Social Worker

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

The Successful Applicant

To qualify for this position applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement by date you are appointed to the position. 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. (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED) Licensure. Persons hired or reassigned to social worker positions in the GS0185 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 by going to http//vaww.va.gov/OHRM/T38Hybrid/. (COPY of LICENSE is REQUIRED) Grade Determinations: GS11 Social Worker (a) Experience Education and Licensure. 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. 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. COPY OF LICENSE REQUIRED AT THE GS11 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. In addition the candidate must demonstrate the following Knowledge Skills and Abilities: 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. Assignments. This is the full performance level. Social workers at this level are licensed or certified to independently practice social work. Incumbents are assigned to all program areas including but not limited to: inpatient or outpatient medicine surgery mental health neurology rehabilitation medicine and geriatrics. Employees provide professional independent social work services in the assigned area. Duties include but are not limited to: assessing and documenting identified behaviors or symptoms of abuse neglect exploitation and/or intimate partner violence use of clinical social work skills and knowledge to maintain Veteran privacy and confidentiality per policies handbooks or directives and acts as an advocate with appropriate VA and community service providers and agencies when it serves the best interest of the Veteran and family members/caregiver. Incumbent independently assesses the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and theirfamily members identifying the Veterans strengths weaknesses coping skills and psychosocial acuity. In collaboration with the Veteran family/caregiver and interdisciplinary treatment team the social worker facilitates the delivery of health care services. The social worker identifies family/caregiver stressors conducts assessment and provides specific interventions. The incumbent provides case management and care coordination to facilitate appropriate delivery of health care services incorporates complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment of Veterans including making psychosocial and psychiatric diagnoses within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice. The social worker links the Veteran with services resources and opportunities in order to maximize the Veterans independence health and wellbeing. The social worker conducts timely assessment of atrisk Veterans in crisis to identify immediate needs evaluate risk and initiate safety plan as appropriate. The social worker provides interventions independently with Veterans and their families/caregivers who are experiencing a wide range of complicated medical behavioral health financial legal and psychosocial problems. They provide a range of interventions and treatment modalities which may include individual group and/or family counseling or psychotherapy. They independently formulate and implement a treatment plan including measurable achievable goals identifying the Veterans needs strengths weaknesses coping skills and psychosocial acuity. References: VA Handbook 5005 Part II Appendix G39 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS11. Physical Requirements: Light Lifting (under 15 lbs) Light carrying (under 15 lbs) Straight pulling (1hr) Walking (2hr) Standing (2hr) Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other Hearing aid permitted. Environmental Factors: Working closely with others Working alone

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.