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:
The basic requirements for employment as a VHA social worker are prescribed by statute in 38 U.S.C. § 7402(b)(9), as amended by section 205 of Public Law 106-419, enacted November 1, 2000. To qualify for appointment as a social worker in VHA, all applicants must meet the following:
Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g this part).
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 tohttp://www.cswe.org/Accreditation to verify that the social work degree meets the 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). 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 tohttp://vaww.va.gov/OHRM/T38Hybrid/.
Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Services.
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: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.
Social Worker, GS-11
Experience and Licensure. Appointment to the GS-11 grade level requires completion of a minimum of one year of post-MSW experience equivalent to the GS-9grade level in the field of health care or other social work-related settings, (VA or non-VA experience) and licensure or certification in a state at the independent practice level.
NOTE: For appointment licensure or certification at this level please refer to paragraph 3c.
OR
Education. In addition to meeting basic requirements, a doctoral degree in social work from a school of social work may be substituted for the required one year of professional social work experience in a clinical setting.
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
(a)Knowledge of community resources, how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services, and ability to coordinate services.
(b)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.
(c)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.
(d)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.
(e)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.
[Full Performance Level] Assignments. This is the full performance level. Social workers at this level are
licensed or certified to independently practice social work. Incumbents are assigned to all program areas,
including but not limited to: inpatient or outpatient medicine, surgery, mental health, neurology, rehabilitation
medicine, and geriatrics. Employees provide professional, independent social work services in the assigned area.
Duties include but are not limited to: assessing and documenting identified behaviors or symptoms of abuse,
neglect, exploitation and/or intimate partner violence; use of clinical social work skills and knowledge to maintain
Veteran privacy and confidentiality per policies, handbooks or directives; and acts as an advocate with
appropriate VA and community service providers and agencies when it serves the best interest of the Veteran
and family members/caregiver. Incumbent independently assesses the psychosocial functioning and needs of
Veterans and their family members, identifying the Veteran's strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and
psychosocial acuity. In collaboration with the Veteran, family/caregiver, and interdisciplinary treatment team, the
social worker facilitates the delivery of health care services. The social worker identifies family/caregiver
stressors, conducts assessment and provides specific interventions. The incumbent provides case management
and care coordination to facilitate appropriate delivery of health care services, incorporates complex multiple
causation in differential diagnosis and treatment of Veterans, including making psychosocial and psychiatric
diagnoses within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice. The social worker links the Veteran with
services, resources, and opportunities, in order to maximize the Veteran's independence, health, and well-being.
The social worker conducts timely assessment of at-risk Veterans in crisis to identify immediate needs, evaluate
risk, and initiate safety plan as appropriate. The social worker provides interventions independently with Veterans
and their families/caregivers who are experiencing a wide range of complicated medical, behavioral health,
financial, legal, and psychosocial problems. They provide a range of interventions and treatment modalities which
may include individual, group, and/or family counseling or psychotherapy. They independently formulate and
implement a treatment plan including measurable, achievable goals identifying the Veterans' needs, strengths,
weaknesses, coping skills, and psychosocial acuity. Social workers serve on committees, work groups, and task
forces at the facility and VISN level or in the community. They provide subject matter consultation to colleagues
and students on the psychosocial treatment of Veterans offering professional opinions based on experience,
expertise and role modeling effective social work practice skills. The social worker establishes and maintains
ongoing education programs for Veterans, community agencies, students, and staff, to facilitate understanding of
social work interventions specific to the Veteran/Military population.
Preferred Experience: Prefer prior psychotherapy experience in an outpatient setting and previous work with Veteran population and LCSW.
Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit
https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.
Physical Requirements: Work is sedentary but also demands standing, walking, bending, twisting, and carrying light items.