Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Approval - award amount (up to $200 -000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.

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: 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 the CSWE website to verify if that social work degree meets the accreditation standards for a master 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
• 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
• Preferred Experience: Experience providing mental health care in ER/Urgent Care settings preferred
• Prior Training in Evidence Based Psychotherapy approaches preferred
• References: VA Regulations - specifically VA Handbook 5005 - Part II - Appendix G39 Social Worker Qualification Standard
• This can be found in the local Human Resources Office
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12
• Physical Requirements: The work is sedentary
• It occasionally requires carrying of light objects such as files - books - and papers
• Some walking - standing - and bending is required
• No special physical qualifications are required.

Duties

• Total Rewards: Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf Social Work: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Social-Worker-Career-Flyer.pdf The Senior Social Worker will provide expert clinical services - primarily through the delivery of Evidence Based Psychotherapies (EBPs) to Veterans served by the VA Northern Indiana Health Care System
• Works as a member of the Mental Health Service and can be assigned to any program area including the Mental Health Outpatient Clinic - Trauma Recovery Program - Addictive Disorders Treatment Program - and Primary Care Mental Health Integration
• Clinical: (100%) Provide psychological and risk assessment services - including expert assessment and diagnostic services - for Veterans with a wide range of psychiatric diagnoses
• Provide motivational enhancement activities to prepare Veterans to participate in clinically appropriate care
• Provide expert individual and group Evidence-Based Psychotherapy services being nationally disseminated and implemented in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) - as well as other evidence-based treatment options when clinically appropriate
• Provide EBP services in accordance with VHA Handbook 1160.05 Local Implementation of Evidence-Based Psychotherapies for Mental and Behavioral Health Conditions
• Provide services via clinical video telehealth to CBOCs and the home when indicated
• Provide psychoeducation and family/relationship counseling when indicated
• Provide education to Veterans and staff about the availability - effectiveness - and utility of EBPs for various mental and behavioral health conditions
• Provide expert consultation to providers within and outside of mental health to assist in diagnosis and treatment
• Promote communication/interactions between medical team members - Veterans - and their families to facilitate the medical treatment process
• Receive competency-based supervision in EBPs until competency requirements in VHA Handbook 1160.05 are obtained
• Participate in ongoing consultation in EBPs
• Establish treatment plans in accordance with Medical Center and Mental Health service policies
• Complete all documentation within timeframes established by Medical Center and Mental Health Service policies
• Additional Duties: May assist with the establishment and interpretation of data from program monitors and outcome measurements within programs assigned using a data-driven quality assurance processes
• May assist with Evidence-Based Psychotherapy tracking
• May plan and oversee performance improvement projects designed to provide information regarding program planning and relevant treatment approaches
• May present program evaluation and performance improvement data to providers - mental health leadership - or hospital leadership
• May assist in preparation of reports and proposals for program expansion/improvement as assigned
• May actively participate in leadership roles on local - state and national professional organizations whose work contributes to improvement of population health - including health of Veterans
• May represent the Medical Center at professional/program community group/events and committees
• Work Schedule: Typically administrative in nature - Tuesday - Saturday - 8am - 4:30pm
• Schedule subject to change based on the needs of the agency
• Detailed schedule to be discussed during the interview process
• Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized
• Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact vhaedrpprogramsupport@va.gov - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
• Learn more 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) Telework: Ad Hoc per Agency policy
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: GS-12: 91304-0 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required