Social Worker

Syracuse VA Medical Center – Primary Care Mental Health Integration (at Ithaca, NY Outpatient Clinic) *Hiring a Social Worker* *Permanent Position for: *Social Worker-GS-9/11 Salary Range: $57,118 - $89,835 per year The Primary Care Mental Health Integration Social Worker is a full-time position aligned under Behavioral Health ICC.
The Syracuse VAMC is a large social work service located in a highly complex (complexity level 1a) VA facility, covering thirteen (13) counties and including seven (7) CBOCs.
It provides diverse services to Veterans, families and caregivers, and is an affiliated tertiary care health care system.
*NOTE*: When applying, please be sure to have dates of employment and detailed sets of duties listed under each employer you have worked for on your resume.
Multiple positions may be filled through this job announcement.
*Duties include, but are not limited to the duties below* : * Diagnose mental disorders.
* Accepts formal consultation requests as well as "warm handoffs" from primary care providers and conducts brief psychosocial assessments.
* Facilitates connecting Veterans with the most appropriate behavioral health services * Uses a population-based approach (1-6 sessions) to address behavioral health concerns for Veterans in need of only short-term care.
* Provides behavioral based interventions for treatment of medical disorders (e.
g.
pain management, smoking cessation, weight management).
* Consults and collaborated with primary care staff.
Also consults with peers and supervisors on a wide variety of patient care issues.
* Participates in Primary Care meetings and activities, as appropriate.
* Participates in monthly PCMHI Staff meetings, typically by conference call * Participates in program evaluation, clinical outcomes management, and research activities, as needed.
* May provide telephone and/or telehealth PCMHI services to other community based clinics of the Syracuse VA.
* Responsible for supporting the mission, policies and procedures of the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), the Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN), and the facility.
* Serve on committees, work groups, and task forces at the facility as deemed appropriate by the supervisor or Chief of Social Work Services.
* Mindful of keeping their supervisor apprised of problems and recommended solutions to problems encountered in the incumbent's area of responsibility.
* Responsible for furthering one's own professional growth through continuing education and for ensuring the continuing education appropriate to the area of assignment.
* Provide assistance with the orientation and learning of less experienced social workers and, if interested, to serve as a preceptor for social work students.
* Demonstrate knowledge and skill in the used of software applications for drafting documents and data management as well as other computer systems in use by the VHA.
* Maintain a level of productivity and quality consistent with the complexity of the assignment and consistent with Social Work standards, Joint Commission standards and facility standards.
* Participates in a rotation of on-call social workers, including modification of tour of duty to accommodate patient care needs on weekends.
* May provide supervision to a Social Work Intern or be generally involved with the MSW training program.
* Performs other related duties, as assigned.
*Qualifications:* *Citizenship*: Be a citizen of the United States.
(Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified candidates in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g.
) *English Language Proficiency*: Must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.
S.
C.
7402(d), and7407(d).
*(1) 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 to https://www.
cswe.
org/Accreditation to verify that the social work degree meets the accreditation standards for a masters of social work.
*(2) 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 https://vaww.
va.
gov/OHRM/T38Hybrid/.
*(3) 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 GS-9 grade level.
For the GS-11 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.
] *Grade Determinations*: This position may be filled at the GS-9 or GS-11 grade level as a Social Worker GS-9 (Entry Level) *Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: *In addition to the basic education requirement, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: * Ability to work with Veterans and family members from various socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other diversified backgrounds utilizing counseling skills.
* Ability to assess the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and their family members, and to formulate and implement a treatment plan, identifying the Veterans problems, strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and assistance needed.
* Ability to implement treatment modalities in working with individuals, families, and groups to achieve treatment goals.
This requires judgment and skill in utilizing supportive, problem solving, or crisis intervention techniques.
* Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients, staff, and representatives of community agencies.
* Fundamental knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities, and treatment procedures.
This includes acute, chronic, and traumatic illnesses/injuries; common medications and their effects/side effects; and medical terminology.
GS-11 (Full Performance Level) *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, 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*: 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.
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-9 to GS-11.
*References:* : VA Handbook 5005/120, Part II, Appendix G-39 Dated September 10, 2019 and VHA Handbook 5005/106 Part II Appendix G 43 *Physical Requirements: *Work is sedentary but also demands standing, walking, bending, twisting, and carrying light items.
*IMPORTANT*: A transcript will be requested.
*Note*: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.
S.
Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment.
You can verify your education here: https://ope.
ed.
gov/accreditation/.
If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education.
For further information, visit: https://www.
ed.
gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.
html.
This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.
VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply.
The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38 and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.
Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.
01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.
e.
, medical, religious or pregnancy).
VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations.
If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date.
The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process.
*NOTE*: Participation in the seasonal influenza program is a condition of employment and a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
It is a requirement that all HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccination or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons.
Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccination has been granted.
HCP in violation of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service.
HCP are individuals who, during the influenza season, work in VHA locations or who come into contact with VA patients or other HCP as part of their duties.
VHA locations include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associated clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA-leased medical facilities.
HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical, and administrative, remote, and onsite, paid and without compensation, full- and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, researchers, volunteers, and health professions trainees (HPTs) who are expected to perform any or all of their work at these facilities.
HPTs may be paid or unpaid and include residents, interns, fellows, and students.
HCP also includes VHA personnel providing home based care to Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with patients outside VA medical facilities.
Additional Requirements for Position: Selective Service Registration, Proof of US Citizenship, 1-Year Trial Period, Direct Deposit of Pay, Background Investigation, pre-employment physical.
Other benefits include both a Federal Pension and a Thrift Savings Plan (a 401k-style investment plan with up to 5% employer matching.
), health insurance, life insurance, annual and sick leave, etc.
\*\*\*\*\* Job Type: Full-time Pay: $57,118.
00 - $89,835.
00 per year Benefits: * 401(k) * 401(k) matching * Dental insurance * Employee assistance program * Flexible spending account * Health insurance * Life insurance * Paid time off * Vision insurance Schedule: * 8 hour shift Experience: * Social work: 1 year (Preferred) Work Location: In person