Summary

The GS 11 Clinical Social Worker plays a crucial role as a full-time member of the Behavioral health Interdisciplinary Team (BHIP) in the Mental health ICC under the Syracuse VA Medical Center. This incumbent provides outpatient mental health treatment to Veterans who are connected with the Syracuse VAMC and its Community Based Outpatient clinics (CBOCs). This position is located at the Potsdam VA CBOC which is under the Syracuse VA Medical Center.

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 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
• English Language Proficiency
• Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f)
• 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-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
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above - candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of community resources - how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services - and ability to coordinate services
• (b) 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
• (c) 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
• (d) 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
• (e) 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
• [Full Performance Level] 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
• The social worker conducts timely assessment of at-risk Veterans in crisis to identify immediate needs - evaluate risk - and initiate safety plan as appropriate
• The social worker provides interventions independently with Veterans and their families/caregivers who are experiencing a wide range of complicated medical - behavioral health - financial - legal - and psychosocial problems
• They provide a range of interventions and treatment modalities which may include individual - group - and/or family counseling or psychotherapy
• They independently formulate and implement a treatment plan including measurable - achievable goals identifying the Veterans' needs - strengths - weaknesses - coping skills - and psychosocial acuity
• Social workers serve on committees - work groups - and task forces at the facility and VISN level or in the community
• They provide subject matter consultation to colleagues and students on the psychosocial treatment of Veterans offering professional opinions based on experience - expertise and role modeling effective social work practice skills
• The social worker establishes and maintains ongoing education programs for Veterans - community agencies - students - and staff - to facilitate understanding of social work interventions specific to the Veteran/Military population
• 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: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 - Employee Occupational Health Services.

Duties

• The GS 11 Clinical Social Worker primary responsibilities includes but are not limited to the provision of psychiatric intervention - mental health treatment - and stabilization to Veterans within an outpatient clinic setting
• The Therapist's key duties involve offering recovery-oriented - trauma informed psychotherapy to Veterans and couples - conducting psychosocial assessments - crisis interventions - and treatment planning - while also implementing measurement-based care and other evidence-based practices
• The therapist may facilitate therapeutic groups as necessary and must be adept at providing services through both telehealth and in-person sessions to ensure that Veterans receive vital mental health care despite any access challenges
• Collaboration is essential - as the incumbent will work closely with Veterans - their identified caregivers - and interdisciplinary team members to provide comprehensive mental health care
• List the major duties and responsibilities of the position: The following specific clinical duties will be provided by the Social Worker- BHIP Therapist: The incumbent is tasked with delivering psychotherapeutic treatment to individuals - couples - and occasionally groups - focusing on mental health symptoms and emotional challenges
• The primary objectives are to alleviate these symptoms - enhance self-awareness and self-management - and foster recovery and overall well-being for clients
• The incumbent will: Possesses excellent verbal and written communication skills - allowing for effective interactions with a wide range of individuals from diverse backgrounds
• The incumbent collaborates with Veterans and their chosen Caregivers to determine the most suitable clinical approaches for providing comprehensive - recovery-focused - strength-based - and trauma-informed mental health care
• Collaborate with the Veteran to perform a thorough psychosocial assessment and create treatment plans that highlight various mental health options tailored to the Veteran's specific needs
• The professional will work alongside the Veteran to develop a treatment plan that includes realistic goals - utilizing Measurement Based Care tools as one of the key components
• Knowledge of treatment protocols for a range of psychiatric conditions - including the effects and side effects of common psychotropic medications
• They are skilled in evidence-based therapeutic methods - such as Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
• Maintain a solid understanding of mental health and medical diagnoses - using appropriate terminology to ensure clear communication with other healthcare professionals
• Clinical documentation of treatment interventions is written within an electronic health record system - where the incumbent will also review progress notes from other providers to assess the strengths and challenges faced by Veterans - ensuring a comprehensive approach to care
• Experience in conducting rapid assessments and creating crisis management strategies for Veterans that may require psychiatric hospitalization or ability to assess readiness for admission to mental health/substance abuse residential programs
• Competence in collaborative clinical discussions and advocacy for the psychosocial/mental health needs of Veterans - addressing how these issues impact health and mental health care and psychiatric treatment adherence
• Work Schedule: Will be discussed during interview
• Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases 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)