Social Worker

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

The Successful Applicant

Basic Requirements: U.S. citizenship. Noncitizens may 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. Licensure. Must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the masters degree level. Social workers must actively pursue meeting state prerequisites for licensure or certification starting from the date of their appointment. Failure to become licensed or certified within the prescribed amount of time will result in removal from the GS0185 social worker series and may result in termination of employment. Grade Determinations: GS11 Social Worker: 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. OR a doctoral degree in social work from a school of social work may be substituted for the required one year of professional social work experience in a clinical setting. In addition to meeting the GS11 requirements the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:1. Knowledge of community resources how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services and ability to coordinate services.2. Skill in independently conducting psychosocial assessments and treatment interventions to a wide variety of individuals from various socioeconomic cultural ethnic educational and other diversified backgrounds.3. 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.4. 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.5. 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 G39The full performance level of this vacancy is GS 11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS 11. Physical Requirements: The physical demands of this position involve active listening reading observing and evaluating verbal and nonverbal behavior walking speaking bending carrying light items such as paper books small parts writing reports writing clinical notes using office equipment such as computers telephones fax machines photocopy machines and possibly driving an automobile. Some work is performed in a clinical setting that exposes the incumbent to the communicable disease common of the homeless population. Strenuous physical activity is not required. Work Environment: The position may at times involve exposure to a work environment that may include intermittent excessive noise dust slippery or uneven walking surfaces working around moving objects or vehicles. The incumbent may also be exposed to infective patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations or operative invasive procedures. The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium dementia or psychiatric disorders Emotional and Mental Stability: The incumbent must be a mature flexible sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations able to shift priorities based on patient needs. Must complete annual Employee Health requirements such as annual TB screening or testing as a condition of employment.

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.