Senior Social Worker

We're Looking for a skilled Senior Social Worker in the Veterans Health Administration based in Coatesville, Pennsylvania. 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. 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. 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. Note: 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. (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED) Licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the advanced practice level which included an advanced generalist or clinical examination unless they are grandfathered by the state in which they are licensed to practice at the advanced practice level (except for licenses issued in California which administers its own clinical examination for advanced practice) and they must be able to provide supervision for licensure.(LICENSE REQUIRED) Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements stated above the following qualification criteria must be met for each grade. The candidates qualifications must clearly demonstrate the level of competence required for the grade. GS12 (Above Full Performance) To qualify for the Senior Social Worker Position at the GS12 level the following experience must be demonstrated on your resume. Experience/Education: The candidate must have at least two years of experience post advanced practice clinical licensure and should be in a specialized area of social work practice of which one year must be equivalent to the GS11 grade level. Senior social workers have experience that demonstrates possession of advanced practice skills and judgment. Senior social workers are 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. Licensure/Certification. Senior social workers must be License Clinical Social Work (LCSW) licensed or certified by a state at the advanced practice level which included an advanced generalist or clinical examination unless they are grandfathered by the state in which they are licensed to practice at the advanced practice level (except for licenses issued in California which administers its own clinical examination for advanced practice) and they must be able to provide supervision for licensure. 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. Demonstrated Knowledge Skills and Abilities. In addition to the experience above candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: 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. 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 Experience: Minimum 2 years experience working with individuals with homelessness serious mental illness and or chronic addictions. Reference: VA Regulations specifically VA Handbook 5005 Part II Appendix G39 Social Worker Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office. Physical Demands: Physical demands of the work are generally moderate. The work may be performed 50 or more of the time in the community. Physical activity involves driving getting in and out of the vehicles sitting standing walking bending stooping climbing stairs (generally no more than 3 floors) and carrying light items such as papers books or supplies. Due to the communitybased nature of the work and the unpredictable population staff must be CPR/BLS and PMDB certified. The incumbent uses a computer and standard office equipment to complete tasks. The emotional demands can be stressful in working with the patient population and their families. A level of selfawareness is essential. Work Environment: Part of the work is performed in an office environment as well as clinic and inpatient areas. This environment involves everyday risks or discomforts that require normal safety precautions typical of such places as offices meeting and training rooms libraries residences or commercial vehicles e.g. use of safe work practices with office equipment avoidance of trips and falls observance of fire regulations and traffic signals. The work area is adequately lighted headed and ventilated. In addition patient contact will be made. Appropriate principles of infection control will nee to be applied to 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.