Summary

This position serves as a Senior Social Worker within the catchment area of the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System (CAVHS) Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) located in El Dorado - Arkansas.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

• 1
• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
• 2
• English Language Proficiency
• Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f)
• 3
• Education
• VHA Social Worker 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 http://www.cswe.org/Accreditation to verify that the social work degree meets the accreditation standards for a masters of social work
• 4
• 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/
• 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
• Senior Social Worker - GS-12 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
• Licensure/Ceritification: 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 - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following knowledge - skills and abilities (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
• Note: KSAs must be clearly reflected in your resume under description of duties to be found qualified for this position/grade level
• Preferred Experience: Previous mental health and evidenced based therapy experience Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-12
• Physical Requirements: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for this occupation - see duty section for essential duties of this position
• May require standing - lifting - carrying - sitting - stooping - bending - pulling - and pushing
• May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment
• Work Environment: Work is performed in an office clinic setting with minimal risks that requires normal safety precautions
• the area is adequately lighted heated and ventilated
• However - the work environment requires someone with the ability to handle several tasks at once and sometimes stressful situations.

Duties

• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Duties of the Senior Social Worker include - but are not limited to: Demonstrates significant experience and ability to independently implement treatment modalities and provide counseling or psychotherapy for individuals - families - and groups Identifies and screens patients for psychosocial needs and demonstrates the ability to independently develop - monitor and alter treatment plans based on the identified psychosocial needs of Veterans/families - empirical measurement-based care data and clinical expertise Performs psychosocial assessments demonstrating differential diagnostic techniques - knowledge of multiple causation and age-related considerations Independently performs psychotherapy utilizing measurement-based care strategies to track progress - alter treatment interventions based on outcome data and ensure evidence-based therapy model fidelity Coordinates community-based services - including information and referral for additional services from other VA programs - other government and community agency programs as appropriate Independently identifies high-risk patients and provides psychotherapy and case management services utilizing suicide risk assessment and mitigation strategies - differential diagnosis and evidence-based treatment modalities Provides crisis intervention services - seeking to address the cause as well as the presenting complaint - coordinates family conferences and serves as liaison to family members Responsible for the development and review of Veteran treatment plans including the integration of the Veteran's strength into identified goals - inclusion of Measurement-based care data obtained in the provision of services and ensuring developed treatment plans include goals identified in the Veteran's own words Coordinates care by assuring Veterans are seen in a timely manner and are referred and seen for comprehensive service delivery - and linking and referring Veterans to the VA Medical Center - VA Regional Offices and/or community agencies if warranted Provides Advanced Directive information and education including but not limited to the following: Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care - Living Will - Health Care Directive - and/or treatment preferences document to Veteran and families Work Schedule: Monday-Friday - 8:00am-4:30pm (Subject to change based on the needs of the service) 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: Available - per supervisor discretion Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 598-00284-F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized