Note: This position will move from Fort Scott, KS to Iola, KS at a future time to be determined. The Senior Social Worker provides clinical care to Veterans at a Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC). Incumbent possesses advanced practice skills to identify and prioritize the complex medical and mental health needs of the Veteran population and acts as an advanced clinician, collaborating and providing consultation, guidance, mentoring, and orientation to social work colleagues in the CBOC. 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. English Language Proficiency. In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. 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. Note: 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. Licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work 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. Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements stated above, the following qualification criteria must be met. The candidate's qualifications must clearly demonstrate the level of competence required for the grade. Senior Social Worker, GS-12 Experience: 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 and 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. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: 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. Ability to incorporate complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice. 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. 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. 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. Reference: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-39 Social Worker Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office. Physical Requirements: Eligible applicants must be physically and mentally able to perform efficiently the essential functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation, without hazard to themselves or others. Depending on the essential duties of a specific position, usable vision, color vision, hearing or speech may be required. However, in most cases, a specific physical condition or impairment of a specific function may be compensated for by the satisfactory use of a prosthesis or mechanical aid. ["The Senior Social worker possesses and utilizes advanced skills, specialized knowledge, and expertise essential to the following functions: Treatment planning and implementation: Directs/coordinates clinical and psychosocial services offered by social work to Veterans at the assigned CBOC with accountability for the overall effectiveness of the services provided. - Interviews Veterans, family members, and significant others to establish needed information in reference to presenting problems and the impact of those problems on the Veterans' health and functioning, as part of a comprehensive psychosocial assessment. - Reviews patient data, subjective and objective, makes a clinical assessment, utilizing advanced clinical training, insight, and objectivity to interpret data and identify viable treatment options. - Provides independent consultation, mentoring and guidance, making recommendations to social work colleagues regarding complex care. - Makes initial and continuing decisions regarding use of VA and non-VA services and referrals based on interdisciplinary assessment and knowledge of interagency and community resources. Makes appropriate referrals to intensive case management, high risk care management, substance abuse treatment, specialty and transitional programs/residences as indicated. - Initiates and effects changes in methods and interventions to promote efficient practice and improve patient outcomes. - Promotes transformation to a recovery-oriented model of care throughout the treatment planning and discharge processes among colleagues and interdisciplinary team members. - Documents in the medical records, utilizing paper or electronic formats, including psychosocial assessments, diagnostics, treatment, progress notes, referral, and discharge. Administrative and Consultative Responsibilities: - Provides orientation and training to social workers, students, and interdisciplinary team members at the assigned CBOC. - Takes responsibility for providing opportunities to assist staff in updating social work practice skills and acquiring new knowledge in contemporary treatment modalities. - Promotes team building and teamwork to accomplish tasks or projects, providing or arranging for training to accomplish goals. - Serves as coach, facilitator, and negotiator in coordinating team initiatives, and in consensus building among team members. - Reports to team members, social work managers, and Behavioral Health leadership on progress implementing new assignments, measures, goals, and objectives; applying a wide range of qualitative and or quantitative methods to identify, assess, analyze and improve effectiveness. - Leads social work staff in both program areas in assessing strengths and weaknesses and providing leadership in exploring alternatives and determining work processes and procedures needed for improvement. - Resolves simple, informal complaints and refers others, such as formal grievances and appeals, to the supervisor or appropriate management official. - Manages routine social work coverage on a day-to-day basis and provides feedback for recruitment, re-assignment, and retention of employees. - Supervises social work graduate students and provides training experience for them in social work, including assessment of progress and overall performance. Participates in the school of social work's field instructor training programs and may serve as an adjunct faculty member. - Offers patient and family/significant others educational services to address the health education needs of Veterans; works with interdisciplinary team members on a plan to address those needs. Recognizes and promotes the value of peer support and self-help methodologies in addition to other therapeutic offerings. - Meets the needs of customers while supporting the VHA VISN, facility and service missions and business plans. - Promotes knowledge of and accountability for, JCAHO requirements, CARF, and other accreditation agency standards, emphasizing patient safety and adherence to medical center guidelines. Work Schedule: Monday thru Friday 0700-1600 or 0800-1630 Telework: Adhoc, 1-2 days per pay period. Travel: Required travel between Fort Scott and Chanute CBOC as needed to meet Veteran needs. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Available for well-qualified applicant. EDRP Authorized: 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. Contact Julie Steakley at Julie.Steakley@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more."]
Providing Health Care for Veterans: The Veterans Health Administration is America’s largest integrated health care system, providing care at 1,255 health care facilities, including 170 medical centers and 1,074 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics), serving 9 million enrolled Veterans each year.
