Summary

The incumbent is responsible for delivering outpatient mental health services to Veterans enrolled at the Syracuse VA Behavioral Health Clinic/Oswego VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic. The primary responsibilities of the therapist include providing high-quality - recovery-oriented - and trauma-informed individual therapy to Veterans - occasionally involving their significant others.

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
• 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 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
• Assignments
• This is the full performance level
• Social workers at this level are licensed or certified to independently practice social work
• Incumbents are assigned to all program areas - including but not limited to: inpatient or outpatient medicine - surgery - mental health - neurology - rehabilitation medicine - and geriatrics
• Employees provide professional - independent social work services in the assigned area
• Duties include but are not limited to: assessing and documenting identified behaviors or symptoms of abuse - neglect - exploitation and/or intimate partner violence
• use of clinical social work skills and knowledge to maintain Veteran privacy and confidentiality per policies - handbooks or directives
• and acts as an advocate with appropriate VA and community service providers and agencies when it serves the best interest of the Veteran and family members/caregiver
• Incumbent independently assesses the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and their family members - identifying the Veteran's strengths - weaknesses - coping skills - and psychosocial acuity
• In collaboration with the Veteran - family/caregiver - and interdisciplinary treatment team - the social worker facilitates the delivery of health care services
• The social worker identifies family/caregiver stressors - conducts assessment and provides specific interventions
• The incumbent provides case management and care coordination to facilitate appropriate delivery of health care services - incorporates complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment of Veterans - including making psychosocial and psychiatric diagnoses within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice
• The social worker links the Veteran with services - resources - and opportunities - in order to maximize the Veteran's independence - health - and well-being
• 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
• 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 Social Worker - Duties include but are not limited to: Services include the provision of high-quality individual psychotherapy - case management - crisis intervention - advocacy - coordination of care to other appropriate VA or community service providers/agencies - as needed based on the unique needs of the Veteran
• This is accomplished in collaboration with members of the Outpatient Mental Health treatment team and other interdisciplinary treatment teams
• Knowledge of the Social Determinants of Health that may affect a wide range of health and quality of life risks and outcomes
• the implications on a Veterans wellness - treatment implications - stability - and recovery
• The Social Worker demonstrates an understanding of the range of treatment and skills needed for all adult patients - being sensitive to human growth and development - age-appropriate needs and concerns of the Veteran - and be able to provide current & advanced techniques
• Psychosocial assessment - treatment planning - electronic medical record use are required
• The Social Worker works within a multidisciplinary outpatient mental health treatment team
• Services are given to Veterans diagnosed with mental health-related disorders - couples - & family-related challenges
• Common related disorders may include co-occurring mental health diagnoses such as Posttraumatic Stress Disorder - Mood Disorders - & Personality Disorders
• couples and family concerns including domestic/intimate partner violence - and chronic pain
• Awareness of the impact of substance abuse on the Veteran's mental health and family system is important
• The Social Worker requires specialized knowledge of psychiatric emergency assessment - suicide and homicide risk assessments - crisis intervention - chronic and acute mental health conditions - community resources - and appropriate treatment interventions
• The Social Worker will facilitate treatment via telemental health when appropriate based on Veteran need/access
• The Social Worker reports directly to the Outpatient Mental Health Team Lead
• The Social Worker will adhere to the NASW Code of Ethics - all local social work policies - and maintain an unrestricted - unsuspended license to practice social work
• May participate in a rotation of on-call social workers - including modification of tour of duty to accommodate patient care needs on weekends
• May provide supervision to a Social Work intern or be generally involved in the MSW training program
• The incumbent is also responsible to the Social Work Executive for professional practice issues
• The incumbent is expected to participate in professional activities with his/her respective discipline & - consults with the Social Work Executive regarding discipline specific concerns
• Licensed Social Worker at the GS-11 will perform duties Independently
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday - 8:00am-4:30pm Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: EDRP is Not Authorized for Social Workers 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 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Note: This position may be filled by a Psychologist - Social Worker or Licensed Mental Health Professional (LPMHC)
• These three positions are advertised separately on USAJobs
• If you are interested in any position - please apply to the respective job announcement
• 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