Senior Social Worker

Summary

The Senior Social Worker assigned to the Community Nursing Home (CNH) program delivers evidence-based clinical services - case management - program development - community outreach - and education on Non-Institutional Care (NIC) programs. The role involves collaboration with interdisciplinary teams such as Specialty Clinics and NHCU.

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 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
• Current state requirements may be found by going to
• Grandfathering Provision
• The following is the standard grandfathering policy for all title 38 hybrid qualification standards
• Please carefully review the qualification standard to determine the specific education and/or licensure/certification/registration requirements that apply to this occupation
• (1) All persons employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title - series and grade held - including positive education and licensure or certification that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation
• For employees who do not meet all of the basic requirements in this standard - but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it - the following provisions apply: (2) Such employees in an occupation that requires a licensure or certification - may be reassigned - promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level - or changed to lower grade within the occupation - but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions
• (3) Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed - on a temporary or permanent basis - until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard
• (4) Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation - who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all of the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation
• (5) If an employee who was retained in an occupation listed in 38 U.S.C. § 7401(3) under this provision leaves that occupation - the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation
• Physical Requirements
• See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 - Employee Occupational Health Services
• 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: Senior Social Worker - GS-12 (1) 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
• (2) 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
• (3) Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above - candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) 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
• (b) Ability to incorporate complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice
• (c) 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
• (d) 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
• (e) 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
• Preferred Experience: Extensive knowledge of State and Federal guidelines and regulations for licensed long-term care facilities Two years experience providing case management services to clients with complex medical - psychiatric - and psychosocial issues Two years experience completing care coordination and collaboration with a variety of agencies to address clients' needs Two years experience serving as part of a multidisciplinary/Interdisciplinary team Experience in long term care oversight with knowledge of state and federal regulations and compliance requirements
• Knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses - disabilities - and treatment procedures
• This includes acute - medical terminology
• Two years experience working with geriatric populations with multiple comorbidities
• Ability to provide clinical training - orientation - and consultation
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12
• Physical Requirements: The work is sedentary
• Some work may require movement between offices - hospitals - warehouses - and similar areas for meetings and to conduct work
• Work may also require walking/standing - in conjunctions with travel to and attendance at meetings and/or conferences away from the work site
• Incumbent may carry and lift light items weighing less than 15 pounds.

Duties

• VA Careers - Social Work: Major duties include but are not limited to: Conduct comprehensive assessments of Veterans requiring specialized care and develop individualized treatment plans addressing physical - emotional - and psychosocial needs
• Provide individual - group - and family counseling to Veterans and families experiencing psychiatric - medical - or social challenges - identifying strengths - coping skills - and needed supports in collaboration with interdisciplinary teams
• Build and maintain effective working relationships with Veterans - families - staff - and community agencies while communicating clearly and professionally in both oral and written formats
• Apply knowledge of medical and mental health conditions - including acute - chronic - and traumatic illnesses/injuries - related treatments - medications - and terminology in clinical decision-making
• Utilize computer software for documentation - data management - and tracking - and learn additional applications required by VHA systems
• Identify appropriate community resources - make referrals - and coordinate services with VA - community - and governmental agencies to meet Veteran needs
• Provide consultation to staff regarding the psychosocial needs of Veterans and how psychosocial factors influence healthcare engagement and treatment compliance
• Implement psychosocial treatment modalities for individuals - families - and groups using supportive counseling - problem-solving approaches - and crisis intervention techniques
• Offer orientation - coaching - and mentorship to new social workers and graduate-level social work students
• serve as a field instructor for VHA student placements
• Engage in ongoing self-evaluation through peer review - case conferences - research participation - and other professional development activities
• Work Schedule: Full Time - Monday - Friday 7:30a.m
• -4:00p.m
• or 8:00a.m
• - 4:30p.m
• Telework: Available at the discretion of the supervisor
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 55835-F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,321 health care facilities, including 172 VA Medical Centers and 1,138 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics) to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. VHA Medical Centers provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy. In addition, most of our medical centers offer additional medical and surgical specialty services including audiology & speech pathology, dermatology, dental, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, podiatry, prosthetics, urology, and vision care. Some medical centers also offer advanced services such as organ transplants and plastic surgery.

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