Social Worker, Mental Health

Overview

Summary The Social Worker (locally called the PTSD Social Worker) is a full-time position assigned to the PTSD Clinical Team (PCT) - aligned under the Mental Health Integrated Care Community and based in the Behavioral Health Outpatient Clinic (BHOC) in Syracuse, NY or in a Syracuse VAMC Community Based Outpatient Center. The Syracuse VAMC is a large hospital located in a highly complex (complexity level
1) VA facility - covering thirteen (13) counties and including seven (7) CBOCs.

Summary The Social Worker (locally called the PTSD Social Worker) is a full-time position assigned to PTSD Clinical Team (PCT) - aligned under the Mental Health Integrated Care Community and based in the Behavioral Health Outpatient Clinic (BHOC) in Syracuse, NY or in a Syracuse VAMC Community Based Outpatient Center. The Syracuse VAMC is a large hospital located in a highly complex (complexity level
1) VA facility - covering thirteen (13) counties and including seven (7) CBOCs.

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.

• 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 http://(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below). 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 /T38
  
  Hybrid
• 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 - coping 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…