Social Worker

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

The Successful Applicant

Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship Education: Masters degree in social work from a school of social work fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. See below for each grade educational requirements. Licensure: Must possess a full current and unrestricted license to practice in a State Territory or Commonwealth of the United States (i.e. Puerto Rico) or in the District of Columbia. English Proficiency: Must be proficient in spoken and written English Experience: Must meet specialized experience requirements. See below for each grade experience requirements. May qualify based on the Grandfathering Provision only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria. Grandfathering Provision. (1) All persons employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title series and grade held including positive education and licensure or certification that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all of the basic requirements in this standard but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it the following provisions apply: (2) Such employees in an occupation that requires a licensure or certification may be reassigned promoted up to and including the full performance level or changed to lower grade within the occupation but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. (3) Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. (4) Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all of the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation. (5) If an employee who was retained in an occupation listed in 38 U.S.C. 7401(3) under this provision leaves that occupation the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation. Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. GS9 Experience Education and Licensure: GS9 is the entry level grade and is used for social workers with less than one year of postMSW experience and for social workers who are not yet licensed or certified at the independent practice level. Candidates must also demonstrate the KSAs below. Demonstrated Knowledge Skills and Abilities: Ability to provide psychosocial treatment to a wide variety of individuals from various socioeconomic cultural ethnic educational and other diversified backgrounds. Requires knowledge of human development and behavior (physical and psychological) and the differential influences of the environment society and culture. Ability to work with patients and families who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric medical and social problems utilizing individual group and family counseling skills. Work with more complex problems is done under close supervision. With guidance from the social work supervisor ability to assess the psychosocial functioning and needs of patients and their family members and to formulate and implement a treatment plan identifying the patients problems strengths weaknesses coping skills and assistance needed. Basic knowledge of psychosocial treatment modalities and under supervision ability to implement treatment modalities in working with individuals families and groups to achieve treatment goals. Requires judgment and skill in utilizing supportive problem solving or crisis intervention techniques. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients staff and representatives of community agencies. Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing with people from varied backgrounds. Knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses disabilities and treatment procedures. Includes acute chronic and traumatic illnesses/injuries common medications and their effects/side effects and medical terminology. Basic skill in the use of computer software applications for drafting documents data management and tracking. Ability to learn and utilize software programs in use by VHA. GS11 Experience Education and Licensure: Completion of a minimum of 1 year of postMSW degree experience in the field of health care social work (VA or nonVA experience) and licensure or certification in a state at the independent practice level. 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 Knowledge of community resources how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services and ability to coordinate services. Ability to independently assess the psychosocial functioning and needs of patients and their family members and to formulate and implement a treatment plan identifying the patients problems strengths weaknesses coping skills and assistance needed in collaboration with the patient family and interdisciplinary treatment team. Ability to independently conduct psychosocial assessments and provide psychosocial treatment to a wide variety of individuals from various socioeconomic cultural ethnic educational and other diversified backgrounds. Requires knowledge of human development and behavior (physical and psychological) and the differential influences of the environment society and culture. Knowledge and experience in the use of medical and mental health diagnoses disabilities and treatment procedures. Includes acute chronic and traumatic illnesses/injuries common medications and their effects/side effects and medical terminology. Knowledge of psychosocial treatment and ability to independently implement treatment modalities in working with individuals families and groups who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric medical and social problems to achieve treatment goals. Requires independent judgment and skill in utilizing supportive problem solving or crisis intervention techniques Ability to independently provide counseling and/or psychotherapy services to individuals groups and families. Social workers must practice within the bounds of their license or certification. For example some states may require social workers providing psychotherapy to have a clinical level of licensure. Ability to provide consultation services to other staff about the psychosocial needs of patients and the impact of psychosocial problems on health care and compliance with treatment. Ability to provide orientation and coaching to new social workers and social work graduate students. Ability to serve as a field instructor for social work graduate students who are completing VHA field placements. Ability to independently evaluate his/her own practice through participation in professional peer review case conferences research studies or other organized means. Knowledge and skill in the use of computer software applications for drafting documents data management and tracking especially those programs in use by VHA. References: VA Handbook 5005 Part II Appendix G39 Physical Requirements: Work is sedentary but also demands standing walking bending twisting and carrying light items.

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.