Summary

The incumbent independently provides clinical psychosocial and case management services to eligible veterans and their family members to meet biological - psychological - social - and environmental needs at an advanced practice level within the specialized area of Mather VA Medical Center as a member of the treatment team.

Qualifications

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: Social workers must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005 - Part II - chapter 3 - section A - paragraph 3j - this part
• 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: GS-12 Senior Social Worker Experience/Education: The candidate must have at least two years of experience post advanced practice clinical licensure and should be in a specialized area of social work practice of which - one year must be equivalent to the GS-11 grade level
• Senior social workers have experience that demonstrates possession of advanced practice skills and judgment
• Senior social workers are experts in their specialized area of practice
• Senior social workers may have certification or other post-masters training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university that includes a defined curriculum/course of study and internship or equivalent supervised professional experience in a specialty
• Licensure/Certification: Senior social workers must be licensed or certified by a state at the advanced practice level which included an advanced generalist or clinical examination - unless they are grandfathered by the state in which they are licensed to practice at the advanced practice level (except for licenses issued in California - which administers its own clinical examination for advanced practice) - and they must be able to provide supervision for licensure
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities: In addition to the experience above - candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Skill in a range of specialized interventions and treatment modalities used in specialty treatment programs or with special patient populations
• This includes individual - group - and/or family counseling or psychotherapy and advanced level psychosocial and/or case management
• Ability to incorporate complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice
• Knowledge in developing and implementing methods for measuring effectiveness of social work practice and services in the specialty area - utilizing outcome evaluations to improve treatment services and to design system changes
• Ability to provide specialized consultation to colleagues and students on the psychosocial treatment of patients in the service delivery area - as well as role modeling effective social work practice skills
• Ability to expand clinical knowledge in the social work profession - and to write policies - procedures - and/or practice guidelines pertaining to the service delivery area
• Driver's Licensure: This position involves periodically transporting patients and requires a valid driver's license
• In addition - as per Incidental Drivers Policy PS-05-80 - employee's driver's record will be reviewed regular through the CA DMV Employer Pull Notice (EPN) Program
• References: VA Handbook 5005/120 - Part II - Appendix G39 - Social Worker Qualification Standard - GS-0185 - Veterans Health Administration - dated September 10 - 2019
• The full performance level of this vacancy is 12
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is a GS-12
• Physical Requirements: This position requires light lifting - use of fingers - walking - standing - ability to distinguish basic colors - ability to distinguish shades of colors - hearing (Aid permitted) - and operation of a motor vehicle
• See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 - Employee Occupational Health Services.

Duties

• See below links for the rewards of being an employee of the Department of Veteran Affairs: Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Social-Worker-Career-Flyer.pdf Duties for the position may include but are not limited to: Clinical Functions: The incumbent must use a high level of skill in assessing and treating the psychosocial problems of veterans
• Consultation to members of the multidisciplinary team is provided to coordinate a collaborative effort to meet the agreed upon goals for a veteran's treatment needs and include serving as liaison with community professionals regarding needed services for veterans and/or their families
• Employs - establishes - and maintains effective therapeutic relationships with veterans and/or their families who are experiencing medical - psychiatric - emotional - behavioral - and psychosocial problems
• Completes thorough psychosocial assessments - including psychosocial diagnosis and high-risk assessments - to determine the psychosocial functioning and needs of veterans and/or their families
• The incumbent must be able to utilize this assessment in facilitating the veteran's maximum use of treatment for attainment of the highest level of independence post-discharge that is possible and practicable
• Has advanced knowledge and experience in use of complex medical and mental health diagnoses - disabilities and treatment procedures - and differential diagnosis
• This includes acute - chronic and traumatic illnesses/injuries - common medications and their effects/side effects - and medical terminology
• Knowledge needed in diagnosis spans the entire continuum of illness and disability experienced by veterans
• In addition - many of the veterans have a diminished capacity to perform activities of daily living and experience role losses (e.g. - parental - spouse - occupational - etc.) and bereavement
• Work Schedule: Full Time
• 9:00 AM- 5:30 PM PST 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 existing pay - 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) 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: May be Ad-Hoc Authorized
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 08506-F Financial Disclosure Report: Not required