Senior Social Worker

We're Looking for a skilled Senior Social Worker in the Veterans Health Administration based in Beckley, West Virginia. 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. United States Citizenship. Noncitizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Education. Must Possess a masters degree in social work (MSW) 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. In addition to meeting basic requirements 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. Licensure/Certification. Senior social workers must be 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. 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. 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. In addition to the basic requirements for employment the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. 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. Independently practice social work. 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. Independently assesses the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and their family members identifying the Veterans strengths weaknesses coping skills and psychosocial acuity. Conducts assessment and provides specific interventions. Conducts timely assessment of atrisk Veterans in crisis to identify immediate needs evaluate risk and initiate safety plan as appropriate. Provide subject matter consultation to colleagues and students on the psychosocial treatment of Veterans offering professional opinions based on experience expertise and role modeling effective social work practice skills. Establishes and maintains ongoing education programs for Veterans community agencies students and staff to facilitate understanding of social work interventions. And 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. References: VA Handbook 5005/120 PART II APPENDIX G39 Social Worker Qualification Standards dated September 10 2019.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: This position is requires light lifting under 15 lbs. moderate carrying 1544 lbs. use of fingers walking 2 hours standing 2 hours near vision correctable at 13 to 16 to Jaeger 14 far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other. Hearing (aid permitted) emotional and mental stability. Outside and inside work. 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.