Senior Social Worker

The Sumter location is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application. 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: Have a Masters 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 to verify that the social work degree meets the accreditation standards for a master's degree in 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 English Language Proficiency: In accordance with 38 7402(d), no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. 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). Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates: Senior Social Worker GS-12 Experience/Education: 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. 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. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. 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. Preferred Experience: Columbia | At least 2 years of experience working with the homeless population. References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G39 Social Worker Qualification Standard. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12 Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 ["VA Careers - Social Work: Social Work: Columbia Senior Social Worker CES | Major duties may include, but are not limited to: Participates in CoC meetings and planning efforts which may include leadership roles within the CoC group. Provides direct linkage from community services to VHA homeless program services through regular and consistent outreach and communication with community providers. This includes, but is not limited to, direct linkage to VA mental health services for those Veterans who are at high risk for suicide. Participates in case conferencing process within the CoC's coordinated entry system to help inform and facilitate referrals to VA programs such as HUDVASH, SSVF, HCHV CRS, and GPD. Ensures efficient sharing of Veteran data and program information, as allowable under VA Privacy and Information Security policies and Directives. This will include knowledge of HMIS and HOMES data standards, data sharing and privacy authorities, HUD guidance, and other applicable documents or established guidance. Participates and contribute to a CoC level resource-and-demand analysis, including periodic review of the gaps to determine inflows/outflows, and make recommendations to VHA homeless program leadership on adjustments to resource allocations within coordinated entry based on this analysis. Provide support to the VA homeless program teams as a functional member of the team, to include participation in outreach activities and subject matter consultation on community involved interventions for homeless Veterans. Sumter Senior Social Worker | Major duties may include, but are not limited to: Develops an extensive psychosocial assessment of the Veteran in collaboration with the interdisciplinary team, the Veteran, family members and significant others. Demonstrates an understanding of the range of treatment and skills needed for all adult patients, including those with chronic mental illness, or unexpected physical limitations and psychological needs, as well as prolonged and/or repeated exposure to battlefield trauma and operational stress sustained during military duty. Employs a vast array of clinical skills and services as needed to accomplish treatment objectives. Conducts individual, marital and family therapy, and serves as primary therapist in treatment groups. Subject matter expert on VA and/or community resources. Collaborates with other service providers in reassessing the Veteran's needs. Ensures coverage in all program component areas and demonstrates a cooperative team spirit in providing backup coverage as needed/assigned to prevent disruption of patient care activities. Participates in the overall activities of the Mental Health Service. This will include special projects, quality assurance assignments, representation on committees, development of programs, etc., as directed by operational needs to comply with Joint Commission, VA/Network mandates, and medical center/service line goals. Work Schedule: Columbia | Senior Social Worker, Coordinated Entry Specialist (CES) Monday - Friday | 8:00am - 4:30pm. Not eligible for telework and requires some travel to include driving. Sumter, Senior Social Worker, Monday - Friday | 8:00am - 4:30pm (compressed). Telework eligible. Compressed/Flexible: Columbia - No | Sumter- Yes Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized. Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized. EDRP Authorized: (This applies to the Sumter location only) Contact , the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child. Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $ Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Virtual: Neither position is virtual. Functional Statement #: Columbia 544-533336F | Sumter 544-02220-A Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized. Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required."]