Summary

This Supervisory Social Worker position is located within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) - Veterans Health Administration (VHA) - VA Mid-Atlantic Health Care Network (VISN 6) - Hampton Veterans Affairs Medical Center (HVAMC) - under the Mental Health and Behavioral (MHBS) Service Line in Chesapeake - VA. This position is aligned with the Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program/Outpatient Mental Health Services and is responsible for the management of the Mental Health Social Workers.

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 http://www.cswe.org/Accreditation to verify that the social work degree meets the accreditation standards for a Master of Social Work
• Licensure
• Individuals assigned as Supervisory Social Workers must be licensed or certified at the advanced practice level - and must be able to provide supervision for licensure
• 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)
• English Language Proficiency
• Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f)
• Grade Determinations: GS-12 Experience and Experience: One year of experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level
• Experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills in a specialty area or in administration demonstrating progressively more professional competency and judgment
• Candidate may have certification or other post-master's degree training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university that includes a defined curriculum/course of study and internship - or equivalent supervised professional experience
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Ability to independently organize work - set priorities - and meet multiple deadlines
• (b) Knowledge of supervisory duties which includes clinical supervision - consultation - negotiation with other departments and quality improvement
• (c) Ability to ensure provision of clinical social work services
• (d) Ability to provide staff training and development
• (e) Skill in interpersonal relationships in dealing with employees - team leaders - and managers
• Assignment
• For all assignments above the full performance level - the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope - complexity (difficulty) - and variety and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time
• At the GS-12 grade level - supervisory social workers typically have significant personnel management responsibilities for a small to moderate sized professional and non-professional staff - including support staff and professional staff at the GS-12 grade level and below
• The supervisory social worker is responsible for the professional and administrative management of an area in a social work service - in a care/product line - or multiple facilities
• They provide direct clinical services with or without program coordination responsibilities
• 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-12
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-12
• Physical Requirements: The physical demands of the work are generally minor
• The work is primarily sedentary in nature and usually occurs within climate controlled clinical and administrative settings.

Duties

• Supervisory Duties (60%) Supervises the Outpatient Mental Health Programs including BHIP and Trauma Recovery Services Social Workers performing work at the GS-09 and GS-11 grade levels up to their own grade and provides technical and clinical supervision necessary for accomplishing the work at clinic sites
• Contributes to review - monitoring - analysis - planning - and assessment of various programs and is expected to collaborate with various leaders
• Responsible for key project activities related to the planning - development - and implementation of the project component
• Uses sound judgment in the interpretation of trends and patterns - the application of guidelines - and the recommendation of program enhancements
• Independently provides consultation services to other staff within the clinic - division - and medical center regarding the psychosocial needs of Veterans
• Provides leadership in identifying and addressing ethical issues impacting Veterans and staff - and initiates and participates in ethical consultations as appropriate
• Possesses ability to evaluate their practice through professional peer review - case conferences - and other organizational means
• Communicates effectively - both orally and in writing - and consistently communicates and behaves in a courteous - tactful - and respectful manner toward customers (Veterans - their representatives - visitors - and all VA staff)
• Meets the needs of customers while supporting the VA mission and provides the customer with consistent information according to established policies and procedures
• Complies with VA performance measures and takes a role in completing measures necessary for performance
• Conducts regular BHIP Mental Health Social Work meetings and participates in regular other meetings with staff and leadership
• Completes all mandatory web-based trainings by stipulated due dates
• Manages assigned clinic patient duties as directed - completing clinical notes and encounters in a timely manner
• Assists in acting as a steward of program resources to facilitate safe - effective - and efficient processes
• Patient Care Duties (40%) Provides clinical social work services to a reduced panel of patients
• Possesses working knowledge and experience in use of medical and mental health diagnoses - disabilities - and treatment procedures
• Independently identifies high-risk patients and assures that the appropriate level of intervention is implemented
• Provides crisis intervention services - if needed - seeking to address cause as well as the presenting complaint - coordinates family conferences - and serves as liaison to family members
• Independently conducts psychosocial assessments as appropriate for treatment planning and conducts assessments to highlight the Veteran's strengths - limitations - internal and external supports - and service needs in order to optimize functional status
• Provides treatment intervention in collaboration with the Veteran and family - interdisciplinary treatment team - and community members
• Possesses the skills to establish therapeutic relationships with Veterans and families - mediate difficulties - and measure outcomes of treatment interventions
• Coordinates community-based services - including information and referral for additional services from other VA programs - other government programs - and community agency programs
• Possesses general knowledge of Veterans' benefits and services relating to special programs - service-connected compensation - and non-service-connected pension
• Provides education to Veterans and families related to VA benefits and services - community resources - entitlements - and completion of Advanced Directives/Living Will
• Performs other duties related to the position as required
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8-4:30pm Social Work: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Social-Worker-Career-Flyer.pdf Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases 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)Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on prior [work experience] or military service experience
• 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: Ad-Hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position.