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Veterans Health Administration is Hiring a Social Worker Near Kings, NY

Qualifications:

• Qualifications
  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. NOTE: This applies to the past, current, and upcoming VA Health Professional Trainees (HPT) only. HPT is an individual appointed to temporary positions in one or more VHA medical facilities performing clinical or research training experiences to satisfy program or degree requirements or receiving VA Health Professional Scholarship Program. HPTs can be either VA-paid or Without Compensation (WOC)
  
  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: Requires 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 the CSWE website to verify if that social work degree meets the accreditation standards for a Master of Social Work.
  • Licensure: Must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level. 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.
  • English Language Proficiency: Must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).
    Grandfathering: 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 (September 10, 2019) 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.
    NOTE: If social workers covered under the grandfathering provision of the 1991 Federal law regarding licensure or certification of VHA social workers leave the GS0185 social work series, they lose the grandfathering protection. If they choose to return at a later date to the GS-0185 series, they must be licensed or certified to qualify for employment as a social worker.
    
    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-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. 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, Appendix G39. Social Worker Qualification Standard GS-0185

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: See VHA Directive 5019.

Responsibilities:

The GS 11 Substance Treatment Services Social Worker (LMSW/LCSW) assumes responsibility for the provision of substance abuse services to veterans who are seen on an outpatient basis in the Substance Abuse Recovery Program (SARP), located within the Behavioral Health Outpatient Clinic at VAH HHS / Manhattan or in a primary care clinic in the context of PCMHI, or on an inpatient unit (all at 423 E 23rd St). Services will be provided to Veterans diagnosed with Substance Use Disorder and related disorders. Common related disorders may include co-occurring mental health diagnoses such as Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, Mood Disorders, and Personality Disorders; addictive patterns with gambling, sex, and computer gaming; couples and family concerns including Adult Children of Alcoholic and Codependency issues, Interpersonal Violence, and chronic pain. The SARP social worker interviews patients/significant others and completes psychosocial assessments. The assessment will include data pertinent to the development of an effective treatment plan as stipulated in Joint Commission and CARF standards. The SARP social worker will provide individual outpatient treatment as needed and lead SARP groups, including involvement in the Intensive Outpatient Program groups. The SARP social worker will provide SUD treatment to Veterans offsite via tele-mental health and VVC. In the course of these duties, the social worker will engage in regular collaboration with community stakeholders including probation officers and DMV. The Substance Treatment Services Social Worker may be asked to assist with the provision of clinical services, within his/her scope and competencies, in other Mental Health teams as needed. The social worker will serve as a member of the multidisciplinary treatment team, participating in weekly meetings, staffing new patients, and providing and receiving peer consultation. The social worker must have a solid understanding of: Mental health diagnostics; Psychotherapy skills: Couples and family therapy treatment modalities: Crisis intervention: Case management skills: Group therapy and education: Discharge planning: Knowledge of aftercare treatment resources The social worker must maintain ongoing education regarding addiction treatment modalities and changes in drugs of abuse. The treatment modality shall be consistent with the needs, as well as goals and objectives of each individual client. Individuals shall be involved with and participating in formulating and implementing their own treatment efforts insofar as they are capable.
The social worker must have a solid understanding of:
- Mental health diagnostics - Psychotherapy skills
- Couples and family therapy treatment modalities
- Crisis intervention - Case management skills
- Group therapy and education
- Discharge planning
- Knowledge of aftercare treatment resources



Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00 am to 4:30 pm
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Job Summary