Summary

This position is located within the Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) under the Behavioral Health Service (BHS) at the Mann-Grandstaff VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) in Wenatchee - WA. This Senior Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) psychotherapist is a fully licensed Social Worker at the full performance level with requisite experience for senior level.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.

Basic Requirements:

• 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)
• English Language Proficiency
• Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f)
• 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
• Verification of the degree can be made by going to http://www.cswe.org/Accreditation to verify that the social work degree meets the accreditation standards for a masters of social work
• (COPY OF TRANSCRIPT WITH CONFERRED DATE REQUIRED) 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
• (COPY OF ADVANCE PRACTICE LICENSE REQUIRED FOR GS-12) Grade Determinations: Senior Social Worker - GS-12 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 (KSAs)
• In addition to the experience above - candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) 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
• (b) Ability to incorporate complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice
• (c) 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
• (d) 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
• (e) 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: Experience with veterans References: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://department.va.gov/employees/va-qualifications-standards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12
• Physical Requirements: Light lifting (under 15 pounds) - use of fingers - able to see computer screen - and hearing (aid may be permitted)
• Environmental factors include working closely with others and working alone.

Duties

• RECRUITMENT INCENTIVE MAY BE AUTHORIZED
• Clinical Responsibilities Screening/Assessment: Independently assess the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans identifying the Veteran's strengths - weaknesses - coping skills - psychosocial acuity - Mental Health symptoms according to DSM-5-TR - problem identification - diagnosis - treatment planning - implementation - evaluation - and follow-up
• Fully utilize the current DSM in making diagnoses (of all MH diagnosis) and formulation of treatment goals and application of appropriate clinical interventions
• Ability to incorporate complex multiple causation in differential diagnoses and treatment within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice
• Deliver services both in person and via video technology
• Treatment Planning/Interventions: Has specialized knowledge of a wide variety of individual - group - or family counseling interventions
• Able to provide advanced therapy and consultation for PTSD - depression - anxiety and other major MH disorders using EBPs
• Provide complex crisis intervention and stabilization to patients who are in psychological distress
• Ability to assess and safety plan for suicidality
• Use Measurement Based Care (MBC) measures to evaluate initial and ongoing treatment needs and episodes of care - utilizing the continuum of care model
• Demonstrate advanced skill in a range of specialized interventions and treatment modalities for Veterans with complex needs
• This includes individual - group and/or family counseling - or psychotherapy and advanced level psychosocial - and/or case management interventions used in the treatment of Veterans
• Conduct case management services for Veterans enrolled BHIP Psychology Services - to include but not limited to: coordination of care with other clinics/programs/facilities - provision of resources/education - completing clinical reminders - administering measurement based care - and managing emergent Veteran needs within the clinic
• Ability to provide advanced consultation to colleagues and students on the psychosocial treatment of patients in the service delivery area as well as to the APU - Med Floor and BHS
• and role model effective advanced clinical practice skills
• Possess knowledge and understanding of existing relevant statutes - case laws - ethical codes - and regulations
• Academic/Teaching/Training May provide clinical supervision of non-licensed and licensed LICSW to assist with clinical skill development
• Attend annual training programs sponsored by the VISN - VAMC and other APA recognized training programs to enhance knowledge - skills - and abilities in area of specialization
• Provide leadership - direction - orientation - coaching - in-service training - staff development - and continuing education programs for assigned social work staff
• Administrative Responsibilities Provide recommendations to supervisors of any clinical changes to policy and procedure and ability to design system changes based on data
• Communicate assignments with milestones - priorities - expected outcomes - deadlines - and timeframes for completing assignments
• Address program issues under review and problems to be resolved by providing advice on work methods - practices and procedures
• Assist BHIP Program Manager with quality management - improvement - and compliance with accreditation organizations and VA standards - CARF - JACHO - SAMSHA data
• Assist with management of referrals from BHIP Psychology services clinic and coordination of care between clinics - as well as case management of dually diagnosed higher-needs Veterans
• Assist with coordination of care with civilian and VA residential treatment centers for placement of Veterans and discharge planning back to the Mann-Grandstaff catchment area
• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): May Be 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) 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
• 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 #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized