Applicants pending educational or certification/licensure requirements completion may be referred & tentatively selected but can't be hired until all requirements are met
Basic Requirements:
- US Citizenship Non-citizens may only be appointed when you can't recruit qualified citizens
- English Language Proficiency Must be able to speak & write 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 requirement until social work school is fully accredited Doctoral degrees in social work may not be substituted for master's degree in social work Degree verification can be made by going to http://www.cswe.org/Accreditation to verify the social work degree meets accreditation standards for masters of social work
Licensure. Persons hired/reassigned to social worker positions in GS-0185 series in VHA must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at master's degree level. Current state requirements may be found by going to http://vaww.va.gov/OHRM/T38Hybrid/.
Exception. VHA may waive licensure or certification requirement for persons who are otherwise qualified, pending completion of state prerequisites for licensure/certification examinations. Exception only applies for GS-9 grade levels; GS-11 grade levels & above must be licensed or certified. At the time of appointment, supervisor, chief social work or social work executive provides unlicensed/uncertified social worker w/ written requirements for licensure or certification, including time by which the license or certification must be obtained & consequences for not becoming licensed or certified by the deadline
For GS-9 appointments: VHA social workers who aren't licensed or certified at time of appointment must become licensed or certified at independent, master's level w/in 3 years of their appointment as social worker Most states require 2 years post-MSW experience as a prerequisite to taking licensure/certification exam & VHA gives social workers 1 additional year to pass licensure/certification exam In states such as California, Washington & others where prerequisites for licensure exceed 2 years, social workers must become licensed at independent, master's level w/in 1 year of meeting full state prerequisites for licensure
Social workers who don't have a license to allow independent practice must be supervised by a licensed independent practitioner of same discipline who's a VA staff member & who has access to electronic health records
Failure to Obtain License or Certification. In all cases, social workers must actively pursue meeting state prerequisites for licensure or certification starting from appointment date Failure to become licensed or certified w/in prescribed deadlines results in removal from GS-0185 social worker series & may result in employment termination.
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.
May qualify based on Grandfathering Provision coverage as described in VA Qualification Standard for social workers, only applies to current VHA employees who in occupation & meets criteria
Grandfathering Provision. The following is standard grandfathering policy for all title 38 hybrid qualification standards Please carefully review qualification standard to determine specific education & licensure/certification requirements for social workers
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 title, series & grade held, including positive education & licensure or certification required by 0185 basic requirements. For employees who don't meet all 0185 basic requirements in standard but who met qualifications applicable to position when they were appointed, the following provisions apply:
may be reassigned, promoted up to & including full performance, GS-11, or changed to lower grade w/in 0185 series, but can't be promoted beyond GS-11 or placed in supervisory or managerial positions
if appointed on temporary basis prior to qualification standard effective date can't have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet 0185 basic requirements
if initially grandfathered into 0185 & then obtain required education &/or licensure/certification to meet all 0185 basic requirements, they must maintain required credentials as employment condition
If retained in 0185 position & then leaves, they lose protected status & must meet all 0185 qualification standard requirements in effect when they return to occupation
NOTE: If social workers covered under 1991 Federal law grandfathering provision regarding licensure or certification of VHA social workers leave GS0185 social work series, they lose grandfathering protection. If they choose to return at later date to GS-0185 series, they must be licensed or certified to qualify for employment as social worker
Grade Determinations: Following criteria must be met when determining candidate's grade in addition to basic requirements for employment
GS-9
Experience, Education, and Licensure. None beyond basic requirements
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills & Abilities, KSAs Candidates must demonstrate all the following KSAs in addition to experience above:
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 needs of Veterans/family members & create/implement treatment plans, identifying Veterans' issues, strengths, weaknesses, coping skills & needed assistance
3) Ability to implement treatment modalities working w/ individuals, families & groups to achieve treatment goals; requires judgment & skill using supportive, problem solving or crisis intervention techniques
4) Ability to establish/maintain effective working relationships & communicate w/ clients, staff & community agencies representatives
5) Fundamental knowledge of medical/mental health diagnoses, disabilities & treatment procedures; includes acute, chronic & traumatic illnesses/injuries; common medications & their effects/side effects & medical terminology
GS-11
Experience and Licensure. Appointment to GS-11 grade requires completion of minimum of 1 year post-MSW experience equivalent to GS-9 grade level in health care field or other social work-related settings, VA or nonVA experience & state licensure or certification at independent practice level
OR
Education. Doctoral degree in social work from social work school may be substituted for required 1 year professional social work experience in a clinical setting in addition to meeting basic requirements
Demonstrated
KSAs Candidates must demonstrate all following KSAs in addition to experience above:
1) Knowledge of community resources, how to make appropriate referrals to community & other governmental agencies for services & ability to coordinate services
2) Skill in independently conducting psychosocial assessments & treatment interventions to a diverse individuals from various socio-economic, cultural, ethnic, educational backgrounds
3) Knowledge of medical & mental health diagnoses, disabilities & treatment procedures, i.e. acute, chronic & traumatic illnesses/injuries, common medications & their effects/side effects & medical terminology to formulate treatment plans
Qualifications continued in "Additional Information" section of job announcement...