Readjustment Counseling Service (RCS) is a unique organization within the VHA that provides readjustment counseling to eligible Veterans, active military members whose service was in support of combat operations, who suffered a military sexual trauma, provided direct emergent medical care or mortuary services to casualties of war, or who served as a member of an unmanned aerial crew that provided direct support to operations in a combat zone or are of hostility, and their families.
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 http://www.cswe.org/Accreditation to verify that the social work degree meets the 3 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/. English Language Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. Supervisory Social Worker, GS-13: Experience/Education: One year of experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level. Experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills in a specialty area or in administration demonstrating progressively more professional competency and judgment. Candidate may have certification or other post-master's degree training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university that includes a defined curriculum/course of study and internship, or equivalent supervised professional experience. Licensure/Certification: Individuals assigned as supervisory social workers must be licensed or certified at the advanced practice level, and 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 KSAs: Ability to independently organize work, set priorities, and meet multiple deadlines. Skill in a range of supervisory duties which includes clinical supervision, consultation, negotiation with other departments and quality improvement. Ability to ensure provision of clinical social work services by supervised social workers. Ability to delegate authority, manage priorities, coordinate work, and follow up on pending issues to complete duties in an accurate and timely fashion. Ability to analyze organizational and operational problems, develop and implement solutions that result in efficient operations, and use data effectively to manage workload, quality, performance, and productivity within the service. Ability to provide staff training and development. Assignment: For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty), and variety and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. Supervisory social workers at the GS-13 grade level typically supervise professional and non-professional staff. They are responsible for the professional and administrative management of an area in a social work service, in a care/product line, or across multiple sites, (e.g., multi-division facilities and CBOCs). Incumbent may also provide direct clinical services.] Reference: VA Qualification Standard - Social Worker Qualification Standard Physical Requirements: The work does not inherently include physical requirements essential for successful job performance that could not otherwise be performed with a workplace accommodation. This position requires occasional travel away from the duty station in support of direct client care, outreach events and/or training. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.
This position is multidisciplinary and maybe filled as a Marriage and Family Therapist, Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor, or a Social Worker at the Program Manager/Coordinator level. The Supervisory Social Worker (RCS Vet Center Director) is responsible for the professional and administrative supervision and oversight of all readjustment counseling, outreach, referrals and follow-up care coordination services provided to eligible individuals within the designated Vet Center Service Area. 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 Major duties include: Administrative and outreach staff service functions. Oversees the fiscal, contractual and operational obligations of the community-based Vet Center. Leads coordination and briefing during meetings with Congressional representatives and their staff. Planning, establishing and implementing Vet Center policies and procedures. Coordinating and evaluating the work of all Vet Center staff. Assures that all supervised staff are aware of, and adhere to, all current VHA directives, state licensure standards, and VA-OIG expectations. Provides direct readjustment counseling services within and outside of the Vet Center to include in-person and virtual services based on client preference. Collaborates with divergent multidisciplinary team members in a manner that enhances coordination of comprehensive client care. Communicates with and utilizes VAMC based services, community-based agencies, Veteran service organizations, and relevant programs external to the Readjustment Counseling Service. Implements professional clinical practice applications in the provision of readjustment counseling to individuals, families, and groups. Works directly with eligible individuals to establish a therapeutic relationship and complete all required readjustment counseling intake procedures. Develops and periodically updates an individualized readjustment counseling service plan that reflects a course of therapeutic and psychosocial interventions. Incorporates complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment of Veterans, including making psychosocial and psychiatric diagnoses with approved clinical privileges or scope of practice. Conducts timely assessment of at-risk Veterans in crisis to identify immediate needs, evaluate risk and initiates safety planning as appropriate. Links Veterans with services, resources and opportunities to maximize the Veteran's independence, health and well-being. Maintains active coordination with Vet Center outreach workers to ensure seamless referral of clients engaged at community outreach events who may require follow-up readjustment counseling. Documents all clinical interactions and services delivered to eligible clients required by RCS policy. May perform other duties as assigned as appropriate for the grade and assignment and which are within the scope of practice. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; 8:00am to 4:30pm - occasional evenings and weekends may be required dependent upon the needs of the Vet Center 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: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 64523-A/Supervisory Social Worker Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized