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. Program 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.
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: The basic requirements for employment as a VHA social worker are prescribed by statute in 38 U.S.C. § 7402(b)(9), as amended by section 205 of Public Law 106-419, enacted November 1, 2000. To qualify for appointment as a social worker in VHA, all applicants must meet the following: 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 a 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 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. Current state requirements may be found by going to http://vaww.va.gov/OHRM/T38Hybrid/. Failure to Obtain License or Certification: In all cases, social workers must actively pursue meeting state prerequisites for licensure or certification starting from the date of their appointment. Failure to become licensed or certified within the prescribed amount of time will result in removal from the GS-0185 social worker series and may result in termination of employment. Loss of Licensure or Certification: Once licensed or certified, social workers must maintain a full, valid, and unrestricted independent license or certification to remain qualified for employment. Loss of licensure or certification will result in removal from the GS-0185 social worker series and may result in termination of employment. 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. Supervisory Social Worker, GS-12: Education and Experience: One year of experience equivalent to the GS-11 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 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. Knowledge of supervisory duties, which include clinical supervision, consultation, negotiation with other departments, and quality improvement. Ability to ensure provision of clinical social work services. Ability to provide staff training and development. Skill in interpersonal relationships in dealing with employees, team leaders, and managers. 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. At the GS-12 grade level, supervisory social workers typically have significant personnel management responsibilities for a small to moderate-sized professional and non-professional staff, including support staff and professional staff at the GS-12 grade level and below. The supervisory social worker is responsible for the professional and administrative management of an area in a social work service, in a care/product line, or multiple facilities. They provide direct clinical services with or without program coordination responsibilities. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is the GS-12. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Services.
VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional The responsibilities of this position require the incumbent to coordinate with clinic leadership, provide direct clinical services, and serve as a Supervisory Social Worker to professional staff, including GS-9/11 and GS-12 Social Workers. They may also include GS-6/9 Peer Support Specialists. The incumbent performs direct clinical work at the advanced practice level, demonstrating specialized knowledge and expertise in the assessment, planning, and implementation of interventions for the spectrum of problems encountered in an outpatient mental health clinic. The location of work is primarily at the VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC). Incumbent may be required, at times, to travel to other CBOC locations for purposes of administrative projects and/or educational/consultative activities. FUNCTIONS OR SCOPES OF PRACTICE INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO: Supervisory Social Worker Functions: The incumbent serves as the Administrative and Clinical Supervisor for a team of Social Workers and Peer Specialists. Observes workers' performance; demonstrates and conducts work performance critiques. Provides informal feedback and periodically evaluates employee performance. Uses government vehicles to go to administrative or educational activities in the VA or local community. Uses computer, cell phone, and other technologies for communication and documentation. Demonstrates the ability to teach and mentor staff and students in the special area of practice and to provide supervision for licensure. Advanced Practice Social Worker Functions: The Advanced Practice Social Worker is expected to provide complex clinical services to clients with serious psychological challenges on a regular and continuing basis, including suicide prevention; crisis intervention; short- and long-term treatment; development of strengths-based recovery and living skills; emergency location of food and shelter; legal referral; employment; structured placement. Incumbent provides evidence-based therapies for individuals and groups used in the treatment of veterans with a continuum of mental health issues. Familiarity with integrated care for individuals with a continuum of mental health and/or health issues and the ability to provide brief, time-limited services and/or to liaise or refer to other specialty services. Ability to complete psychosocial assessments and develop treatment plans. In certain instances, considerable planning may be necessary to reintegrate the veteran into family and the community to complete rehabilitation and sustain health gains. 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. Basic Life Support (BLS): Completes BLS quarterly and remains up to date on certification. Driver's License: The position incumbent must possess an appropriate, valid CA driver's license to operate sanctioned vehicles in transporting patients and/or equipment. Other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: M-F 8:00 am - 4:30 pm or as determined by the supervisor. Compressed/Flexible: This may be authorized at the supervisor's discretion. EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants are ineligible to apply for the incentive. Contact V21CCOEEDRP@VA.GOV, the EDRP Coordinator, for questions/assistance. Learn more 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: This may be authorized at the supervisor's discretion. (AD-HOC ONLY) Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 08673-F