Social Worker
The incumbent works closely with the WRJ VAMC, Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs), homeless programs, residential and community care programs, state and local social service organizations to ensure that coordination between these entities is facilitated. The incumbent ensures that Veterans' direct care, referrals, and follow up is contiguous and based on a continuum of services. The incumbent independently provides clinical psychosocial and case management services for eligible Veterans in the program. The HUD/VASH Program requires continuous coordination with the community's homeless providers and coalitions as well as with other local, state, and federal agencies. OUTREACH The incumbent regularly conducts and participates in outreach activities including field interviews, assessments and referrals for homeless Veterans contacted in the community, shelters, and on the streets, as well as those who are referred by VA residential programs, medical centers or outpatient clinics. CLINICAL ASSESSMENT The incumbent evaluates the Veteran's situation, abilities, and capabilities, and arrives at a reasoned conclusion including an assessment of vulnerability and prioritization for admission. The incumbent assesses at-risk factors and develops a preliminary plan, involving the Veteran and family or significant others, and performs an insightful assessment of serious and complicated cases involving psychiatric illness which may also include, catastrophic medical condition, dementia, traumatic brain injuries, and other high risks referral and screening procedures for potential HUD/VASH Veteran participants. REFERRALS The incumbent provides referrals to VA medical and mental health inpatient and outpatient treatment and to other VA services including VA benefits (VBA), as well as community-based social services and other non-VA entitlement programs. COMPREHENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT The incumbent develops psychosocial treatment plans, actively involving the Veteran and their family or significant others, in coordination with interdisciplinary team members, based on the psychosocial assessments, including goals for clinical treatment. The incumbent assists Veterans in maintaining appointments at VA medical centers and other community agencies for medical, psychiatric, substance abuse, vocational and other services consistent with Veteran's goals associated with healthful independent living. The incumbent refers Veterans to appropriate VA and other government/community services-including local shelters, food banks, employment services, Veteran's benefits, and social security applications. The incumbent understands disparate values and reaches Veterans and their families from different social and ethnic groups while communicating confidence in the Veteran's ability and worth, helping the Veteran address problems utilizing larger support systems as appropriate. DIRECT SERVICES The incumbent provides direct mental health and substance abuse services for Veterans. Gives emotional support and crisis management services needed to maintain the Veteran safely in their residence. Assists and encourages Veteran and significant others in facing problems, thinking them through, evaluating the situation, considering alternative courses of action and arriving at plans for using resources to resolve problems. The incumbent makes routine visits to each Veteran in residence to assess their environment and provide on-going clinical services. The incumbent demonstrates acceptance, interest, and encouragement and includes the Veteran in their course of treatment and utilizes methods and techniques to maintain a therapeutic relationship that recognizes the value of the Veteran's input in their care. EVALUATION The incumbent establishes a continuing relationship with the Veteran, evaluating progress towards goals and adjusting the treatment plan as appropriate. The incumbent meets Veterans to assess accomplishments and re-establish goals and monitors Veteran's progress, maintains comprehensive documentation and shows competent discretion in decision to adjust treatment. The incumbent coordinates clinical and psychosocial services and is accountable for the overall effectiveness of the services provided. The incumbent directs activities to maximize effectiveness, efficiency and continuity of care for Veterans. The incumbent may provide clinical supervision for unlicensed social workers and for social work associates. The incumbent offers Veterans and family members or significant others educational services and takes responsibilities for identifying the health education needs of Veterans and working with interdisciplinary team members on a plan to address those needs. Work Schedule:
Full Time, Monday - Friday, 8:
00am - 4:
30pm Financial Disclosure Report:
Not required 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. English Language Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized 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). 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/. Grade Determinations:
Social Worker, GS-9 Experience, Education, and Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
(a) Ability to work with Veterans and family members from various socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other diversified backgrounds utilizing counseling skills. (b) Ability to assess the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and their family members, and to formulate and implement a treatment plan, identifying the Veterans problems, strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and assistance needed. (c) Ability to implement treatment modalities in working with individuals, families, and groups to achieve treatment goals. This requires judgment and skill in utilizing supportive, problem solving, or crisis intervention techniques. (d) Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients, staff, and representatives of community agencies. (e) Fundamental knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities, and treatment procedures. This includes acute, chronic, and traumatic illnesses/injuries; common medications and their effects/side effects; and medical terminology. 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-9 grade 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. References:
VA HANDBOOK 5005/120, PART II, APPENDIX G39 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. Physical Requirements:
See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Services.
Estimated Salary: $20 to $28 per hour based on qualifications.
Full Time, Monday - Friday, 8:
00am - 4:
30pm Financial Disclosure Report:
Not required 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. English Language Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized 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). 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/. Grade Determinations:
Social Worker, GS-9 Experience, Education, and Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
(a) Ability to work with Veterans and family members from various socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other diversified backgrounds utilizing counseling skills. (b) Ability to assess the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and their family members, and to formulate and implement a treatment plan, identifying the Veterans problems, strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and assistance needed. (c) Ability to implement treatment modalities in working with individuals, families, and groups to achieve treatment goals. This requires judgment and skill in utilizing supportive, problem solving, or crisis intervention techniques. (d) Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients, staff, and representatives of community agencies. (e) Fundamental knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities, and treatment procedures. This includes acute, chronic, and traumatic illnesses/injuries; common medications and their effects/side effects; and medical terminology. 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-9 grade 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. References:
VA HANDBOOK 5005/120, PART II, APPENDIX G39 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. Physical Requirements:
See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Services.
- Department:
0185 Social Work - Salary Range:
$53,333 to $83,885 per year
Estimated Salary: $20 to $28 per hour based on qualifications.
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