The Social Worker located at a Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) independently provides direct clinical psychosocial and case management services at an independent practice level to eligible veterans and their family members to meet biological, psychological, social and environmental needs. The incumbent also covers the social work needs at other CBOC's, Montrose, and Castle Point campus as needed. 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 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 http://vaww.va.gov/OHRM/T38Hybrid/. 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: GS-11 Requirements: Experience and Licensure. Appointment to the GS-11 grade level requires completion of a minimum of one year of post-MSW experience equivalent to the GS-9 grade level in the field of health care or other social work-related settings, (VA or non-VA 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: Knowledge of community resources, how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services, and ability to coordinate services. Skill in independently conducting psychosocial assessments and treatment interventions to a wide variety of individuals from various socio-economic, cultural, ethnic, educational and other diversified backgrounds. 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. Skill in independently implementing different treatment modalities in working with individuals, families, and groups who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric, medical, and social problems to achieve treatment goals. Ability to provide consultation services to new social workers, social work graduate students, and other staff about the psychosocial needs of patients and the impact of psychosocial problems on health care and compliance with treatment Full Performance Level Assignments. This is the full performance level. Social workers at this level are licensed or certified to independently practice social work. Incumbents are assigned to all program areas, including 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 Veteran's 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 Veteran's independence, health, and well-being. The social worker conducts timely assessment of at-risk 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. References: VA Handbook 5005/120, Part II, Appendix G39. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-09 to GS-11. Physical Requirements: Work is sedentary but also demands standing, walking, bending, twisting, and carrying light items. ["The incumbent provides services face to face, by telephone and through the use of Virtual Health modalities such as Video-to-Home and Clinical Video Telehealth (CVT). It is expected that the incumbent will provide services using all of these modalities on a regular basis. The health care and psychosocial needs of these Veterans are complex and require a high degree of clinical oversight and creative problem solving. The CBOC Social Worker is responsible for providing community based psychosocial intervention to address a broad range of medical and mental health issues. The incumbent provides case management to Post 911 Veterans and completes all health screens for this group. The incumbent serves veterans who may have serious, frequent and severe crises, lack family or adequate community support networks, may fail to adhere to instructions and treatments; have significant deficits in coping skills and require continuing psychosocial support. The CBOC Social Worker provides a continuum of care encompassing individual, group, couple and family counseling, demonstrating possession of independent practice skills and judgment. The CBOC social worker must be skilled at interfacing with a number of different staff within the VA as well as staff and agencies in the surrounding community. The Social Worker in the CBOC independently performs case finding functions and outreach, identifying and screening patients for psychosocial needs. The incumbent must possess the knowledge and ability to independently implement treatment modalities, and provide counseling for individuals, families and groups. The incumbent independently conducts psychosocial assessments. Incumbent assists in the development of treatment plans in collaboration with the Veteran, their family and with the interdisciplinary team. The CBOC Social Worker interviews and conducts psychosocial assessments to establish veterans' needs, presenting problems, and psychosocial stressors. The incumbent must assess high risk factors, acuity and need for services. This includes conducting Mental Health assessments so as to triage cases appropriately based upon risk factors, acuity and need for services. The CBOC Social Worker also interprets and explains VA treatment and benefit programs. The incumbent must demonstrate skill at service coordination which requires consistent collaboration and follow up with other VA staff as well as community resources. The CBOC social worker uses the psychosocial assessment to ascertain the needs of the patient and then refers the patient to appropriate sources within the VA or in the community that supports the Veteran's psychosocial functioning. The incumbent is responsible for providing education on advance health care planning and facilitates psycho-educational and support groups on a variety of topics for veteran and their families. Incumbent also collaborates with Veterans, families and the interdisciplinary team to facilitate efficient advance health care planning that supports the Veteran's psychosocial functioning. The CBOC social worker has the ability to expand clinical knowledge in the profession, provide consultation and guidance to colleagues, role model effective social work practice skills, teach or provide orientation to less experienced social workers, and develop innovations in practice interventions. The incumbent may also provide training to Social Work students and interns, and staff from other disciplines. Topics include the impact of psychosocial issues and stressors that may directly affect Veterans and their care. The CBOC social worker has extensive knowledge of medical center policies and procedures, VHA and VBA regulations, as well as a knowledge base of reporting to necessary agencies regarding suspected abuse or neglect. Work Schedule:\nFunctional Statement #: 21V03-A"]