program development services for target populations
• Apply a variety of theories and models - integrating and adapting them to client biopsychosocial situations
• Participate in treatment teams - work groups - and coordination efforts
• Collaborate and consult with other disciplines and community agencies
• Engage in formal and informal conferences and team meetings to evaluate - design - and implement programming
• Conduct public relations - resource development - and resource coordination
• Develop and maintain linkages with community agencies for service coordination
• Outreach to Veterans who are admitted to our Contract Nursing Homes
• Train social work and multidisciplinary staff
• Supervise students and confer with Schools of Social Work regarding student progress
• Participate in staff development activities as both participant and presenter
• Engage in research as needed
• Maintain clinical records - reports - statistical and administrative reporting in compliance with standards
• Prepare for supervisory conferences and committee work
• Develop programs for special emphasis populations (e.g. - homeless - veterans)
• Gain additional training for specialized programs as required
• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Work Schedule: Monday-Friday - 8:00am-4:30pm Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not authorized 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 (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade)
• 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: Available
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 0257-A/0258-A Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized