The Senior Social Worker-EBP serves as an independently licensed psychotherapist and will spend a minimum of 30% time providing expert specialized high-intensity Evidence-Based Psychotherapy services outlined in VHA/DOD Clinical Practice Guidelines. In accordance with regulations, the Senior Social Worker utilizes specialty/expertise in mood disorders, PTSD and other anxiety disorders, substance use disorder (SUD), severe mental illness (SMI), pain management, and insomnia. Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. English Language Proficiency - You must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f) Education: You must possess 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. Note: A doctoral degree in Social Work may NOT be substituted for the master's degree in Social Work. License or Certification* - You must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level. 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). Grandfather Provision. A Social Worker employed in VHA on the effective date of the qualification standard (9/10/2019) who did not meet all the basic requirements in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed, the following provisions apply: 1. Employees may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level or changed to lower grade within the occupation but may not be promoted beyond the journeyman level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. 2. Employees in an occupation that requires a licensure/certification/ registration only at higher grade levels must meet the licensure/ certification/registration requirement before they can be promoted to those higher grade levels. 3. Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. 4. Employees who are converted to title 38 hybrid status under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of re-entry to the occupation. 5. Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation. Grade Determinations: Senior Social Worker GS-0185-12 Licensure Requirement: You 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 must be able to provide supervision for licensure. Advanced practice level social workers must be licensed or certified by a state at the advanced practice level which includes 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. All states except California use a series of licensure exams administered by the ASWB. Information can be found at https://www.aswb.org/. Experience Requirement: You must possess 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 GS-11 grade level. Examples of specialized experience 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; maintaining patient privacy and confidentiality per policies, handbooks or directives; acting as an advocate with appropriate community service providers and agencies when it serves the best interest of the patient and family members/caregiver; independently assessing the psychosocial functioning and needs of patients and their family members, identifying the patient's strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and psychosocial acuity. Applicable experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment. In addition to the experience above, you must demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: · 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: Completed competency-based training in and has one year of experience in delivering Evidenced-Based Psychotherapies (EBPs) for Depression (i.e., Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Interpersonal Psychotherapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy), Anxiety Disorders (Unified Protocol, CBT for Anxiety), PTSD (i.e, CPT, Prolonged Exposure), Substance Use Disorder (i.e., CBT SUD), Chronic Pain (i.e., CBT-Chronic Pain), or Borderline Personality Disorder (i.e., Dialectical Behavior Therapy). At least 1 year experience in conducting psychosocial diagnostic evaluations using DSM-V and evaluations to aid in differential diagnosis. At least one-year experience working with Veterans providing behavioral health interventions Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-12. Physical Requirements: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation and would generally not require a pre-placement examination. ["VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU VA Careers - Licensed Clinical Social Worker: https://youtube.com/embed/U_xC25QsN0w Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf Social Work: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Social-Worker-Career-Flyer.pdf The Senior Social Worker: Independently provides specialized evidence-based psychotherapies, included in the VA EBP Training Initiative and VA/DOD, to Veterans enrolled in outpatient Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program teams, the SUD Program, or other areas as assigned within behavioral health service. Examples of these services include: For Veterans with PTSD: Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE), Cognitive Behavioral Conjoint Therapy for PTSD (CBCT-PTSD) For Veterans with Depression: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Depression, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Interpersonal Psychotherapy For Veterans with SUD: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for SUD (CBT-SUD), Contingency Management For Veterans with Co-Morbid Insomnia and Chronic Pain: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Insomnia (CBT-I); Cognitive Behavioral Therapy - Chronic Pain (CBT-CP) When providing evidence-based psychotherapies, provides treatments to Veterans and their families consistent with treatment protocols, the VA/DOD Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs) and VHA Handbook 1160.05. In team meetings and clinical care, demonstrates advanced knowledge of and mastery of theories and modalities used in the specialized treatment of complex mental illness. Conducts full psychiatric diagnostic evaluations using the DSM-V. Incorporates complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment of Veteran patients, as well as evaluations to aid in the differential diagnosis of complex cases. Regularly uses valid measurement instruments to monitor treatment progress, guide clinical decision making, and guide treatment planning. Uses shared decision making to arrive at clinical decisions and develop culturally-sensitive treatment plans. Provides motivational enhancement activities to prepare Veterans to participate in clinically appropriate care and engage in treatment. Provides education to Veterans about the availability, effectiveness, and utility of Evidence-Based Psychotherapies for primary diagnosis and co-morbid conditions. Provides subject matter consultation to colleagues and trainees on the psychosocial treatment of patients and role models effective clinical skills. Provides a full range of therapeutic interventions including individual therapy, couples/family therapy, group therapy, and psycho-education classes. Best practices, VA/DOD Clinical Practice Guidelines and evidence-based treatment protocols are utilized to the extent feasible in all therapeutic interventions. Provides treatment either in person or via telemental health modalities, such as Clinical Video Teleconferencing (CVT) or VA Video Connect (VVC). Provides complex crisis intervention and stabilization to patients who are in psychological distress with independent judgement and skill. Develops, implements, documents, and evaluates the psychotherapeutic treatment plan for an assigned caseload of patients typically with co-occurring conditions and/or complex needs. Demonstrates sensitivity to diversity and utilizes multicultural counseling skills. Duties are continued in the Education Section. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8 AM - 4:30 PM Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade). Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience. Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child. Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66. Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 504-53098-F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized"]

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