Social Worker BHIP

Summary

The Clinical Social Worker provides outpatient mental health treatment to Veterans who are connected with the Syracuse VAMC and its Community Based Outpatient clinics (CBOCs). This position is located at the Ithaca VA Community Based Clinic.

Qualifications

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
• Verification of the degree can be made by going to to verify that the social work degree meets the 3 accreditation standards for a masters of 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
• Current state requirements may be found by going to
• English Language Proficiency: Social workers must be proficient in spoken and written English
• 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
• At the time of appointment - the supervisor - chief social work or social work executive will provide the unlicensed/uncertified social worker with the written requirements for licensure or certification - including the time by which the license or certification must be obtained and the consequences for not becoming licensed or certified by the deadline 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: Social Worker - GS-09:Experience - Education - and Licensure
• None beyond the basic requirements
• Grade Determinations: GS-09 - The entry level grade and would be for social workers that are new graduates - those that have less than one year experience and are not licensed/certified - or social workers with experience but not licensed to practice at the independent practice level
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills and Abilities for the grade level are as follows: Ability to work with Veterans and family members from various socio-economic - cultural - ethnic - educational - and other diversified backgrounds utilizing counseling skills Ability to assess the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and their family members - and to formulate and implement a treatment plan - identifying the Veteran problems - strengths - weaknesses\s - copying skills and assistance needed
• Knowledge of human development and behavior (physical and psychological) - and the differential influences of the environment - society - and culture
• Ability to implement treatment modalities in working with individuals - families - and groups to achieve treatment goals
• This requires judgment and skills in utilizing supportive problem solving - or crisis intervention techniques
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients - staff - and representatives of community agencies
• 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
• Grade Determinations for 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
• NOTE: For appointment licensure or certification at this level please refer to paragraph 3c
• OR 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 AND Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above - candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Knowledge of community resources - how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services - and ability to coordinate services
• 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
• 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
• Skill in independently implementing different treatment modalities in working with individuals - families - and groups who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric - 7 medical - and social problems to achieve treatment goals
• 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
• Preferred Experience: Substance abuse / PTSD counseling is highly desirable Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-09 to GS-11
• Physical Requirements: Work is sedentary but also demands standing - walking - bending - twisting - and carrying light items.

Duties

• VA Careers - Social Work: VA Careers - Licensed Clinical Social Worker: Rewards of a Allied Health Professional The Outpatient BHIP Clinical Social Worker Therapist at the GS-11 level provides advanced - recovery-oriented psychotherapy to Veterans-individually and as couples-to support the stabilization and management of psychiatric symptoms
• The incumbent independently conducts comprehensive psychosocial and mental health assessments - delivers crisis intervention services - provides advocacy - and coordinates referrals to appropriate VA or community providers
• Clinical services are offered through both telehealth and in-person modalities to ensure timely and consistent access to care
• At this level of practice - the therapist exercises independent clinical judgment and collaborates closely with Veterans - their natural supports - and interdisciplinary treatment team members to develop - implement - and monitor evidence-based - person-centered treatment plans
• The incumbent contributes to a comprehensive continuum of mental health services designed to promote recovery - enhance functioning - and improve overall well-being
• Social Worker - Duties include but are not limited to: The BHIP Therapist provides individual - couples - and occasional group psychotherapy to address mental health symptoms - enhance self-management - and support recovery and overall well-being
• Provide recovery based psychotherapy to Veterans Conduct comprehensive psychosocial assessments and collaboratively develop individualized - Measurement Based Care-informed treatment plans
• Deliver evidence-based therapies (e.g. - CBT - CPT) and maintain working knowledge of common psychiatric conditions and psychotropic medications
• Document all clinical encounters in the electronic health record and review relevant notes to ensure coordinated - comprehensive care
• Perform rapid assessments and develop crisis intervention plans - including determining need for psychiatric hospitalization or readiness for residential mental health/substance use treatment
• Participate in interdisciplinary care planning - advocating for Veterans' psychosocial and mental health needs and supporting treatment adherence
• Monitor Veterans' progress throughout outpatient care - coordinating transitions to the least restrictive appropriate level of services and implementing timely discharge plans
• Maintain general knowledge of VA benefits and specialized programs to support Veterans' access to services
• Engage in professional self-evaluation - supervision - and clinical case discussions
• Perform other duties as assigned to meet the needs of the service and the Veterans served Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm Compressed/Flexible: Not Available Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 00000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized Note: This position may be filled by a Psychologist - Social Worker or Licensed Mental Health Professional (LPMHC)
• These three positions are advertised separately on USAJobs
• If you are interested in any position - please apply to the respective job announcement
• This vacancy is a multi-disciplinary announcement
• If you are a Psychologist and are interested in applying - please apply here If you are a Licensed Professional Mental Heath Counselor and are interested in applying - please apply here

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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.

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