Social Worker- Readjustment Counselor

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Green Bay (WI); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking a Social Worker (GS-11) to provide readjustment counseling and psychosocial support to Veterans and their families in the Green Bay, WI area.

The role emphasizes independent clinical work, risk assessment, crisis intervention, and care coordination with Vet Center services. Minimum qualifications include an MSW from a CSWE-accredited program and state licensure or certification.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited program.
• Licensed or certified to practice social work at the master’s level.
• Knowledge of psychosocial assessment, treatment planning, and crisis intervention.

Responsibilities

• Provide psychosocial assessments, treatment planning, and readjustment counseling.
• Coordinate care with community resources and Vet Center services.
• Conduct risk assessments and crisis intervention as needed.
• Offer consultation to new social workers and supervise/educate students when appropriate.
• Document clinical interactions and maintain care coordination.

Skills

Community resources

Coordinate services

Psychosocial assessments

Therapy modalities

Risk assessment

Crisis intervention

Med/mental health knowledge

Consultation with staff

Education

Master of Social Work (MSW) CSWE

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.

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

• 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: In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) - no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English
• You must be proficient in basic written and spoken English to perform the duties of this position
• Education: Must 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 the CSWE website to verify if that social work degree meets the accreditation standards for a Master of Social Work
• Licensure: Persons hired or reassigned to social worker positions in the GS-185 series in VHA must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level
• For the GS-11 grade level - the candidate must be licensed or certified
• 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
• GS-11 Experience and Licensure: 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 the 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 and licensure or certification in a state at the independent practice level
• ~AND~ Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the experience above - the candidate 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 - 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
• Preferred Experience: Experience at the independent practice level (GS-11) in both assessing the psychosocial functioning and needs of individuals and their family members and providing counseling services to couples and families utilizing family systems theory/therapy interventions
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS 11
• Physical Requirements: The work does not inherently include physical requirements essential for successful job performance that could not otherwise be performed with a workplace accommodation
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/

Duties

• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional The incumbent will be responsible for providing services to eligible individuals who are experiencing a variety of military related psychological and psychosocial problems
• Incumbents must possess the knowledge and experience to independently implement psychotherapeutic modalities in working with individuals - families - and groups to enhance the readjustment of Veterans - active duty Service members - and their families
• Functions and responsibilities include - but are not limited to: Intake screening and assessment: Complete all readjustment counseling intake procedures - including an assessment of risk for self-harm - military history and military related psychosocial stressors - and assess family readjustment stressors and document identified behaviors or symptoms
• Readjustment counseling goal setting and service planning: Develop and periodically update an individualized readjustment counseling service plan that reflects a course of therapeutic and psychosocial interventions - including identification of achievable goals and measurable outcomes
• Direct readjustment counseling service provision: Incorporate complex multiple causation in differential psychosocial assessment and direct service delivery to eligible Veterans - including making psychosocial and psychiatric diagnostic inferences within the clinical scope of practice
• Risk assessment and crisis intervention: Conduct timely assessment of Veterans in crisis to identify immediate needs - evaluate risk - and initiate safety planning as appropriate
• Care coordination: Links the Veteran with other community services - resources - and opportunities to maximize the Veteran's independence - health - and well-being
• Coordinating readjustment counseling and outreach: Maintain active coordination with Vet Center outreach workers to ensure seamless referral to Vet Center services for those individuals engaged in the community at outreach events that may require follow-up readjustment counseling
• Team cohesion and coordination: Actively participate in staff meetings designed to promote team building and staff development
• Documentation/administrative responsibilities/consultation: Document all clinical interactions with eligible individuals and episodes of care coordination on their behalf as required by policy
• Perform other duties as assigned Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 8:00am - 4:30pm Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact [e-mail] - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
• Learn more 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: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 150670 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized