Career Center

The incumbent is a social worker assigned to the Captain James A Lovell Federal Health Care Center in North Chicago, IL providing services to Veterans, Active-Duty Service Members, Retirees and their Dependents at the FHCC Main Campus and in Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOC) in Evanston Illinois, McHenry Illinois and Kenosha, Wisconsin. 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: 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. 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. 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 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. 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. 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: Social Worker, GS-9 (Entry Level) Experience, Education, and Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all the following KSAs: (a) Ability to work with Veterans and family members from various socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other diversified backgrounds utilizing counseling skills. (b) 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. (c) 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. (d) Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients, staff, and representatives of community agencies. (e) Fundamental knowledge 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. Social Worker, GS-11 (Full-performance Level) 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. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, candidates must demonstrate all the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of community resources, how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services, and ability to coordinate services. (b) 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. (c) 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. (d) 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. (e) 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. Qualifications: VA Handbook 5005, Part II Appendix G39, Social Worker Qualification Standard GS 185 Veterans Health Administration. References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G39The 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-09 to GS-11. Physical Requirements: The work of a Social Worker requires extreme patience and control of one's emotions. Strenuous physical activity is not required although the incumbent is expected to withstand considerable emotional pressure and stress as part of their day-to-day activities. Duties require periods of sitting, standing, walking, driving, bending, or carrying light objects. Work is primarily performed in an office type setting that exposes the incumbent to communicable diseases. The incumbent may also be required to drive a government vehicle. The incumbent's environment may include visits to community agencies and community & government social services agencies. ["VISN 12 is committed to fostering and sustaining an environment which celebrates diversity, provides equitable opportunities for employment and promotion, and supports inclusiveness in our culture. Together, we strive to create and maintain working and learning environments that promote professional growth and teamwork, and are inclusive, equitable and welcoming. We embrace our differences as individuals and unite as a team toward a common goal: to serve our nation's Veterans. The Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center is a Level 1C/Large Facility and is a first-of-its-kind partnership between the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense (DOD), integrating all medical care into a fully-integrated federal health care facility with a single combined VA and Navy mission. The Social Worker in this position is assigned to an Active Duty Military Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) Team located in the Outpatient Mental Health Clinic at the CAPT James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center. While the primary focus of this team is to address the mental health needs of active-duty service members (ADSM), the incumbent may at times provide social work services to other eligible beneficiaries of the mental health clinics as needs arise. The Social Worker in this position completes mental health assessments and provide case management services to patients in need of support. The incumbent will also provide administrative recommendations to the service member's command. As a member of the Active Duty BHIP Team, the social worker provides evidenced based treatment for eligible beneficiaries, including group, individual, couples, and family psychotherapy. Duties may include but are not limited to: Develops a psychosocial assessment of the ADSM in collaboration with the interdisciplinary treatment team. Demonstrates an understanding of the range of treatment and skills needed for all adult patients, being sensitive to human growth and development, age-appropriate needs and concerns of the ADSM and be able to provide current techniques to the treatment of this population. Provides evidence-based therapies to ADSM as assigned, with the goal of returning the service member to full military readiness and/or determining suitability for continued service and fitness for duty. Provides evidenced based treatment for eligible beneficiaries, including group, individual, couples, and family psychotherapy. The Social Worker will act as an advocate when it serves the best interest of the ADSM. The Social Worker is experienced in making rapid assessments and developing crisis management plans for admission to mental health inpatient programs. Provides education related to VA/DoD and community resources, entitlements, Advance Directives/Living Will and will refer ADSM to the appropriate interdisciplinary team member for identified health education needs. Throughout the course of treatment, the Social Worker is the subject matter expert on VA and/or community resources. The Social Worker will collaborate with other service providers in reassessing the ADSM needs. Will determine the appropriate level of care for consults received (Social Work, Psychiatry, Psychology) in the Mental Health Clinic and will ensure preproperate disposition of these consults. The Social Worker will review the progress notes from the other providers to accurately determine the strengths and limitations of each ADSM. The Social Worker will educate ADSM and the team of all the options available to them and will collaborate on the preferred option. Will use appropriate assessment questions geared towards current problem referral and functioning, to identify how the patient's physical condition, thoughts, emotions, behaviors, habits, and environment are impacting/influencing the identified problem. Will focus recommendations and interventions on functional outcomes and symptom reduction. Provides Advanced Directive (Living Will and Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care) information and education to patients and their families and assists them in preparing and processing such documents as requested according to FHCC Policy. Responsible for supporting the mission, policies, and procedures of the Department of Veteran Affairs, the Department of Defense, various US military services, Veteran Integrated Service Network 12 (VISN), and the facility. DUE TO TEXT LIMITATIONS, THIS IS NOT THE ENTIRE TEXT FROM THE FUNCTIONAL STATEMENT. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO REVIEW THE ENTIRE DUTIES SECTION, PLEASE CONTACT THE HUMAN RESOURCES POC LISTED AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS JOB OPPORTUNITY ANNOUNCEMENT (JOA). Work Schedule: 8:00AM-4:30PM\nVirtual: This is not a virtual position.\nFunctional Statement #: 000000\nRelocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required"]