Social Worker-Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Colorado Springs (CO); On-site; USD 75,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs seeks a Social Worker to assess and support Veterans and their families. The role requires MSW from an accredited program, licensure, and strong counseling skills for individual, family, and group work.

You will develop treatment plans, coordinate community resources, and respond to crisis situations with professional judgment. Applicants may be referred prior to full licensure with a plan to obtain state licensure.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited school.
• License or certification to independently practice social work at the master’s level (state).
• Non-citizens may be hired only as allowed by VA policy; U.S. citizenship is required.
• Assignment may require completion of licensure/certification prerequisites within set timeframes.

Responsibilities

• Provide psychosocial assessments and formulate treatment plans for Veterans and families.
• Utilize counseling skills to support Veterans and family members and coordinate care with community agencies.
• Apply evidence-based treatment modalities and crisis intervention as needed.
• Establish professional relationships with clients, staff, and external partners.

Skills

Counseling skills

Psychosocial assessment

Treatment planning

Crisis intervention

Communication with clients & staff

Knowledge of medical & mental health

Resource coordination

Education

MSW from CSWE-accredited program

Doctoral degree substitution allowed for GS-11 (in lieu of one year professional experience)

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.

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. English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken & 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 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: Social Worker, GS-9 Experience, Education, & Licensure: None beyond the basic requirements. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, & 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 & needs of Veterans & their family members, & to formulate & implement a treatment plan, identifying the Veterans problems, strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, & assistance needed. Ability to implement treatment modalities in working with individuals, families, & groups to achieve treatment goals. This requires judgment & skill in utilizing supportive, problem solving, or crisis intervention techniques. Ability to establish & maintain effective working relationships & communicate with clients, staff, & representatives of community agencies. Fundamental knowledge of medical & mental health diagnoses, disabilities, & treatment procedures. This includes acute, chronic, & traumatic illnesses/injuries; common medications & their effects/side effects; & medical terminology.

Social Worker, GS-11 Experience & 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) & licensure or certification in a state at the independent practice level. NOTE: For appointment licensure or certification at this level please refer to paragraph 3c. 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, & 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 & other governmental agencies for services, & ability to coordinate services. Skill in independently conducting psychosocial assessments & treatment interventions to a wide variety of indi