Social Worker

We're Looking for a skilled Social Worker in the Veterans Health Administration based in Golden, Colorado. Read through the job description to see if it matches your current experience.

The Successful Applicant

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: Noncitizens 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 masters 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: Persons hired or reassigned to social worker positions in the GS185 series in VHA must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the masters degree level. Current state requirements may be found on the OHRM website. English Language Proficiency: Social workers must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005 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). GS9 Grade Determinations: Experience Education and Licensure: GS9 is the entry level grade for the GS185 social work series and is used for social workers with less than one year of postMSW experience and for social workers who are not yet licensed or certified at the independent practice level. Social workers at the GS9 level are working toward completion of prerequisites for licensure or certification. Demonstrated Knowledge Skills and Abilities: Candidates must demonstrate the following: 1) Ability to provide psychosocial treatment to a wide variety of individuals from various socioeconomic cultural ethnic educational and other diversified backgrounds. This requires knowledge of human development and behavior (physical and psychological) and the differential influences of the environment society and culture. 2) Ability to work with patients and families who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric medical and social problems utilizing individual group and family counseling skills. Work with more complex problems is done under close supervision. With guidance from the social work supervisor ability to assess the psychosocial functioning and needs of patients and their family members and to formulate and implement a treatment plan identifying the patients problems strengths weaknesses coping skills and assistance needed. 3) Basic knowledge of psychosocial treatment modalities and under supervision 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. 4) Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients staff and representatives of community agencies. Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing with people from varied backgrounds. 5) 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. 6) Basic skill in the use of computer software applications for drafting documents data management and tracking. Ability to learn and utilize software programs in use by VHA. GS11 Grade Determinations: Experience Education and Licensure. Promotion to the GS11 full performance level requires completion of a minimum of 1 year of postMSW degree experience in the field of health care social work (VA or nonVA experience) and licensure or certification in a state at the independent practice level. OR In addition to meeting basic requirements 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. Demonstrated Knowledge Skills and Abilities: Candidates must demonstrate the following: 1) Knowledge of community resources how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services and ability to coordinate services. 2) Ability to independently assess the psychosocial functioning and needs of patients and their family members and to formulate and implement a treatment plan identifying the patients problems strengths weaknesses coping skills and assistance needed in collaboration with the patient family and interdisciplinary treatment team. 3) Ability to independently conduct psychosocial assessments and provide psychosocial treatment to a wide variety of individuals from various socioeconomic cultural ethnic educational and other diversified backgrounds. This requires knowledge of human development and behavior (physical and psychological) and the differential influences of the environment society and culture. 4) Knowledge and experience in the use 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. 5) Knowledge of psychosocial treatment and ability to independently implement treatment modalities in working with individuals families and groups who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric medical and social problems to achieve treatment goals. This requires independent judgment and skill in utilizing supportive problem solving or crisis intervention techniques. 6) Ability to independently provide counseling and/or psychotherapy services to individuals groups and families. Social workers must practice within the bounds of their license or certification. For example some states may require social workers providing psychotherapy to have a clinical level of licensure. 7) Ability to provide consultation services to other staff about the psychosocial needs of patients and the impact of psychosocial problems on health care and compliance with treatment. Ability to provide orientation and coaching to new social workers and social work graduate students. Ability to serve as a field instructor for social work graduate students who are completing VHA field placements. 8) Ability to independently evaluate his/her own practice through participation in professional peer review case conferences research studies or other organized means. 9) Knowledge and skill in the use of computer software applications for drafting documents data management and tracking especially those programs in use by VHA. References: VA Handbook 5005/23 Part II Appendix G39 Physical Requirements: Light lifting light carrying of under 15 pounds ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously walking to 2 hours standing to 2 hours kneeling to 1 hour hearing aid permitted. Physical Demands: The work is sedentary. Typically the employee sits comfortably while working. However there may be some light exertion required when walking standing bending or climbing stairs carrying of light items such as papers books small objects or driving an automobile. No special physical demands are required to perform the work. Ability to complete a Basic Life Support (BLS) course is a position requirement.

What’s on Offer

The role offers excellent opportunities for top performers to further develop their competencies as a social worker and improving the lives of people.