Summary
The Veterans Health Administration, VHA, is currently recruiting for one GS 9 target 11 as a Social Worker, a Marriage Family Therapist, or a Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor to work in the Mental Health-Outpatient-Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program.
Clarification from the agency
This is an open continuous announcement. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis. Qualified candidates are considered at regular intervals as vacancies occur. Resumes will remain on file until Sep 30, 2024.
This is an INTERNAL job announcement open to current, permanent Veterans Health Administration employees ONLY.
Veterans, current permanent employees & the public MUST apply to announcement # CBSU-12149757-24-JMW.
Duties
Social Worker-Outpatient-Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program, BHIP-duties include but aren't limited to:
Provides Veteran-centered, recovery-oriented & evidence-based care
Functions as a mental health therapist for Veterans on a BHIP team
Is responsible for providing patient-centered, evidence-based care independently & autonomously
Provides services to Veterans, their families & the interdisciplinary team regarding evaluation, identification and treatment of psycho-social concerns & psychiatric diagnoses in the outpatient behavioral health setting
Duties include outpatient behavioral health services & crisis response to veterans w/ the full spectrum of mental health disorders including Serious Mental Illness, PTSD, Depression, Anxiety, other mental health diagnoses & Substance Use Disorders
Has working knowledge & experience in the use of mental health diagnoses & basic medical terminology
Assesses & treats Veterans' complicated psychosocial problems
Independently identifies high-risk patients & implements appropriate safety protocols
Provides crisis intervention services & has working knowledge of referral process for inpatient psychiatric hospitalization and residential PTSD, SUDS & other specialty programs
Assesses patient to determine: the presenting problem, in-home factors impacting it, obstacles to recovery & provide follow-up in regard to recommended treatments
Case management w/ members of the outpatient interdisciplinary team is provided as needed to coordinate a collaborative effort to meet the agreed upon goals for a Veteran's recovery needs & includes serving as a liaison w/ community professionals in regard to services for Veterans&/or their families
- Services include but are not limited to referral to programming to address homelessness, hospice services, nursing home care, home health services, financial resources, VA benefits & transportation services
Establishes & maintains effective therapeutic relationships w/ Veterans in the outpatient behavioral health setting &/or their families
Independently works w/ Veterans and/or their families who are experiencing a wide range of complicated medical, psychiatric, emotional, behavioral &/or psychosocial problems
- Must independently complete thorough psychosocial assessments to determine the diagnosis, psychosocial functioning & needs of Veterans &/or their families
Uses assessment to facilitate the Veteran's maximum use of treatment to attain the highest level of independence that is possible & practicable
Must possess knowledge & ability to independently implement treatment modalities, provide educational classes &/or therapeutic groups for Veterans & families via in-person & virtual modalities
Utilizes human growth & development principles over the life span and assists Veterans' in coping with the loss and grief experiences from disability & terminal illness
Member of interdisciplinary treatment team & actively collaborates w/ Veterans & family & interdisciplinary treatment team to develop & implement treatment plans
Provides consultation to other treatment team members regarding Veterans &/or their families psychosocial needs & impacts of identified psychosocial problems on Veteran's health care planning & compliance w/ treatment
Uses mental health diagnoses, disabilities & treatment procedures, including acute, chronic & traumatic illnesses, common medications & their effects/side effects & medical terminology
Serves as liaison between Veterans &/or their families & VA & community resources to ensure delivery of services
Maintains knowledge of Veteran's benefits & services, community resources & process to make appropriate referrals to community/other governmental programs/agencies
Possesses skills & knowledge to provide case management services to Veterans & their families throughout continuum of care
Possesses/demonstrates ability to communicate effectively, both orally & in writing w/ people from varied backgrounds. treatment goals & interventions
Serves as member of interdisciplinary team as a resource for referrals, mental health recommendations & coordinates care
Demonstrates I-Care values when interacting w/ all internal/external customers
Maintains current knowledge of & practices in accordance w/ The Joint Commission requirements
Protects printed & electronic files containing sensitive data according to Federal privacy Act & confidentiality statutes
Follows regulations & instructions regarding release of sensitive/protected patient/ employee information
May serve on Service Line committees, workgroups, &/or task forces, etc
Performs other duties as assigned.
Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm
Telework: May be available for the highly qualified applicant
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: PD9-436-55411-O, 11-436-55412-O
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be authorized for the highly qualified applicant
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required
Conditions of Employment
- You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
- Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
- Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
- You may be required to serve a probationary period.
- Subject to background/security investigation.
- Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
- Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
- Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.
Qualifications
Persons that haven't completed educational/certification/licensure requirements may be referred & tentatively selected but can't be hired until all requirements are met
Basic Requirements
- Citizen Must be US citizen; non-citizens may be appointed if not able to recruit qualified US citizens
- English Language Proficiency Applicants must be able to speak/write in English
- Education Have a master's degree in social work from social work school fully accredited by Council on Social Work Education CSWE Graduates of social work schools in candidacy status don't meet this requirement until School of Social Work is fully accredited. Doctoral degrees in social work can't be substituted for masters degree in social work. Visit http://www.cswe.org/Accreditation to verify social work degrees meet accreditation standards.
Licensure. Persons hired/reassigned to social worker GS-0185 series in VHA must be licensed/certified by states to independently practice social work at master's degree level. For info on current state requirements go to http://vaww.va.gov/ORHM//T38Hybrids
Exception. VHA may waive licensure/certification requirements for persons who are otherwise qualified pending state prerequisites for licensure/certification examination completion. Exception only applies for GS-9 grades. Candidates must be licensed/certified for GS-11 grade & above. Supervisor, chief social work/social work executive provides unlicensed/uncertified social worker w/ written requirements for licensure/certification, including deadline license/certification must be obtained by & consequences for not meeting deadline when appointed
VHA social workers appointed to GS-9 who aren't licensed/certified when appointed must become licensed/certified at independent, master's level w/in 3 years of their appointment as a social worker. Most states require 2 years of post-MSW experience as a prerequisite to taking licensure/certification exam. VHA gives social workers 1 extra year to pass licensure/certification exam. Social workers must become licensed at independent, master's level w/in 1 year of meeting full state prerequisites for licensure in states, e.g. California, Washington, etc. where prerequisites for licensure exceed 2 years.
Social workers who doesn't have a license to allow independent practice must be supervised by licensed independent practitioners of the same discipline who's a VA staff member & who has access to electronic health records
Different states have different levels of licensure/certification, making it difficult for VHA staff to determine independent practice levels. Each state, Puerto Rico & the District of Columbia complete surveys identifying licensure/certification levels allowing independent practice. Copies of the surveys are on file in VHA Office of Care Management & Social Work Services & a summary spreadsheet of licensure/certification levels is available to social work professional standards board members to determine if a social worker's licensure/certification levels meet VHA qualification standards. All states except California use a series of licensure exams administered by ASWB; https://www.aswb.org/. ASWB is association of boards that regulates social work. ASWB develops & maintains social work licensing examinations used across US & is a central resource for information on social work legal regulations. ASWB offers 3 examinations: master's examination is generally used by states for independent licensure/certification practice levels, advanced generalist & clinical examinations are used for advanced licensure/certification practice levels. Differences between the master's & the advanced exams demonstrate the expectation that advanced practice social workers have a more sophisticated knowledge of practice theory and its application
Failure to Obtain License/Certification. All Social workers must actively pursue meeting state prerequisites for licensure/certification starting from appointment date. Failure to become licensed/certified w/in prescribed time limits results in removal from GS-0185 social worker series & may result in employment termination
Loss of Licensure/Certification. Once licensed/certified, social workers must maintain full, valid & unrestricted independent license/certification to remain qualified for employment. Loss of licensure/certification will result in removal from GS-0185 social worker series & may result in employment termination
Grandfathering Provision. All persons employed in VHA in occupation on effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for title, series & grade held, including positive education & licensure/certification that are part of basic occupation requirements. Employees who don't meet all basic requirements in this standard, but who met qualifications applicable to position at time they were appointed to it, following provisions apply
Employees in an occupation that requires a licensure/certification, may be reassigned, promoted up to & including full performance, journey level, or changed to lower grade w/in occupation, but may not be promoted beyond journey level or placed in supervisory/managerial positions
Employees appointed on a temporary basis prior to qualification standard effective date may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet standard basic requirements
Employees initially grandfathered into occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education &/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all standard qualification basic requirements must maintain required credentials as a condition of employment in occupation
If employee who was retained in occupation listed in 38 U.S.C. § 7401(3) under this provision leaves the occupation, employee loses protected status & must meet full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at time of reentry to occupation
NOTE: If social workers covered under grandfathering provision of 1991 Federal law regarding licensure/certification of VHA social workers leave GS 0185 social work series, they lose grandfathering protection. If they choose to return at a later date to GS-0185 series, they must be licensed/certified to qualify for employment as social workers.
Grade Determinations The following criteria must be met when determining grade of candidates in addition to basic requirements for employment.
GS-9
Experience, Education & Licensure. None beyond basic requirements
AND
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities, KSAs. Candidates must demonstrate the following KSAs in addition to above experience
1) Ability to work w/ Veterans & family members from various socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, educational & other diversified backgrounds using counseling skills
2) Ability to assess psychosocial functioning & Veterans & their family members' needs & to formulate/implement a treatment plan, identifying Veterans problems, strengths, weaknesses, coping skills & assistance needed
3) Ability to implement treatment modalities in working w/ individuals, families & groups to achieve treatment goals. Requires judgment/skill using supportive, problem solving/crisis intervention techniques
4) Ability to establish/maintain effective working relationships & communicate w/ clients, staff & community agency representatives
5) Medical & mental health diagnoses, disabilities & treatment procedures fundamental knowledge: including acute, chronic & traumatic illnesses/injuries; common medications/their effects/side effects & medical terminology
GS-11
Experience & Licensure Appointment to GS-11 grade level requires completion of minimum of 1 year of post-MSW experience equivalent to GS-9 grade in health care field or other social work-related settings, VA/non-VA experience & licensure/certification in a state at the independent practice level
Qualifications cond. in Additional Information section below.
Education
IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Transcripts can be unofficial transcripts, but must include the following: your name, the school's entire name, the name of the course, date course taken, grade received for the course, amount of credits earned for the course, date degree conferred, (if applicable), and the name of degree received, (if applicable).
Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.
Benefits
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Review our benefits
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Please be clear and specific in describing your experience, or any information in your resume or any attachments you provide. We will not make assumptions regarding any information provided regarding your experience on your resume or any information contained in your application materials. Your application, résumé, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.
It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.
Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.
WE HIGHLY RECOMMEND YOU USE THE FEDERAL RESUME BUILDER ON USA JOBS AS IT PROMPTS YOU TO ADD REQUIRED INFOMATION NEEDED TO DETERMINATION ELIGIBILITY AND QUALIFICATIONS.
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:
1. CV or Resume: Resume must include how to contact you, descriptions of jobs held including the employer's/company's AND supervisor's name and phone number, job title, detailed description of job duties, beginning and ending date, (month and year) of employment, and average hours worked per week. (Required to upload copy of document).
2. SF-50 - Notification of Personnel Action (Current and former federal employees) must submit your latest SF-50 showing your current grade, step and salary. (NOTE: Award SF-50 are normally not acceptable due to the grade step and salary missing.) (Required to be uploaded, and must be submitted if current or former employee).
3. Copy of Transcripts - Can be official or unofficial. (Required to be uploaded, can be unofficial transcripts, but transcripts must include the following information: your name, the school's entire name, must have the name of the course, date course taken, grade received for the course, amount of credits earned for the course, date degree conferred, & name of degree received). (Required to be uploaded, and must be submitted if using education to qualify for position).
4. Copy, screenshot, or list the number on your resume of a current, unexpired valid License Independent Practice, LIP, to practice SW & any expired LIPs to determine initial eligibility, (Required to be uploaded with application materials if applicable).
5. VA Form 10-2850C VA Form 10-2850c an be found at: https://www.va.gov/vaforms/medical/pdf/vha-10-2850c-fill.pdf.(Not required to upload document but if selected will be required to complete it.) PAGE 3 AND 4 REQUIRED TO BE SIGNED. PLEASE FILL OUT ALL BOXES, AND ENTRIES, IF DOESN'T APPY, ENTER "N/A".
6. Optional cover letter (Not required, but desired).
The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please use this checklist to ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), etc.
- Cover Letter
- Copy, screenshot, or list the number on your resume of a current, unexpired valid License Independent Practice, LIP, to practice SW & any expired LIPs to determine initial eligibility, (Required to be uploaded with application materials if applicable).
- Resume
- SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
- Transcript
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from
schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the full questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (Eastern Standard Time) on 09/30/2024 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12149758.
- To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.
- Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package.
NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.
To verify your application is complete, log into your USA JOBS account, https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, select the Application Status link and then select the more information link for this position. The Details page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process. To return to an incomplete application, log into your USA JOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USA JOBS account or your application will be incomplete.
Next steps
Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. After we receive application packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applications to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met. After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will be notified of their status by email. Referred applicants will be notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notification once a selection decision has been made.
You may check the status of your application at any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applications. Information regarding your application status can be found in the USAJobs Help Center.
NOTE: Participation in the seasonal influenza program is a condition of employment and a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). It is a requirement that all HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccination or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccination has been granted. HCP in violation of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service. HCP are individuals who, during the influenza season, work in VHA locations or who come into contact with VA patients or other HCP as part of their duties. VHA locations include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associated clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA-leased medical facilities. HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrative, remote and onsite, paid and without compensation, full- and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, researchers, volunteers and health professions trainees (HPTs) who are expected to perform any or all of their work at these facilities. HPTs may be paid or unpaid and include residents, interns, fellows and students. HCP also includes VHA personnel providing home-based care to Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with patients outside VA medical facilities.
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