Social Worker

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Pittsfield (MA); Hybrid; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid Time Off

Telework

Parental Leave

EDRP

Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs seeks a social worker for the Outpatient Mental Health Clinic. The role emphasizes psychosocial assessments, individual and group therapy, and coordination of care for Veterans and their families.

Applicants must hold an MSW from an accredited program, be licensed, and demonstrate KSAs in counseling, assessment, and treatment planning. Eligibility for EDRP is noted with potential benefits and program administration details.

Qualifications

• MSW from a CSWE-accredited school
• Licensure/certification to independently practice social work at MSW level
• Doctoral degree may not substitute for MSW
• Knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses and treatment procedures

Responsibilities

• Provide group and individual psychotherapy
• Perform intake assessments for Veterans
• Conduct psychosocial assessments for veterans and families
• Develop and implement outpatient treatment plans with a focus on substance use and mental health disorders
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary treatment teams to coordinate care
• Offer consultation to veterans, families, and colleagues on resources and programs
• Assist with program evaluation and quality improvement initiatives

Skills

Counseling skills

Psychosocial assessment

Treatment planning

Crisis intervention

Interdisciplinary teamwork

Community resources knowledge

Referral coordination

Consultation

Education

Master's degree in social work (MSW)

CSWE accreditation

Doctoral degree not substituting MSW

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

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

Qualifications

• 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
• 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: 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 counseling skills when working with Veterans and family members
• 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 with patients with Substance Use Disorder - VHA experience
• 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: Please see VA Handbook 5019 - Employee Occupational Health.

Duties

• The social worker in the Outpatient Mental Health Clinic is responsible for providing group and individual psychotherapy as well as intake assessments for Veterans
• This position requires use a high level of skill in assessing and treating the complicated psychosocial problems of veterans referred for mental health and substance use disorders
• The incumbent completes thorough psychosocial assessments as part of the consult process when the veteran's is initially referred
• Duties include but are not limited to: Independently works with veterans and their families who are experiencing a wide range of complicated medical - psychiatric - emotional - behavioral - and psychosocial problems
• Has working knowledge and experience in use of medical and mental health diagnoses - disabilities and treatment procedures
• Independently identifies high-risk patients and provides case management services
• Provides screening - triage - and brief treatment of patients
• Actively participates as a member of the interdisciplinary treatment team in the development and implementation of an outpatient treatment plan
• Provides consultation and education to veterans and their families regarding community resources - VA benefits and specialty programs - and advance directives
• Offers consultation to colleagues and students on the psychosocial treatment of patients with substance use disorders
• Assisting with/providing program evaluation and monitoring activities with a focus on Quality Improvement opportunities
• Handles conflict and problems in dealing with the patient or family member constructively and appropriately
• Social Worker - GS-09 - is the entry level grade for the GS-0185 Social Work series and is used for Social Workers who have obtained an MSW - are provisionally licensed - and are working on completion of prerequisites toward full independent licensure
• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Work Schedule: Mon
• - Fri. - 8:00 am - 4:30 pm Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized
• Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized
• EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact Hannah Neilson at [e-mail] - EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
• Learn more Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases
• 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)
• 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: May be available as determined by agency policy
• Functional Statement #: F04798 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
• Notifications Current and former Federal employees must submit copies of their most recent SF-50 - (Notice of Personnel Action)
• The SF-50 must identify the position title - series - grade - step - tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted)
• In some cases - more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held
• This position is covered by a special rate.