Social Worker- Readjustment Counselor

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Milwaukee (WI); On-site; USD 71,000 - 93,000; Full time

Job summary

The US Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking a Social Worker at the GS-11 level in Milwaukee, WI. The position emphasizes psychosocial assessments, referrals, and coordination of care for veterans and families.

Eligibility includes MSW from CSWE-accredited program, state licensure, and English proficiency; EDRP benefits may apply for eligible candidates and opportunities for professional growth within VA health care services.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of community resources, how to refer to services and coordinate care.
• Ability to conduct psychosocial assessments and interventions independently.
• Knowledge of medical/mental health diagnoses and treatment terminology to form plans.
• Skill in applying different treatment modalities for diverse patients.
• Ability to provide consultation to new social workers and students.

Skills

Community resources

Psychosocial assessments

Medical knowledge

Treatment modalities

Consultation services

Education

MSW 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 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: 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.

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.

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.

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.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS 11.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.