Social Worker

Internal Number: 833513900

Summary

This position is located in Social Work Service – Boise VA Medical Center – Boise – ID. The Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary (BHIP) Social Worker provides psychosocial assessments and treatment to veterans needing interventions related to General Mental Health including case management – individual – couples – family – and group psychotherapy.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Be a citizen of the United States
• Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
• EDUCATION: Earned 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
• (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED)
• 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/ (Copy of license or certification required)
• Exception
• VHA may waive the licensure or certification requirement for persons who are otherwise qualified – pending completion of state prerequisites for licensure/certification examinations
• This exception only applies at the GS-9 grade level
• For the GS-11 grade level and above – the candidate must be licensed or certified
• At the time of appointment – the supervisor – chief social work or social work executive will provide the unlicensed/uncertified social worker with the written requirements for licensure or certification – including the time by which the license or certification must be obtained and the consequences for not becoming licensed or certified by the deadline
• (a) For appointments at the GS-9 grade level – VHA social workers who are not licensed or certified at the time of appointment must become licensed or certified at the independent – master’s level within three years of their appointment as a social worker
• Most states require two years of post-MSW experience as a prerequisite to taking the licensure/certification exam – and VHA gives social workers one additional year to pass the licensure/certification exam
• In states such as California – Washington – and others where the prerequisites for licensure exceed two years – social workers must become licensed at the independent – master’s level within one year of meeting the full state prerequisites for licensure
• (b) A social worker who does not yet have a license that allows independent practice must be supervised by a licensed independent practitioner of the same discipline who is a VA staff member and who has access to the electronic health record
• Grade Determinations: Social Worker GS-9 Experience – Education – and Licensure: The entry level is used for Social Workers with less than one year of post-master’s degree experience or for Social Workers who are graduates – not yet licensed at the independent practice level
• Demonstrated Knowledge – Skills – and Abilities
• In addition to the basic requirements – the candidates must demonstrate the KSAs below: 1
• Ability to work with Veterans and family members from various socioeconomic – cultural – ethnic – educational – and other diversified backgrounds utilizing counseling skills
• 2
• Ability to assess the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and their family members – and to formulate and implement a treatment plan – identifying the Veterans problems – strengths – weaknesses – coping skills – and assistance needed
• 3
• Ability to implement treatment modalities in working with individuals – families – and groups to achieve treatment goals
• This requires judgment and skill in utilizing supportive – problem solving – or crisis intervention techniques
• 4
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients – staff – and representatives of community agencies
• 5
• Fundamental knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses – including knowledge of addiction treatment and the recovery model – disabilities – and treatment procedures
• This includes acute – chronic – and traumatic illnesses/injuries
• common medications and their effects/side effects
• and medical terminology
• GS-11 Social Worker: Experience – Education and Licensure: Appointment to the GS-11 full performance level requires completion of a minimum of 1 year of post-MSW degree experience in the field of health care social work (VA or non-VA experience) OR – a doctoral degree in social work from a school of social work may be substituted for the required 1 year of professional social work experience in a clinical setting
• Demonstrated Knowledge – Skills – and Abilities
• In addition to the basic requirements – the candidates must demonstrate the KSAs below: 1
• Knowledge of community resources – how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services – and ability to coordinate services
• 2
• 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
• 3
• 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
• 4
• 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
• 5
• 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
• Preferred Experience: Care management and therapy in a behavioral health environment
• Experience completing behavioral health assessments and developing treatment plans
• References: VA Handbook 5005/120

Duties

• VA Careers – Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU Works with veterans and their families who are experiencing a wide range of complicated medical – psychiatric – emotional – behavioral – and psychosocial problems
• Participates as a member of an interdisciplinary treatment team and actively participate through collaboration with Veterans and family as well as inter disciplinary treatment team members in the development and implementation of a treatment plan
• Serves as a liaison between Veterans and/or their families and VA and community resources to ensure thorough delivery of services
• Provides consultation and education to Veterans and their families regarding community resources – VA benefits – specialty programs and available health services
• Provides emergency/crisis intervention services to Veterans experiencing acute psychological crisis – help to stabilize these individuals – assisting in arrangements for transfer to a psychiatric facility for inpatient care if necessary and providing follow up care as needed
• Serves on committees and work groups at the facility as deemed appropriate by the supervisor and/or Chief of Social Work Services
• Maintains a level of productivity and quality consistent with the complexity of the assignment and consistent with Social Work standards – Joint Commission standards – and facility standards
• Documents in the veteran’s electronic medical record chart and complete a thorough assessment and treatment plan
• Responsible for all other duties as assigned
• Work Schedule: M-F – 0800-1630 Telework: Not Authorized Virtual/Remote: This is not a virtual/Remote position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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