Job Description

Summary

The incumbent is assigned as a Clinical Social Worker in the Mental Health Outpatient Clinic under the Ambulatory Care section of the Mental Health Service (MHS). This duty assignment requires initiative on behalf of the incumbent and the ability to prioritize tasks without immediate supervision. The position requires extensive work with veterans diagnosed with mental illnesses and substance use disorders.

Qualifications

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 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
• Grade Determinations: Social Worker - GS-11 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
• NOTE: For appointment licensure or certification at this level please refer to paragraph 3c
• 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
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities: In addition to the experience above - candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Knowledge of community resources - how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services - and ability to coordinate services
• Skill in independently conducting psychosocial assessments and treatment interventions to a wide variety of individuals from various socio-economic - educational - and other backgrounds
• 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
• 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
• 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
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11 Physical Requirements: Work is mostly sedentary and primarily performed in an office setting
• Typical office work involves active listening - reading - observing - and evaluating verbal and nonverbal behavior and writing reports and clinical notes
• The position requires the use of office equipment such as computers - keyboards - telephones - fax machines - and photocopy machines
• Visual acuity - keen hearing - clear distinctive speech - and manual dexterity are required
• The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium - dementia - or psychiatric disorders
• The incumbent must be a mature - flexible - sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations - and able to shift priorities based on patient needs
• If required as a condition of employment - the incumbent must complete annual Employee Health requirements - such as annual TB screening or testing - employee physicals - etc.

Duties

• VA Careers - Social Work: VA Careers - Licensed Clinical Social Worker: Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Duties include - but are not limited - to: Clinical Functions: Independently conducts bio-psychosocial assessments
• Develops treatment plans in collaboration with the veteran/family and with the interdisciplinary treatment team
• Possesses the skills needed to offer psychosocial interventions and measures outcomes of interventions
• Able to coordinate community-based services - including information and referral for additional services from other VA programs - other government programs - and community agency programs
• Participates in scheduling - triaging - and monitoring the flow of MH patients in the CBOC
• Recognizes emergency situations - summons appropriate help - and responds appropriately including assistance with crisis intervention services including admissions to acute psychiatric care - provision of case management services - and liaison to family members
• Has working knowledge and experience in the use of medical and mental health diagnoses - disabilities - and treatment procedures
• This includes acute - chronic - and traumatic illnesses/injuries - common medications and their effects/side effects - and medical terminology
• Establishes and maintains effective therapeutic relationships with veterans and their families
• Possesses general knowledge of Veterans' benefits and services relating to special programs - service-connected compensation - non-service-connected pension
• Facilitates referrals based upon veterans needs and eligibility
• Independently provides consultation services to other staff regarding the psychosocial needs of Veterans and the impact of psychosocial problems on health care and adherence to treatment plan
• Administrative Functions: Supports the mission - policies - and procedures of VA - the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) - the appropriate Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) - and the facility
• Serves on committees - work groups - and task forces at the facility - VISN - and/or VA Central Office levels
• Maintains a level of productivity and quality consistent with facility and Social Work standards and the complexity of the assignment
• Participates in interdisciplinary team meetings - appropriate facility meetings - and Social Work meetings
• Work Schedule: Monday through Friday - 8:00 am to 4:30 pm 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 #: 91980-A Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not authorized

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About Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration

The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,321 health care facilities, including 172 VA Medical Centers and 1,138 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics) to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. VHA Medical Centers provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy. In addition, most of our medical centers offer additional medical and surgical specialty services including audiology & speech pathology, dermatology, dental, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, podiatry, prosthetics, urology, and vision care. Some medical centers also offer advanced services such as organ transplants and plastic surgery.

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Holiday work, Permanent employment, Full time, Work experience placement, Immediate start, Remote job, Flexible hours, Shift work, Monday to Friday,

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