*** This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT & will remain open until December 29, 2025, or until the position is filled. The initial cutoff date for referral of eligible applications will be October 28, 2025. Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as needed basis until positions are filled. ***
Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred & tentatively selected, but may not be hired until all requirements are met.
Basic Requirements:
Citizenship - You must be a citizen of the United States.
English Language Proficiency- You must be proficient in spoken & written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f).
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). A doctoral degree in social work may not be substituted for the master's degree in social work.
Licensure - Persons hired or reassigned 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/.
- Exception - VHA may waive the licensure or certification requirement for persons who are otherwise qualified, pending completion of state prerequisites for licensure/certification examinations. This exception only applies at the GS-9 grade level. For the GS-11 grade level & above, the candidate must be licensed or certified. VHA social workers who are not licensed or certified at the time of appointment must become licensed or certified at the independent, master's level within three years of their appointment as a social worker.
Grandfathering Provision. All persons employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard (9/10/2019) are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series & grade held, including positive education & licensure or certification that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation.
Grade Determinations:
Social Worker GS-9 (Entry level)
Experience, Education, & Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities (KSAs). In addition to meeting the basic requirements, you must demonstrate the following KSAs:
- Ability to utilize a Veteran centric approach when providing interventions & counseling for Veterans, their family members, caregivers, & survivors.
- Ability to assess the psychosocial functioning & needs of Veterans & their family members, & to formulate and implement a treatment plan, identifying the Veterans problems, strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, & assistance needed.
- Ability to implement treatment modalities in working with individuals, families, & groups to achieve treatment goals. This requires judgment & skill in utilizing supportive, problem solving, or crisis intervention techniques.
- Ability to establish & maintain effective working relationships & communicate with clients, staff, & representatives of community agencies.
- Fundamental knowledge of medical & mental health diagnoses, disabilities, & treatment procedures. This includes acute, chronic, & traumatic illnesses/injuries; common medications & their effects/side effects; & medical terminology.
Individuals assigned as GS-9 grade level, duties may include but are not limited to: identifying behaviors or symptoms of abuse, neglect or exploitation; providing education on advance directives & advanced care planning; providing social work case management; acting as an advocate with appropriate VA & community service providers/agencies when it serves the best interest of the Veteran & family members/caregiver; assessing the psychosocial functioning & needs of Veterans & their family members identifying the Veteran's strengths, weaknesses, coping skills & psychosocial acuity, in collaboration with the Veteran, family, & interdisciplinary treatment teams; maintaining a current network of internal & external resources to educate the Veteran &/or family members/caregivers & assist with the appropriate referrals.
Social Worker GS-11 (Full-performance)
Licensure Requirement.You must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level.
Experience or Education Requirement. In addition to meeting the basic requirements, to qualify for the GS-11, you must possess a minimum of 1 year of post-MSW experience equivalent to the GS-9 grade level in the field of health care or other social work-related settings, (VA or non-VA experience) & licensure or certification in a state at the independent practice level.
OR
A doctoral degree in social work from a school of social work may be substituted for the required 1 year of professional social work experience in a clinical setting.
Examples of specialized experience include but are not limited to: Identifying behaviors or symptoms of abuse, neglect or exploitation; providing education on advance directives & advanced care planning; providing social work case management; acting as an patient/family member/caregiver advocate with community service providers/agencies; assessing the psychosocial functioning & needs of patients & their family members.
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience above, you must demonstrate the following KSAs:
- Knowledge of community resources, how to make appropriate referrals to community & other governmental agencies for services, & ability to coordinate services.
- Skill in independently conducting psychosocial assessments & treatment interventions to a wide variety of individuals from various socio-economic, educational, & other backgrounds.
- 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 a treatment plan.
- Skill in independently implementing different treatment modalities in working with individuals, families, & groups who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric, medical, & social problems to achieve treatment goals.
- Ability to provide consultation services to new social workers, social work graduate students, & other staff about the psychosocial needs of patients & the impact of psychosocial problems on health care & compliance with treatment.
Preferred Experience:
- Extensive experience in working with PTSD, including familiarity with cognitive behavior therapy (CPT) for PTSD, prolonged exposure (PE), written exposure therapy (WET) for PTSD, & other evidence-based protocols (EBPs).
- Proficient in suicide prevention & capable in mental health crisis care.
- Completion of evidence-based protocols (EBPs) training with certification.
Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit
https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.
The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-9 to GS-11.
Physical Requirements: Must be physically & mentally able to efficiently perform the essential functions of the position without hazard to themselves or others. Visual acuity (with the ability to read typewritten characters without strain, corrective lenses are permitted), keen hearing (aid permitted), clear distinctive speech, & manual dexterity. Moderate levels of lifting and carrying (15-44 pounds). Occasionally, exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders. Must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on patient needs. Must complete annual Employee Health requirements, such as annual TB screening or testing, as a condition of employment.