Veterans Health Administration
Social Worker - Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program
Veterans Health Administration, Raleigh, North Carolina, United States
Position Overview
The incumbent provides social work services and case management services for Veterans with behavioral health diagnoses as an integral part of the outpatient Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) team. As a member of a BHIP team, the incumbent will conduct psychosocial assessments, provide crisis intervention, and evidence‑based psychotherapy (e.g., Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), etc.).
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
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 of this part.
English Language Proficiency.
Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized under 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.
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 applies only 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‑9 Experience, Education, and Licensure.
None beyond the basic requirements.
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities.
In addition to the basic requirements, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
Ability to work with Veterans and family members from diverse socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other backgrounds utilizing counseling skills.
Ability to assess psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and their family members, formulate and implement treatment plans, identifying problems, strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and needed assistance.
Ability to implement treatment modalities with individuals, families, and groups to achieve treatment goals, using supportive, problem‑solving, or crisis intervention techniques.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients, staff, and community agency representatives.
Fundamental knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities, and treatment procedures, including acute, chronic, and traumatic illnesses/injuries, common medications and side effects, and medical terminology.
Social Worker, GS‑11 Experience and Licensure.
Appointment requires a minimum of one year of post‑MSW experience equivalent to the GS‑9 grade level in healthcare or other social work settings (VA or non‑VA) and licensure or certification at the independent practice level.
OR
Education.
In addition to meeting basic requirements, a doctoral degree in social work from a CSWE‑accredited school may substitute for the required 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:
Knowledge of community resources, ability to make appropriate referrals and coordinate services.
Skill in independently conducting psychosocial assessments and treatment interventions with diverse individuals.
Knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities and treatment procedures (acute, chronic, traumatic illnesses/injuries, medications and side effects, medical terminology) to formulate treatment plans.
Skill in independently implementing multiple treatment modalities for individuals, families, and groups experiencing psychiatric, medical, and social problems to achieve goals.
Ability to provide consultation services to new social workers, social work graduate students, and other staff about psychosocial needs and their impact on health care and treatment compliance.
Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.
The full performance level of this vacancy is GS‑11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy ranges from GS‑9 to GS‑11.
Physical Requirements The incumbent may be asked to perform physical tasks requiring standing, bending, stooping, kneeling, climbing stairs, and lifting up to 25 lbs. The incumbent is required to attend Ambulatory Care Center administrative and professional meetings as directed.
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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
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 of this part.
English Language Proficiency.
Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized under 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.
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 applies only 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‑9 Experience, Education, and Licensure.
None beyond the basic requirements.
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities.
In addition to the basic requirements, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
Ability to work with Veterans and family members from diverse socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other backgrounds utilizing counseling skills.
Ability to assess psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and their family members, formulate and implement treatment plans, identifying problems, strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and needed assistance.
Ability to implement treatment modalities with individuals, families, and groups to achieve treatment goals, using supportive, problem‑solving, or crisis intervention techniques.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients, staff, and community agency representatives.
Fundamental knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities, and treatment procedures, including acute, chronic, and traumatic illnesses/injuries, common medications and side effects, and medical terminology.
Social Worker, GS‑11 Experience and Licensure.
Appointment requires a minimum of one year of post‑MSW experience equivalent to the GS‑9 grade level in healthcare or other social work settings (VA or non‑VA) and licensure or certification at the independent practice level.
OR
Education.
In addition to meeting basic requirements, a doctoral degree in social work from a CSWE‑accredited school may substitute for the required 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:
Knowledge of community resources, ability to make appropriate referrals and coordinate services.
Skill in independently conducting psychosocial assessments and treatment interventions with diverse individuals.
Knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities and treatment procedures (acute, chronic, traumatic illnesses/injuries, medications and side effects, medical terminology) to formulate treatment plans.
Skill in independently implementing multiple treatment modalities for individuals, families, and groups experiencing psychiatric, medical, and social problems to achieve goals.
Ability to provide consultation services to new social workers, social work graduate students, and other staff about psychosocial needs and their impact on health care and treatment compliance.
Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.
The full performance level of this vacancy is GS‑11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy ranges from GS‑9 to GS‑11.
Physical Requirements The incumbent may be asked to perform physical tasks requiring standing, bending, stooping, kneeling, climbing stairs, and lifting up to 25 lbs. The incumbent is required to attend Ambulatory Care Center administrative and professional meetings as directed.
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