Career Center

This position is located in a Mental Health Program in the Social Work Service at the Stratton VA Medical Center in Albany, New York. The Social Worker functions as part of the Mental Health staff. The Social Worker may provide services in more than one program or clinic and may be required to travel depending on assignment. Basic Requirements: Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g this part). 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/. Physical Requirements. Work is sedentary but also demands standing, walking, bending, twisting, and carrying light items. 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: Social Worker, GS-11 (Full Performance Level) (1) 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 (2) 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. (3) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, candidates must demonstrate all of 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. (4) [Full Performance Level] Assignments. This is the full performance level. Social workers at this level are licensed or certified to independently practice social work. Incumbents are assigned to all program areas, including but not limited to: inpatient or outpatient medicine, surgery, mental health, neurology, rehabilitation medicine, and geriatrics. Employees provide professional, independent social work services in the assigned area. Duties include but are not limited to: assessing and documenting identified behaviors or symptoms of abuse, neglect, exploitation and/or intimate partner violence; use of clinical social work skills and knowledge to maintain Veteran privacy and confidentiality per policies, handbooks or directives; and acts as an advocate with appropriate VA and community service providers and agencies when it serves the best interest of the Veteran and family members/caregiver. Incumbent independently assesses the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and their family members, identifying the Veteran's strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and psychosocial acuity. In collaboration with the Veteran, family/caregiver, and interdisciplinary treatment team, the social worker facilitates the delivery of health care services. The social worker identifies family/caregiver stressors, conducts assessment and provides specific interventions. The incumbent provides case management and care coordination to facilitate appropriate delivery of health care services, incorporates complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment of Veterans, including making psychosocial and psychiatric diagnoses within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice. The social worker links the Veteran with services, resources, and opportunities, in order to maximize the Veteran's independence, health, and well-being. The social worker conducts timely assessment of at-risk Veterans in crisis to identify immediate needs, evaluate risk, and initiate safety plan as appropriate. The social worker provides interventions independently with Veterans and their families/caregivers who are experiencing a wide range of complicated medical, behavioral health, financial, legal, and psychosocial problems. They provide a range of interventions and treatment modalities which may include individual, group, and/or family counseling or psychotherapy. They independently formulate and implement a treatment plan including measurable, achievable goals identifying the Veterans' needs, strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and psychosocial acuity. Social workers serve on committees, work groups, and task forces at the facility and VISN level or in the community. They provide subject matter consultation to colleagues and students on the psychosocial treatment of Veterans offering professional opinions based on experience, expertise and role modeling effective social work practice skills. The social worker establishes and maintains ongoing education programs for Veterans, community agencies, students, and staff, to facilitate understanding of social work interventions specific to the Veteran/Military population. References: VA Handbook 5005/120 Part II Appendix G39. Social Worker Qualification Standard GS-0185 ["The incumbent is responsible for completing the following duties and responsibilities:\nCLINICAL FUNCTIONS\n1. Provides psychosocial assessment and diagnoses mental disorders based on assignment and clinical privileges.\n2. Provides education with recovery-oriented core principles to patients, family members and significant others.\n3. Provides targeted evidence-based psychotherapeutic interventions for individuals, couples, groups, families and eligible caregivers.\n4. Provides consultation to VA staff and community providers, concerning clinical assessment findings and appropriate treatment plans for patients.\n5. Documents results of assessments, consultations and interventions.\n6. Develops, implements and documents the recommended plan of care for patients.\n7. Provides clinical services through the use of TeleHealth when clinically appropriate and applicable to setting.\n8. Collaborates with patient's interdisciplinary team, including participation in treatment team meetings/huddles.\n9. Initiates and promotes communication among medical staff and mental health staff, patients, their families and caregivers to facilitate the treatment process.\n10. Attends training and uses evidence-based treatment protocols for patient centered trauma informed treatment as appropriate to assignment.\n11. May provide supervision of trainees with supervisory approval.\n12. Performs case finding and outreach to identify and screen patients for psychosocial needs.\n13. Demonstrates the ability to evaluate their own practice through professional peer review, case conferences, supervision and other organizational means.\n14. Is responsible for assessment, management and follow up on psychiatric emergencies in the setting to which they are assigned.\n15. Performs other related duties as assigned.\nADMINISTRATIVE FUNCTIONS\n1. The incumbent is responsible for supporting the mission, policies and procedures of VA, the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN), the facility, Social Work Service and Mental Health-Service.\n2. May serve on committees, work groups and task forces at the facility, VISN, or VA Central Office levels with supervisory approval.\n3. Keeps supervisor apprised of problems and recommends solutions to problems encountered in the incumbent's area of responsibility.\n4. Is responsible for furthering own professional growth through education, appropriate to area of assignment.\n5. Provides coverage during staff absences within the assigned work group and as requested by supervisor.\n6. Maintains a level of productivity and quality consistent with facility and discipline specific standards and the complexity of the assignment\n7. Participates in meetings with patient specific clinical teams to provide advocacy and resources.\n8. Shares with colleagues knowledge gained from clinical practice and training relevant to the field of Social Work.\n9. Comply with Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Program actively promote awareness of diversity and inclusion in Social Work practice.\n10. Responsible for timely completion of all clinical documentation required by the Medical Center, VISN, VHA or oversight agencies.\n11. Completes administrative duties including facilitating timely scheduling of appointments, follow up on related issues, and responding to all forms of communication from patients, colleagues and community partners.\n12. Assists in the design, development and implementation of clinical programs.\n13. Adheres to operational policies and procedures for the program to which assigned.\n14. Assists in ongoing program evaluation and data-driven quality improvement projects to monitor the effectiveness of the clinical practice and program to which assigned.\n15. Complies with national and local performance measures, including advance care planning and timely completion of clinical reminders.\n16. Performs other related duties as assigned.\nACADEMIC FUNCTIONS\n1. May provide clinical supervision to various disciplines and levels of training, including trainees or staff seeking advanced certifications in Social Work with supervisory approval.\n2. May be involved in Social Work Training and Education Committee.\n3. Provides leadership and consultation on the field of Social Work to colleagues and trainees.\n4. Serves as a consultant to medical center staff and trainees to assist with their formulation of patient centered treatment based on psychosocial characteristics.\n5. May participate in program evaluation and research activities with supervisory approval.\n6. Perform other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; 8:00am - 4:30pm\nTelework: Available (At the discretion of management.)\nFunctional Statement #: 21O60-A\nRelocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized\nPermanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required"]