Senior Social Worker (Women Veterans Program Social Worker)
Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration
Application
Details
Posted: 30-Aug-24
Location: Stockton, California, California
Salary: Open
Categories:
Mental Health/Social Services
Internal Number: 804753500
The Women Veterans Program Social Worker (WVPSA) is a professional social worker assigned to the Women Veterans Program (WVP) under the Chief of Staff. The position is located at the Stockton Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) and functions a member of the multidisciplinary Women Veterans Program team. 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: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. 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. 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, this part. 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: GS-12 Senior Social Worker 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 GS-11 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 post-masters 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 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. 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. Driver's Licensure: This position involves occasional travel to outreach, events, meetings, and trainings and requires a valid driver's license. In addition, as per Incidental Drivers Policy PS-05-80, employee's driver's record will be reviewed regular through the CA DMV Employer Pull Notice (EPN) Program. Preferred Experience: Knowledge of VA and community resources related to perinatal Veteran patient populations across NCHCS wide catchment area. Solid clinical assessment and therapeutic skills. Internal and external customer-service oriented. Strong note writing skills, especially related to thorough and accurate documentation of biopsychosocial assessments. Detailed and organized in relation to setting up and implementing tracking and monitoring systems. Ability to organize, prioritize, and multi task efficiently and work as a part interdisciplinary team. Comfort and skill in utilizing technology in everyday work, including independently navigating virtual individual and group visits, and utilizing software and programs related to systems of care, tracking, and program evaluation. References: VA Handbook 5005/120, Part II, Appendix G39, Social Worker Qualification Standard, GS-0185, Veterans Health Administration, dated September 10, 2019.The full performance level of this vacancy is 12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is a GS-12. Physical Requirements: May on occasion require lifting and carrying of items (50 lbs. and under) for outreach events, pushing/pulling program materials in a hand cart, and standing for periods of time when conducting outreach. Most of the time is spent sitting in front of a computer which can cause muscle strain and /or eye strain. ["See below links for the rewards of being an employee of the Department of Veteran Affairs: Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Social-Worker-Career-Flyer.pdf The incumbent of this position is responsible for clinical Social Work practice in the Women Veterans Program, a specialized treatment assignment with complex cases. Social Work Services are carried out in full accordance with specific program goals and broad objectives of the VA health care system. The role includes the promotion of Social Work services as a critical component of treatment. Additionally, the incumbent directs/coordinates clinical and psychosocial services and is accountable for the overall effectiveness of the services provided, modifying services to meet Veterans' treatment needs best and promoting efficient practice. Duties for the position may include but are not limited to: Provides aggressive outreach to identify women Veterans in the Stockton, Sonora, and Modesto areas, build program services on-site, and continue to build program services virtually for all enrolled women Veterans. Provides assessment, case management, support, education, and referrals to specialty programs as needed for women Veterans across the VA NCHCS catchment area. Provides case management and clinical services as needed. Complete thorough assessments to determine the presenting problem, determine biopsychosocial factors impacting the problem, determine obstacles to treatment, and support follow through with recommended treatments. This includes consultation with members of the multidisciplinary team to coordinate collaborative efforts to meet the agreed-upon goals for a Veteran's treatment needs and serving as liaison with community professionals regarding needed services for Veterans and their families. Developing WVP Social Work Programming for VA NCHCS in the Southern Tier and throughout VA NCHCS. Expands services through a collaborative relationship with community partners for the growing population of women Veterans. Addresses the geographical challenges of VA NCHCS, developing and expanding an outreach program utilizing telehealth to address specific medical and psychosocial needs of all women Veterans enrolled in VA NCHCS. Collects, develop and analyzes existing program data to plan new primary and specialty programs. Works with the WVP SW at Sacramento VA Medical Center, the Women Veterans Program Manager (WVPM), the Deputy Women Veterans Program Manager (DWVPM), and other team members to expand existing social work programs to meet women Veterans' needs. Services include but are not limited to screening/assessment, treatment planning/goal setting, advocacy, referral to service providers, resource usage/development, coordination of non-institutional and institutional services, crisis intervention, program development, outreach, community linkages, education/health promotion and prevention, and supportive counseling. Other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Full Time; Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.; Subject to change to meet the needs of the Agency 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 existing pay, 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) 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: Authorized per Agency policy Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,321 health care facilities, including 172 VA Medical Centers and 1,138 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics) to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. VHA Medical Centers provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy. In addition, most of our medical centers offer additional medical and surgical specialty services including audiology & speech pathology, dermatology, dental, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, podiatry, prosthetics, urology, and vision care. Some medical centers also offer advanced services such as organ transplants and plastic surgery.