Summary

The Social Worker (Mental Health Clinic) is a clinical Social Worker full-time psychotherapy position, treating Veterans with the full range of mental health issues in an outpatient setting assigned within the North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System (NF/SGVHS), Mental Health Service Line (MHSL) at the Valdosta, GA Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC).

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: Must be US Citizen
• Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
• English Language Proficiency Requirement: Per VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, Section A, Paragraph 3j: No person will be appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C., chapter 73 or 74, to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA who is not proficient in written and spoken English
• Education: Completed 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
• Current state requirements may be found by going to http://vaww.va.gov/OHRM/T38Hybrid/
• Exception GS-9: 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 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
• For the GS-11 grade level and above, the candidate must be licensed or certified
• 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: GS-09 Social Worker, candidates must have the following: Experience, Education, and Licensure
• None beyond the basic requirements
• GS-11 Social Worker, candidates must have the following: 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
• 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
• Additional transcripts must be submitted to support this
• Preferred Experience: Prior experience with psychotherapy, particularly evidence-based and time-limited approaches, is preferred
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit VA Handbook 5005/120, Part II, Appendix G-39, Qualification Standard for the appointment of Social Workers, GS-0185
• https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-9 to GS-11
• Physical Requirements: Able to meet the physical demands of the position, reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions
• Must have good manual dexterity and able to express or exchange ideas by means of spoken and written word
• Must be able to view and read information computer screens and exercise extreme control over one's own emotions especially in highly charged and/or crisis situations
• The work takes place in the outpatient clinic environment and exposes the incumbent to the typical diseases and conditions associated with a health care setting.

Duties

• 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 Social Worker's responsibilities include the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment planning of mental health and psychosocial problems, often at a time when the Veteran is experiencing crisis and include the provision of evidence based clinical/psychotherapeutic interventions, appropriate to level of licensure with Veterans and/or their family embers/significant others/caregivers
• Other Duties may include but are not limited to: The incumbent conducts psychosocial/mental health assessments of Veterans independently and/or in collaboration with the interdisciplinary treatment team, the Veteran, family members, caregivers, and/or significant others
• Understands how to properly diagnosis mental health conditions using the most current version of the DSM and this understanding must be accurately demonstrated through clinical documentation in the electronic health record
• Responsible for the development of a patient centered treatment plan and developing achievable treatment goals with the Veteran, and when appropriate, the family members/caregivers and collaborating with all additional interdisciplinary team providers
• Provides individual, group, and family evidence based psychotherapies and treatment (i.e
• PST, MI, MET, CPT, PE, CBT, Seeking Safety, etc.) appropriate to level of licensure to Veterans and their families/caregivers
• Supports the mission, policies, and procedures of the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), the appropriate Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN), and the facility
• Attends all appropriate staff meetings (interdisciplinary treatment team meetings, staff meetings, supervision meetings, mental health meetings, and other committees and workgroups, as appropriate) and perform other duties as required
• Serves on committees, work groups, and task forces at the facility as deemed appropriate by the supervisor
• Responsible for furthering one's own professional growth through continuing education and for ensuring continuing education appropriate to the area of assignment
• Demonstrates knowledge and skill in the use of software applications for drafting documents and data management as well as other computer systems in use by the VHA
• 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
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm Compressed/Flexible: Not available
• 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: Not available
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement: Social Worker (Mental Health Clinic) - FS #52065F (GS-9) and #52010F (GS-11).