Social Worker - Mental Health

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Wilkes-Barre (Luzerne County); On-site; USD 75,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Wilkes-Barre, PA is seeking a Social Worker at the GS-11 level.

This position participates in VHA care teams, delivers psychosocial assessments, develops treatment plans, and coordinates services with community resources. This role offers Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) eligibility, licensure requirements, and opportunities to serve Veterans across the local catchment area.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in social work from CSWE-accredited program.
• Licensure/certification to independently practice social work.
• United States citizenship and English language proficiency.

Responsibilities

• Conduct psychosocial assessments and provide treatment interventions.
• Develop treatment plans and coordinate services with community resources.
• Refer and link Veterans to appropriate community and governmental resources.
• Provide consultation to new social workers and supervise staff as needed.
• Coordinate care with health care teams to meet patient needs.

Skills

English proficiency

Education

Master's degree in Social Work (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 eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply. 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.


• 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.


• 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.


• 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

• 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:
    
    
    
    • 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, cultural, ethnic, educational and other diversified 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, 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.
    
    
    
    
  
  
  
  

ALL INTERNAL EMPLOYEES MUST SUBMIT A RECENT SF-50 FOR CONSIDERATION!

Preferred Experience

Mental Health Working in a team environment. Community work is preferable

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-11 level.

Physical Requirements

Physical Requirements: he work requires sitting, bending, stooping and walking consistent with the delivery of services in the office, hospital and community. The position may entail lifting of no more than 25 pounds on an occasional basis. Whenever possible, carts and dollies will be utilized as an alternative to lifting. In carrying out responsibilities, operation of a motor vehicle with a valid driver's license is required. The social worker must meet the requirements to use a government vehicle in accordance with VHA directive 2008-020. It will be necessary for the social worker to travel throughout the Wilkes-Barre VAMC catchment area where they conduct interviews with Veterans, family members, representatives of community health, welfare and law enforcement agencies