The Licensed Social Worker (LSW) practices in the Behavioral Health & Sciences (BH&S) clinical settings to provide mental health services. The duties may include serving as the Primary Mental Health Treatment Coordinator, case/care manager and counselor to a patient population with highly complex health and mental health problems. The LSW is assigned to work within an interdisciplinary team to provide these services, ensuring Veterans timely access to mental health and psychosocial services. BASIC REQUIREMENTS. The basic requirements for employment as a VHA social worker are prescribed by statute in 38 U.S.C. § 7402(b)(9), as amended by section 205 of Public Law 106-419, enacted November 1, 2000. To qualify for appointment as a social worker in VHA, all applicants must meet the following: Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g this part). Education. Have a master's 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 master's degree in social work. Licensure. Persons hired or reassigned to social worker positions in the GS-0185 series in VHA must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level. Exception. VHA may waive the licensure or certification requirement for persons who are otherwise qualified, pending completion of state prerequisites for licensure/certification examinations. This exception only applies at the GS-9 grade level. For the GS-11 grade level and above, the candidate must be licensed or certified. For appointments at the GS-9 grade level, VHA social workers who are not licensed or certified at the time of appointment must become licensed or certified at the independent, master's level within three years of their appointment as a social worker. 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). Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Services. English Language Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). GRADE DETERMINATIONS. In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. Social Worker, GS-9 Experience Education, and Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:(a) Ability to work with Veterans and family members from various socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other diversified backgrounds utilizing counseling skills.(b) Ability to assess the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and their family members, and to formulate and implement a treatment plan, identifying the Veterans problems, strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and assistance needed.(c) Ability to implement treatment modalities in working with individuals, families, and groups to achieve treatment goals. This requires judgment and skill in utilizing supportive, problem solving, or crisis intervention techniques(d) Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients, staff, and representatives of community agencies(e) Fundamental knowledge 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. Social Worker, GS-11 Experience and Licensure. Appointment to the GS-11 grade level requires completion of a minimum of one year of post-MSW experience equivalent to the GS-9 grade level in the field of health care or other social work-related settings, (VA or non-VA experience) and licensure or certification in a state at the independent practice level. Licensure. Persons hired or reassigned to social worker positions in the GS-0185 series in VHA must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level. Education. 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. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:(a) Knowledge of community resources, how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services, and ability to coordinate services.(b) Skill in independently conducting psychosocial assessments and treatment interventions to a wide variety of individuals from various socio-economic, cultural, ethnic, educational and other diversified backgrounds.(c) 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.(d) 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.(e) 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. Reference: VA Handbook 5005/120 PART II APPENDIX G39 ["VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU Licensed Social Worker (LSW) Social Worker works as coordinator and operator for Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) and all operations pertaining to the use of equipment and for patient care. Will work in close coordination with respective teams and under direction of respective supervisors/managers and team leads. The social worker functions as a team member of the interdisciplinary treatment team, providing direct care and treatment when indicated, and completing assigned functions as a treatment team member. Must possess understanding of psychodynamics and competence in a wide range of treatment modalities, including crisis intervention, individual counseling, group counseling, patient education, supportive counseling, family counseling, discharge planning, and knowledge and use of aftercare resources. The chosen treatment modality must be consistent with the needs, goals, and objectives of each case, and also must empower clients to formulate and implement their own rehabilitation as much as possible. May participate in orientation sessions for new employees. In-service training sessions may also be provided for medical center staff to improve their knowledge and understanding of psychosocial rehabilitation, the impact of such on families and significant others, and treatment and aftercare services. Must develop and maintain a thorough working knowledge of continuing care rehabilitation and community treatment resources, and make appropriate referrals. The incumbent must strive to link patients to appropriate continuing care resources and advise significant others about community resources available to them and inform agencies within the community about VA programs and resources. The incumbent is responsible for completing the following duties/responsibilities: Conducting psychosocial assessments to determine needs of Veterans and family. Serving as an active participant in interdisciplinary treatment planning, to include creation and review of treatment plans, as needed. Participating in interdisciplinary discharge planning, as needed, and ensure that discharge plans are executed in a timely and appropriate manner. Providing individual, family, and group counseling as needed. Providing consultation and education services to Veterans and families regarding community resources, advance directives, and VA benefits. Acting as a consultant for interdisciplinary team members. Providing consultation and education to medical residents, interns, and other VAMC personnel regarding social work practice and associated VA policies and procedures. Acting as a marketing and public relations liaison for VA and community resources. Providing case management to Veterans and families, as needed, throughout the continuum and course of care. Providing the full range of social work services within commonly accepted standards of practice, including case work; individual, family, and group counseling; discharge planning; case management; and other needed services. Addressing Advance Directives and Organ Donation in accordance with VAMC standards. Providing wellness/prevention education and associated support groups. Coordinating treatment and communicate with care lines about continuity of care. Provide guidance and mentoring for social work interns/students and less experienced social workers. Participating in committees as assigned. Maintaining data and statistics to comply with Joint Commission, CARF, VHA, and VAMC policies and procedures. Help as needed to prepare for associated reviews and surveys. Helping patients and significant others cope and deal with the psychosocial issues and the loss and grief associated with disability, terminal illness, and death. Documenting social work interventions and activities in each patient's clinical record utilizing CPRS and ensure appropriate hand off when transferring patient care. Participating in a rotation of on-call social workers, including modification of tour of duty to accommodate patient care needs on weekends, as needed. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am to 4:30pm Compressed/Flexible: Not available Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]

Return to Search Results