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The Social Worker reports to MHC Social Work Supervisor who reports to the Social Work Mental Health Manager in Social Work Service who collaborates with the Chief of Outpatient Mental Health. The position is located in the Mental Health Clinics (MHC) which is part of the Mental Health & Behavioral Science (MH&BS) Service, East Orange NJ VAMC. 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/. 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. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Services. 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). Creditable Experience. The candidate must have knowledge of current professional social work practices. To be creditable, the experience must have required the use of knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics associated with current professional social work practice. The experience or education must be post-Masters of Social Work (MSW) degree. Experience and education satisfying this requirement must be active professional practice, which is paid/non-paid employment as a professional social worker, as defined by the appropriate state licensing board. Quality of Experience Experience is only creditable if it is obtained following graduation with a master's degree in social work and if it includes work as a professional social worker directly related to the position to be filled. Qualifying experience must also be at a level comparable to social work experience at the next lower level. Part-Time Experience Part-time experience is creditable according to its relationship to the full-time work week. For example, one week of full-time credit is equivalent to two weeks of part-time work. Fellowships or Post-Graduate Training Fellowship and post-graduate training programs are typically in a specialized area of clinical practice, i.e., group or family practice. Training as a fellow or post-graduate may be substituted for creditable experience on a year-for-year basis. Practicum in a VA Setting A VHA practicum experience may not be substituted for experience, as the practicum (field placement) is completed prior to graduation with a master's degree in social work. Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. 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. 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: (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. Preferred Experience: Mental Health Clinic and/or psychotherapy experience References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/120 PART II APPENDIX G39 September 10, 2019 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11, which is the actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy. ["Psychosocial Assessments\nThe Social Worker interviews the Veteran, family member and/or significant other to establish facts about the Veteran's current situation. In collaboration with the Veteran, family member and/or significant others, they complete an accurate psychosocial assessment considering the effects of acute, chronic, traumatic illnesses/injuries, and common medications. The assessment reflects the Veteran's strengths as well as primary concerns and/or challenge/s. Treatment planning/goal setting\nThe Social Worker, in collaboration with the Veteran, develops a treatment plan. This may also be done in collaboration with the outpatient mental health treatment team. The plan is based on the Veteran's goals (needs and/or preferences) using his/her own language. If the Veteran is not present, the Social Worker (and/or team) makes every effort to reflect the Veteran's language, goals, etc., based on the psychosocial assessment. The Social Worker identifies and assists the Veteran's with the use of internal/external supports. Supports being defined as people, places, things or activities utilized by the Veteran to succeed in his/her goals. In an attempt to foster independence, they provide the Veteran with skill development opportunities to transition or use natural community supports. The treatment plan is adjusted according to the Veteran's response to the interventions and/or changes in needs/goals. Provision of clinical services\nProvides current and advanced range of treatment techniques for the treatment of the adult Veteran patient population while being sensitive to human growth and development, age-appropriate needs and concerns of the Veteran. They provide clinical services (i.e. individual and/or group psychotherapy, and marital or family counseling), case management services (i.e. refers to or coordinates with VA and community services) and psycho-educational services to Veterans, family members and/or significant others in support of the Veteran's treatment goals and within their scope of practice. Referrals Uses the VA and community's service systems to interpret data and identify viable treatment options, Veterans can be assisted in choosing from an array of services with appropriate intensity and flexibility. Services are matched with the Veteran's needs and goals. Referrals, to those services, are made in a timely manner. Responsible for educating the Veteran and family members/significant others of the available services and assisting them in establishing the appropriate referrals based on the Veteran's preference or that of his surrogate decision-maker. Evaluation of Treatment\nEstablishes and maintains a continuing relationship with the Veteran, family member and/or significant other, evaluating progress towards the Veteran's goals and adjusting the treatment plan as appropriate. They meet with the Veteran, via regularly scheduled meetings, to assess accomplishments and re-establish goals if needed. They monitor Veteran's progress, maintains comprehensive documentation, and displays clinical competence through the psychosocial diagnosis, treatment plan and the decision to adjust/terminate treatment when appropriate. Documentation\nDocuments all visits with the Veteran, family member and/or significant other electronically through the Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS) and complete encounter forms for each visit. They are also required to track missed appointment and phone contacts and may be required to track other contact information relevant to continuity of care using a computerized database per VHA standard operating procedures. Education, Supervision, Coaching, and Mentoring\nWorks within his/her assigned area scope of practice and upholds the profession's standards of treatment, ensuring that all services provided are recovery-oriented in nature and updates his/her social work practice skills, acquiring new knowledge in contemporary treatment modalities. Educates/promotes these skills/practices to other Social Workers or interdisciplinary team members when needed. They may also clinically supervise social work students and general licensed Social Workers if they meet the certification/supervision requirements. Responsibility for clinical supervision includes co-signing all progress notes. Advocacy\nActs as an advocate when it serves the best interest of the Veteran and family members/caregiver. When appropriate and feasible, the Social Worker will educate and encourage the Veteran to advocate on his/her own behalf, thus fostering a sense of independence and empowerment. Crisis Intervention\nExperienced in making rapid assessments and developing crisis management plans for admission to mental health inpatient programs. Additional Duties as assigned Work Schedule: Full Time, Tuesday-Saturday 8:00am-4:30pm\nTelework: AD-HOC\nVirtual: This is not a virtual position.\nFunctional Statement #: 21M13-A\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required"]