Senior Social Worker Mental Health

We're Looking for a skilled Senior Social Worker Mental Health in the Veterans Health Administration based in Savannah, Georgia. 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. NOTE: This only applies to past current and upcoming VA Health Professional Trainees (HPT). HPT is an individual appointed to temporary positions in one or more VA 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 VApaid or Without Compensation (WOC). Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Noncitizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. English Language Proficiency: In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. Education: Masters degree in Social Work from a school that is fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). Graduates of schools of social work that are currently in candidacy status do not meet the education requirement for this position until their school is fully accredited. A Doctoral degree in Social Work may not be substituted for the Masters degree in Social Work. Applicants are encouraged to visit https://www.cswe.org/accreditation/directory to verify whether their degree meets CSWE accreditation standards for a Masters degree in Social Work. Licensure: License or certification by a state at the advanced practice level which included an advanced generalist or clinical examination unless grandfathered by the state in which they are licensed to practice at the advanced practice level (all states except California which administers its own clinical examination for advanced practice) and must be able to provide supervision for licensure. GS12 REQUIRED EXPERIENCE: At least two (2) years of experience at the post advanced practice and clinical licensure in a specialized area of social work practice of which one year must be equivalent to the GS11 grade level. Senior Social Workers must possess experience which demonstrates possession of advanced practice skills and judgment and should be considered experts in their specialized area of practice. Senior Social Workers may have certification or other postMasters 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. GS12 KNOWLEDGE SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): In addition to the GS12 required experience listed above all applicants must also possess the following demonstrated (KSAs): Skills 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 Qualifications: Training in evidencebased therapies. Grandfathering Provision: The following is the standard grandfathering policy for all Title 38 Hybrid qualification standards. Please carefully review the qualification standard to determine the specific education and/or licensure requirements which may apply to this occupation. An applicant may qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria). THE FULL PERFORMANCE LEVEL OF THIS VACANCY IS GS12. References: VA Handbook 5005/120 Part II Appendix G39. Physical Requirements: The physical demands of this position involve primarily walking sitting talking driving use of the telephone etc. Strenuous physical activity is not required although the incumbent is expected to withstand pressure and stress as part of their daytoday activities. There is ongoing exposure to individuals with psychiatric and physical illness and disabilities potentially including violent or aggressive behavior and chronic psychiatric and medical problems. Light lifting under 15 pounds light carrying under 15 pounds Hearing (aid permitted).

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.