Supervisory Social Worker

We're Looking for a skilled Supervisory Social Worker in the Veterans Health Administration based in Chillicothe, Ohio. 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 on the OHRM website. 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 GS9 grade level. For the GS11 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. English Language Proficiency. Social workers must be proficient in spoken and written English accordance with VA Handbook 5005 Part II chapter 3 section A paragraph 3j this part. Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment the following criteria must be met. Grade Requirements: Supervisory Social Worker GS12: Education and Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the GS11 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 postmasters 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. Experience equivalent to the GS11 grade level includes but not limited to: inpatient or outpatient medicine surgery mental health neurology rehabilitation medicine and geriatrics. Employees provide professional independent social work services in the assigned area. Duties include but are not limited to: assessing and documenting identified behaviors or symptoms of abuse neglect exploitation and/or intimate partner violence use of clinical social work skills and knowledge to maintain Veteran privacy and confidentiality per policies handbooks or directives and acts as an advocate with appropriate VA and community service providers and agencies when it serves the best interest of the Veteran and family members/caregiver. Incumbent independently assesses the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and their family members identifying the Veterans strengths weaknesses coping skills and psychosocial acuity. In collaboration with the Veteran family/caregiver and interdisciplinary treatment team the social worker facilitates the delivery of health care services. The social worker identifies family/caregiver stressors conducts assessment and provides specific interventions. The incumbent provides case management and care coordination to facilitate appropriate delivery of health care services incorporates complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment of Veterans including making psychosocial and psychiatric diagnoses within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice. The social worker links the Veteran with services resources and opportunities in order to maximize the Veterans independence health and wellbeing. The social worker conducts timely assessment of atrisk Veterans in crisis to identify immediate needs evaluate risk and initiate safety plan as appropriate. The social worker provides interventions independently with Veterans and their families/caregivers who are experiencing a wide range of complicated medical behavioral health financial legal and psychosocial problems. They provide a range of interventions and treatment modalities which may include individual group and/or family counseling or psychotherapy. They independently formulate and implement a treatment plan including measurable achievable goals identifying the Veterans needs strengths weaknesses coping skills and psychosocial acuity. Social workers serve on committees work groups and task forces at the facility and VISN level or in the community. They provide subject matter consultation to colleagues and students on the psychosocial treatment of Veterans offering professional opinions based on experience expertise and role modeling effective social work practice skills. The social worker establishes and maintains ongoing education programs for Veterans community agencies students and staff to facilitate understanding of social work interventions specific to the Veteran/Military population. Licensure/Certification. 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. Additionally you will be rated on the following Knowledge Skills and Abilities: Please make sure that each is addressed in your application package. Ability to independently organize work set priorities and meet multiple deadlines. Knowledge of supervisory duties which includes clinical supervision consultation negotiation with other departments and quality improvement. Ability to ensure provision of clinical social work services. Ability to provide staff training and development. Skill in interpersonal relationships in dealing with employees team leaders and managers. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 3540 hours of work per week. Parttime experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Preferred Experience: Experience in residential setting and addiction treatment Reference: VA Regulations specifically VA Handbook 5005 Part II Appendix G39 Social Worker Qualification Standard. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS12 to GS12. Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary with occasional requirements to lift office supplies up to approximately 10 pounds. The work may require using appropriate technique to physically restrain clients who present a danger to self or others. While performing the duties of this job the employee is regularly required to stand and walk. Specific vision abilities required by this job function include but are not limited to close vision distance vision peripheral vision depth perception and ability to adjust focus. The employee is required to maintain a valid drivers license for facility driving privileges.

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.