Social Worker

We're Looking for a skilled Social Worker in the Veterans Health Administration based in Rome, 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. 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 http:www.cswe.gorg/Accreditation 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. English Language Proficiency. Social workers must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005 Part II chapter 3 section A paragraph 3j this part. 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 GS9 grade level. For the GS11 grade level and above the candidate must be licensed or certified. At the time of appointment the supervisor chief social work or social work executive will provide the unlicensed/uncertified social worker with the written requirements for licensure or certification including the time by which the license or certification must be obtained and the consequences for not becoming licensed or certified by the deadline. Grade Determinations: GS09 Social Worker(Entry Level) 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. In addition the candidates must demonstrate the KSAs in subparagraph (b) below. NOTE: Social workers with more than one year of postMSW experience may be appointed at an advanced step within the GS9 grade commensurate with their years of experience. (b) Demonstrated Knowledge Skills and Abilities: 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. (c) Assignments. Individuals assigned as GS9 social workers are considered to be at the entry level and are closely supervised as they are not yet functioning at the independent practice level conferred by independent licensure or certification. Social workers at the GS9 entry level are typically assigned to VHA program areas that do not require specialized knowledge or experience. Since these social workers are not practicing at an independent level they should not be assigned to program areas where independent practice is required such as in a CBOC unless there is a licensed social worker in the program area who can provide supervision for practice. GS9 social workers provide psychosocial services in the assigned area under supervision. Social Worker GS11 Experience and Licensure. Appointment to the GS11 grade level requires completion of a minimum of one year of postMSW experience equivalent to the GS9 grade level in the field of health care or other social workrelated settings (VA or nonVA experience) and licensure or certification in a state at the independent practice level.OREducation: In addition to meeting basic requirements a doctoral degree in social work from a school of work may be substitutes 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 socioeconomic cultural ethnic education 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 5005/120 Part II Appendix G39 Social Worker Qualification Standard The full performance level of this vacancy is GS11. Physical Requirements: Light lifting under 15lbs Light carrying under 15lbs Walking (3hrs) Standing (68hrs) Repeated bending (2hrs) Climbing legs only (1hr) Both legs required Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously Near vision correctable at 13 to 16 to Jaeger 1 to 4 Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other Hearing (aid permitted) Clear speech emotional stability moderate duty sitting for long time periods. Protracted or irregular hours of work.

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.