Career Center

The incumbent social worker serves as the Supervisor for the Mental Health Clinic (MHC). They have direct programmatic responsibility for the program. In addition to providing direct patient care, this social worker supervises staff on day-to-day functioning of the MHC, which treats patients for general mental health issues. 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. 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/. English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). 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). Grandfathering Provision: The following is the standard grandfathering policy for all title 38 hybrid qualification standards. Please carefully review the qualification standard to determine the specific education and/or licensure/certification/registration requirements that apply to this occupation. All persons employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education and licensure or certification that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all of the basic requirements in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: Such employees in an occupation that requires a licensure or certification, may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all of the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation. If an employee who was retained in an occupation listed in 38 U.S.C. § 7401(3) under this provision leaves that occupation, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation. NOTE: If social workers covered under the grandfathering provision of the 1991 Federal law regarding licensure or certification of VHA social workers leave the GS-0185 social work series, they lose the grandfathering protection. If they choose to return at a later date to the GS-0185 series, they must be licensed or certified to qualify for employment as a social worker. Grade Determinations: Supervisory Social Worker, GS-13 Experience/Education. 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 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, candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Ability to independently organize work, set priorities, and meet multiple deadlines. Knowledge of supervisory duties which includes 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. References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G39 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-13. Physical Requirements: The physical demands of this position involve primarily walking, sitting, talking, use of fingers, both hands required, Near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4, Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other, Hearing (aid permitted). ["Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm\nTelework: Available\nVirtual: This is not a virtual position.\nFunctional Statement #: 000000\nRelocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized for highly qualified candidates\nEDRP Authorized: Contact V21CCOEEDRP@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance\nPermanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required The incumbent social worker serves as the Supervisor for the Mental Health Clinic (MHC). They have direct programmatic responsibility for the program. In addition to providing direct patient care, this social worker supervises staff on day-to-day functioning of the MHC, which treats patients for general mental health issues. Program coordination includes day-to-day operations, administration, staffing, program mission, and personnel management. Duties of the position include, but are not limited to: Responsible for day-to-day management and operational aspects of the Mental Health Clinic. Review program analysis and provide appropriate assessments of the outcomes and make recommendations as needed. Assists in the development and implementation of follow-up systems to track completed tasks or other issues of concerns relating to the MHC and actively participates in any conference calls for MHC. Advise the Deputy Chief, Mental Health Service on the goals, objectives, and needs of the program. Responsible for networking with a variety of programs within the Medical Center. Ensures QI activities are developed and maintained following policy(s) and procurement/vender/client/staff needs. Assists the Deputy Chief, Mental Health Service in complex assignments often of a highly sensitive nature as needed or requested. Directly impacts the initiation, expansion and /or certainly of programs, reallocation and reprogramming of resources, reorganization of services, prioritization of projects and programs, and the determination of both short and long range goals. Supervises a group of employees performing work at various levels and provides administrative and technical supervision necessary for accomplishing the work of the program. Exercises supervisor authorities and responsibilities involving work assignment and review, as well as the administrative and personnel management functions relative to the staff supervised. Plans work to be accompanied by employees under their span of control, setting and shifting priorities and schedules to the mission requirements of VASNHCS as it applies to the management of the MHC. Establishes guidelines and performance expectations for staff. Observes workers' performance; demonstrates and conducts work performance critiques. Provides informal feedback and periodically evaluates employee performance. Resolves informal complaints and grievances. Develops work improvement plans, recommending personnel actions as necessary. Provides advice and counsel to works related to work and administrative matters. Advises, counsels and instructs employees on both technical and administrative matters; interviews candidates for positions in the section; recommends appointments, promotions and reassignments; resolves problems and referring serious matters to the next higher level of management or source of resolution. Responsible for ensuring organizational training objectives are met by assessing training needs for employees and ensuring that a mechanism for achieving the objectives are met. Continually seek out process improvements (QA/QI initiatives) for all work assignments within their area of assignment, which will increase efficiency and decrease operating costs. Develop performance standards for employees assigned to the section. Affects disciplinary measures as appropriate to the authority delegated in the area. Reviews and approves or disapproves leave requests. Assures that subordinates are trained and fully comply with the provisions of the safety regulations. Provides psychosocial assessment and diagnoses mental disorders, particularly for complex or unusually difficult patients. Provides a full range of comprehensive, evidence-based psychotherapeutic interventions, including individual, couples/family, and group psychotherapy. Identifies patient problems requiring consultation with other medical center staff and making appropriate referrals. Assures that appropriate referrals to specialty programs, including community resources, are accomplished. Provides education to patients, family members, and significant others. Refers patients, families and significant others for counseling in health maintenance and disease prevention. Functions independently as a member of the VASNHCS Medical Staff, with full clinical privileges. Consults with peers and supervisors as appropriate. Actively contributes to training programs and provides clinical supervision to various disciplines and levels of training. Other duties as assigned by management."]