Senior Social Worker Act

We're Looking for a skilled Senior Social Worker Act in the Veterans Health Administration based in Baltimore, Maryland. 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 http://www.cswe.org/Accreditation to verify that the social work degree meets the accreditation standards for a masters of social work. Licensure: Persons hired or reassigned to social worker program coordinator positions in the GS0185 series in VHA must be licensed or certified at the advanced practice level and must be able to provide supervision for licensure. Current state requirements may be found by going to http://vaww.va.gov/OHRM/T38Hybrid/ 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: GS12 Specialized Experience: One year of experience equivalent to the GS11 grade level. Experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment demonstrating progressively more professional competency. Examples of specialized experience include but are not limited to: Working with persons with substance use disorders addiction and other mental health conditions. Strong communication skills experience working independently with little supervision. Experience providing specialized empirically validated therapy to a complex patient population. Knowledge/understanding of Evidence Based Therapies that includes but not limited to Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) Mindfulness Based Relapse Prevention (MBRP) Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET) Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Post Induction Therapy (PIT) and Skills Training for Affective and Interpersonal Regulation (STAIR). Demonstrated Knowledge Skills and Abilities. In addition to the experience above candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) 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. (b) Ability to incorporate complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice. (c) 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. (d) 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. (e) 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: Experience and/or training in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/120 PART II APPENDIX G39 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS12. Physical Requirements: Light lifting (under 15 lbs.) light carrying (under 15 lbs.) reaching above shoulder use of fingers walking (intermittent) standing (intermittent) hearing (aid permitted) clear speech. The work is sedentary. Typically the employee may sit comfortably to do the work. However there may be some walking standing bending and carrying of light items like papers or books. No special physical demands are required to perform the 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.