Summary

The Social Worker (locally called the PTSD Social Worker) is a full-time position assigned to PTSD Clinical Team (PCT) - aligned under the Mental Health Integrated Care Community and based in the Behavioral Health Outpatient Clinic (BHOC) in Syracuse - NY or in a Syracuse VAMC Community Based Outpatient Center. The Syracuse VAMC is a large hospital located in a highly complex (complexity level 1) VA facility - covering thirteen (13) counties and including seven (7) CBOCs.

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
• 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 3 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
• English Language Proficiency: Social workers must be proficient in spoken and written English
• 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-09: Experience - Education - and Licensure
• None beyond the basic requirements
• Grade Determinations: GS-09 - The entry level grade and would be for social workers that are new graduates - those that have less than one year experience and are not licensed/certified - or social workers with experience but not licensed to practice at the independent practice level
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills and Abilities for the grade level are as follows: Ability to work with Veterans and family members from various socio-economic - cultural - ethnic - educational - and other diversified backgrounds utilizing counseling skills Ability to assess the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and their family members - and to formulate and implement a treatment plan - identifying the Veteran problems - strengths - weaknesses\s - copying skills and assistance needed
• Knowledge of human development and behavior (physical and psychological) - and the differential influences of the environment - society - and culture
• Ability to implement treatment modalities in working with individuals - families - and groups to achieve treatment goals
• This requires judgment and skills 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
• Grade Determinations for 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
• 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 AND 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 - 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 - 7 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: Substance abuse / PTSD counseling is highly desirable 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-09 to GS-11
• Physical Requirements: Work is sedentary but also demands standing - walking - bending - twisting - and carrying light items.

Duties

• VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU VA Careers - Licensed Clinical Social Worker: https://youtube.com/embed/U_xC25QsN0w Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional The Social Worker is primarily responsible for assessing and diagnosing PTSD and other psychological disorders - conduct psychological and psychosocial assessments - and treat PTSD and related disorders through a variety of modalities
• Among the modalities provided are individual - family - and group psychotherapies - including Evidence Based Therapies (EBP's) such as Prolonged Exposure (PE) and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
• Provision of treatment via tele-mental health is also an important part of the PCT Social Worker's duties
• PCT Social Workers may be involved in program evaluation and/or research activities and may be involved with the social work intern program
• At times - Social Workers may be asked to engage in outreach activities in their area of operation (e.g
• Fort Drum - the Watertown Vet Center or other agencies that may have regular interactions with Veterans who might be referred to the Watertown PTSD Clinical Program)
• The PCT Social Worker works closely with the PTSD Team and - if based at a CBOC - may also meet regularly with the CBOC Behavioral Health BHIP team
• The PCT Social Worker assesses and diagnosis all psychiatric disorders - particularly PTSD and related disorders such as Substance Abuse and Depression
• The Social Worker provides ongoing psychotherapy via individual and group to Veterans diagnosed with PTSD and may provide couples and family therapy as indicated
• The Social Worker will develop and formulate a treatment plan by identifying the Veteran's strengths - weaknesses - coping skills - and assistance needed
• The Social Worker provides various treatment modalities such as EBP's including PE and CPT as indicated to Veterans with PTSD
• Other modalities may include - but are not limited to - Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) - Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Psychodynamic Approaches
• Treatment in the PTSD Clinic is typically time limited with a specific focus on addressing and treating the symptoms of PTSD and associated concerns related to past traumas
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday - 8:00am-4:30pm Compressed/Flexible: Not Available Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized 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
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized This vacancy is a multi-disciplinary announcement
• If you are a Psychologist and are interested in applying - please apply here If you are a Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (LPMHC) and are interested in applying - please apply here