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This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application. Learn more 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. English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). Grandfathering Provision: 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). (1) 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: (2) 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. (3) 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. (4) 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. (5) 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. Grade Determinations: Senior Social Worker GS-0185-12: Experience: The candidate must have at least two years of experience post advanced practice clinical licensure and should be in a specialized area of social work practice of which, one year must be equivalent to the GS-11 grade level. Senior social workers have experience that demonstrates possession of advanced practice skills and judgment. Senior social workers are experts in their specialized area of practice. Senior social workers may have certification or other post-masters training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university that includes a defined curriculum/course of study and internship or equivalent supervised professional experience in a specialty. In addition to the experience above, candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Skill in a range of specialized interventions and treatment modalities used in specialty treatment programs or with special patient populations. This includes individual, group, and/or family counseling or psychotherapy and advanced level psychosocial and/or case management. (b) Ability to incorporate complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice. (c) Knowledge in developing and implementing methods for measuring effectiveness of social work practice and services in the specialty area, utilizing outcome evaluations to improve treatment services and to design system changes. (d) Ability to provide specialized consultation to colleagues and students on the psychosocial treatment of patients in the service delivery area, as well as role modeling effective social work practice skills(e) Ability to expand clinical knowledge in the social work profession, and to write policies, procedures, and/or practice guidelines pertaining to the service delivery area. Licensure/Certification: Senior social workers must be licensed or certified by a state at the advanced practice level which included an advanced generalist or clinical examination, unless they are grandfathered by the state in which they are licensed to practice at the advanced practice level (except for licenses issued in California, which administers its own clinical examination for advanced practice) and they must be able to provide supervision for licensure. References: VA Handbook 5005/120, Part II, Appendix G39The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-12. Preferred Experience: Experience in Outpatient Mental Health Settings Physical Requirements: Light lifting (under 15 pounds); light carrying (under 15 pounds); reaching above shoulder; use of fingers; both hands required; walking; standing; near vision correctable at 13" to 16"; hearing (aid permitted); emotional stability. ["VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU The Senior Social Worker has at least two years of experience in a specialized area of social work practice and has experience that demonstrates possession of advanced practice skills and judgment. The location of the position is at the Bakersfield Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) Primary Care Mental Health Integration (PCMHI) program. Best qualified applicants are mental health clinicians that have knowledge and/or experience working in an outpatient primary care setting and be able to provide collaborative mental health assessment and treatment within that setting, with special emphasis on trans-disciplinary integration within the primary care team(s), working collaboratively with the many disciplines and functions involved from mental health and primary care. Duties included but are not limited to: The Senior Social Worker is assigned to work with special patient populations who present highly complex mental health problems in primary care and provides direct clinical services in this integrated program. Serves as a mentor to other Social Workers, particularly those at the entry level. Provides clinical supervision for unlicensed Social Workers and for Social Work Associates. Is viewed by Social Workers and interdisciplinary team members as a senior clinician with advanced practice skills and expertise. The Senior Social Worker demonstrates knowledge and experience in use of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities, and treatment procedures, including acute, chronic and traumatic illnesses, substance abuse disorders, common medications and their effects/side effects, and medical terminology. Conducts assessments using psychosocial and psychiatric diagnoses within scope of practice and determines priority for services, providing care management, comprehensive treatment services that are evidence based, recovery oriented and data driven. Ensures early access to Veterans in primary care-mental health integration care program that require mental health services thereby preventing missed appointments that would result in hospitalizations. Provides individual, family and group therapies for veterans and their families. Participates in evidence-based interventions with interdisciplinary treatment teams in the delivery of service here there is an overlap of clinical responsibility. Practices within the boundaries of the social work license or certification being fully aware of the criteria for providing psychotherapy and making diagnoses. Senior Social Worker provides psychosocial treatment to a wide variety of individuals from various socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other diversified backgrounds. The psychosocial treatment is used in providing services to individuals, families and groups to achieve treatment goals. The Senior Social Worker identifies problems, strengths, weaknesses, coping skills and assistance needed, in collaboration with the patient, family and interdisciplinary treatment team. Senior Social Worker collaborates and consults with other interdisciplinary treatment teams and programs to promote and enhance the care of patients, focusing on assessment and treatment to insure timely and accessible care. Works proactively and consistently with PACT teams to ensure continuity of care by providing consultation regarding clinical needs, treatment plans, and case management services for assigned patients consistent with program goals. Completes clinical documentation required by the Primary Care and Mental Health Integration program that includes but is not limited to progress notes, clinical progress reports, clinical records, Primary Care Mental Health Integration forms for evaluation and monitoring of service delivery and outcome in the program. Senior Social Worker documents problem areas related to the implementation of the program and makes suggestions for resolving any problems within the program. Demonstrates the ability to teach and mentor staff and students in the special area of practice and to provide supervision for licensure or specialty certifications and completes all required clinical reminders and respond to consults. Aids with the orientation and training of inexperienced social workers and with the permission of the supervisor and 2 years of VA experience, may serve as a field instructor for social work trainees. Maintains a level of productivity and quality consistent with the complexity of the assignment and consistent with Social Work standards, Joint Commission standards, and facility standards. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00A-4:30P\nTelework: To be determined by clinic and patient care needs.\nVirtual: This is not a virtual position.\nFunctional Statement #: 000000\nEDRP Authorized: Contact: Miriam.Ubiles@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required"]