The Behavioral Health Supervisory Social Worker provides supervision and consultation to professional outpatient social work psychotherapists. The incumbent for this position should have experience that demonstrates possession of advanced practice skills and judgment. This position will have administrative responsibility for clinical program development and is accountable for clinical program effectiveness and modification of service patterns. 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). Grade Determinations: Supervisory Social Worker, GS-12 Education and Experience: One year of experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level (Knowledge of community resources, how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services, and ability to coordinate services; 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; 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; 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; 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.). 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, the candidate 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 Preferred Experience: Preferred experience in providing mental health treatment, practice of psychotherapy and evidence-based therapies (EBT's) for specific mental health diagnoses. The 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. Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting 15-44 lbs, walking and standing up to 4 hours, kneeling 1-2 hours, Operation of motor vehicle, both eyes required, depth perception, ability to distinguish colors, hearing (aid permitted), glasses and prosthesis allowed, able to hear whispered voices, and emotional and mental stability; Environmental factors: outside and inside, electrical energy, working closely with others, protracted or irregular hours of work, and repetitive computer use. ["Major duties include, but may not be limited to: Assisting each staff member in carrying out their assignment, within the bounds of their practice, according to existing standards. Further, the incumbent assesses staffs' competencies on an ongoing basis. Providing and completing orientation of new employees according to social work standards and orients and controls staff assigned to the programs and work areas under incumbent's supervision. Assessing the functioning of all assigned staff through periodic scheduled supervisory/consultation meetings, review of workload data, correspondence reviews, staffing guidelines and other data collecting and information gathering techniques. Maintaining individual caseload and providing treatment to outpatients in group format and individually. Incumbent performs specialized assessment and treatment of complex mental health issues from family problems to serious mental health issues. Incumbent incorporates complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment of veteran patients, including making psychosocial and psychiatric diagnoses within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice. Incumbent is able to provide individual, group, and family psychotherapy and advanced level case management interventions used in the treatment of veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, addictions, and other serious disorders. Has ability to use a variety of treatment modalities and select those most appropriate in providing high quality care. Incumbent is trained, or will receive training, and preferably be certified, in the VHA approved evidence-based treatments, such as those for depression (CBT) and PTSD (CPT and PE). Incumbent provides those treatments to outpatients in group format and individually. Develops and implements methods for measuring effectiveness of practice and services in specialty areas, utilizing outcome evaluations to improve treatment services. Demonstrate the ability to design changes based on empirical findings. Incumbent uses empirically supported instruments to conduct initial assessments and also progress and outcomes of treatment. Offers consultation to medical center staff, colleagues, and students on the psychosocial treatment of patients treated in specialty areas, rendering professional opinions based on experience and expertise and role modeling effective social work practice skills. Provides supervision for licensure or specialty certifications, as permitted by state licensing requirements. May perform other duties as required. Work Schedule: 8:00am - 4:30pm, Monday - Friday (May include weekends and/or evenings) Telework: May be available up to 3 days per week Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 / Supervisory Social Worker Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]
About Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration
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.