Social Worker

We're Looking for a skilled Social Worker in the Veterans Health Administration based in Prescott, Arizona. Read through the job description to see if it matches your current experience.

The Successful Applicant

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. Noncitizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Education. Have a masters 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 masters 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. Licensure. Persons hired or reassigned to social worker positions in the GS0185 series in VHA must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the masters degree level. Current state requirements may be found by going to http://vaww.va.gov/OHRM/T38Hybrid/. Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 Employee Occupational Health Services. English Language Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f). 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 GS11 Experience and Licensure. Appointment to the GS11 grade level requires completion of a minimum of one year of postMSW experience equivalent to the GS9 grade level in the field of health care or other social workrelated settings (VA or nonVA 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. Demonstrated Knowledge Skills and Abilities. In addition to the experience above candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of community resources how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services and ability to coordinate services. (b) Skill in independently conducting psychosocial assessments and treatment interventions to a wide variety of individuals from various socioeconomic educational and other backgrounds. (c) 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. (d) Skill in independently implementing different treatment modalities in working with individuals families and groups who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric Preferred Experience: Experience working in an integrated primary care or medical setting. Background in brief solution focused and evidence based interventions suited for fast paced primary care environments. Experience conducting psychosocial assessments for Veterans with complex medical and behavioral health needs. Familiarity with chronic disease management health behavior change and motivational interviewing techniques Risk Assessment Crisis Skills. Experience with suicide risk assessment safety planning and crisis intervention Interdisciplinary Care Coordination Skills .Experience collaborating closely with interdisciplinary teams (nurses PCPs pharmacists behavioral health providers). Skill in care coordination case management and assisting Veterans in navigating systems of care PopulationSpecific Knowledge. Knowledge of VA and community resources related to housing transportation mental health financial stressors and caregiver support. Experience supporting Veterans with co occurring conditions (PTSD depression substance use chronic pain). Documentation EMR Skills Proficiency using electronic medical records preferably CPRS Group Educational Interventions .Experience facilitating groups psychoeducation or health focused interventions (e.g. stress management coping skills) Reference: For more information on this qualification standard please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: The work environment involves everyday risks or discomforts that require normal safety precautions typical of such places as offices training rooms and libraries. The work area is adequately lighted heated and ventilated. The incumbent must also work outdoors in all types of weather. There may be occasional exposure to moderate risks or discomforts in storage areas or hazardous waste sites. The work is primarily sedentary although some physical effort may be required e.g. walking standing climbing ladders stooping kneeling and carrying light items such as manuals or briefcases or driving or traveling by motor vehicle. Job entails the ability to have active listening reading observing and evaluating verbal and non verbal behavior walking speaking writing clinical notes writing and reading policies and procedures using office equipment such as computers telephones fax machines copy machines and cell phones. Must be able to remain current in Basic Life Support (BLS) certifications and able to engage in Prevention and Management of Disruptive Behavior or have a valid exemption. Occasional travel is required of the incumbent. Travel will be for a variety of reasons including but not limited to: national and regional conferences site visits to other facilities in the VISN (or the VISN offices) facetoface meetings regarding national and regional projects/assignments specialized training for certain medical equipment and/or systems other training opportunities that may improve the incumbents ability to better serve the needs of the VA.

What’s on Offer

The role offers excellent opportunities for top performers to further develop their competencies as a social worker and improving the lives of people.