The Greater Los Angeles Health Care System is recruiting for a Senior Social Worker. This position will provide clinical evidence-based services including assessments and interventions, program development, resource development, continuous quality improvement activities, evaluation/consultation, and case management services to the Veterans in the Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation and Treatment Program (MH RRTP). 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: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Education: Must 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. Note: 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. English Language Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. ? 7403(f). Grandfathering Provision: 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). (1) 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 the title, series and grade held, including positive education and licensure or certification that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all of the basic requirements in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: (2) Such employees in an occupation that requires a licensure or certification, may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. (3) Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. (4) Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all of the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation. (5) If an employee who was retained in an occupation listed in 38 U.S.C. ? 7401(3) under this provision leaves that occupation, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation. Grade Determinations: Senior Social Worker GS-0185-12 Experience: The candidate must have at least two years of experience post advanced practice clinical licensure and should be in a specialized area of social work practice of which, one year must be equivalent to the GS-11 grade level. Senior social workers have experience that demonstrates possession of advanced practice skills and judgment. Senior social workers are experts in their specialized area of practice. Senior social workers may have certification or other post-masters training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university that includes a defined curriculum/course of study and internship or equivalent supervised professional experience in a specialty. In addition to the experience above, candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Skill in a range of specialized interventions and treatment modalities used in specialty treatment programs or with special patient populations. This includes individual, group, and/or family counseling or psychotherapy and advanced level psychosocial and/or case management. Ability to incorporate complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice. Knowledge in developing and implementing methods for measuring effectiveness of social work practice and services in the specialty area, utilizing outcome evaluations to improve treatment services and to design system changes. Ability to provide specialized consultation to colleagues and students on the psychosocial treatment of patients in the service delivery area, as well as role modeling effective social work practice skills. Ability to expand clinical knowledge in the social work profession, and to write policies, procedures, and/or practice guidelines pertaining to the service delivery area. Licensure/Certification: Senior social workers must be licensed or certified by a state at the advanced practice level which included an advanced generalist or clinical examination, unless they are grandfathered by the state in which they are licensed to practice at the advanced practice level (except for licenses issued in California, which administers its own clinical examination for advanced practice) and they must be able to provide supervision for licensure. Reference: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-39 Social Worker Qualification Standard. Physical Requirements: Light lifting (under 15 pounds); light carrying (under 15 pounds); reaching above shoulder; use of fingers; both hands required; walking; standing; hearing (aid permitted); emotional stability; ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing. Preferred Experience: Experience working in a medical setting is highly preferred. ["Duties for the position may include but are not limited to: Works independently with patients and families who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric, medical, and social problems, utilizing individual, group, and family counseling and therapy skills. Provides clinical evidence-based services and interventions, including but not limited to individual, group, and family counseling. The Social Worker provides advanced level case management interventions used in the treatment of veterans with mental health diagnoses, substance use disorders, traumatic brain injuries, post-traumatic stress disorder, and other serious disorders. Demonstrates advanced knowledge and experience in the use of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities, and treatment procedures, including acute, chronic, and traumatic illnesses and injuries, common medications and their effects, side effects, and medical terminology. Independently provides consultation services to other VA staff regarding the psychosocial needs of unhoused Veterans and the impact of psychosocial problems on health care and adherence to treatment plans. Requires the ability to access VA medical, mental health, substance abuse, and other specialty clinical providers, as well as community providers, to collaborate in the care of Veterans. Facilitates referrals based upon Veterans' needs and eligibility. Provides clinical oversight, creative problem solving and comprehensive discharge planning. Develops psychosocial treatment and comprehensive discharge plans in coordination with interdisciplinary team members, including goals for psychosocial clinical treatment. Participates in professional peer review, case conferences, and research studies. Proficient in coordinating and providing information and referrals to VA programs in their provision of services. Ability to teach and mentor staff and students, provides supervision for licensure or specialty certifications, and completes all required clinical reminders and respond to consults. The Social Worker documents in the patient's medical record in accordance with medical center policies and the requirements of The Joint Commission (TJC) and other regulatory bodies. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Travel: Up to 50% may be required. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required"]
The Veterans Health Administration is America’s largest integrated health care system, providing care at 1,298 health care facilities, including 171 medical centers and 1,113 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics), serving 9 million enrolled Veterans each year.
