Social Worker-Community Living Center (CLC)

Summary The incumbent provides specialized clinical social work services to older adult Veterans with complex psychiatric - cognitive - behavioral - and psychosocial needs. This position is located at the Lyons - NJ VA Medical Center. Qualifications 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 PolicyEducation: Possess 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 accreditedA doctoral degree in social work may not be substituted for the master's degree in social workFor grades below or at the full performance level - VHA social workers who are not licensed or certified at the time of appointment must become licensed or certified at the independent master's level within 3 years of their appointment as a social workerLicensure: Possess a full and unrestricted license or certification by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree levelEnglish Language Proficiency: Social workers must be proficient in spoken and written EnglishGS-9 Grade Determinations: Experience and Licensure: None beyond the basic requirementsAND Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities: In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Ability to work with Veterans and family members from various socioeconomic - cultural - ethnic - educational - and other diversified backgrounds utilizing counseling skills(b) 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(c) Ability to implement treatment modalities in working with individuals - families - and groups to achieve treatment goalsThis requires judgment and skill in utilizing supportive - problem solving - or crisis intervention techniques(d) Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients - staff - and representatives of community agencies(e) Fundamental knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses - disabilities - and treatment proceduresThis includes acute - chronic - and traumatic illnesses/injuriescommon medications and their effects/side effectsand medical terminologyGS-11 Grade Determinations: 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 levelOR 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 settingAND 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 socio-economic - cultural - ethnic - educational and other diversified backgrounds(c) Knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses - disabilities and treatment procedures (i.eacute - 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 - medical - and social problems to achieve treatment goals(e) 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 treatmentMay 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)Preferred Experience: Geriatric and medical experienceReferences: VA Handbook 5005/120 Part II - Appendix G39 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-9 to GS-11Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 Duties VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU Duties include but are not limited to: The GS-09 Community Living Center (CLC) Social Worker - which includes Social Work on General Long-Term Care - Subacute Rehab - Dementia - and Geriatric Psych units - is a licensed social worker practicing under close clinical supervision within Social Work Service - assigned to the Extended Care service lineThe incumbent provides clinical social work services to older adult Veterans with psychiatric - cognitive - behavioral - and psychosocial needs - working under the regular guidance and review of a senior social worker or supervisorThe Social Worker assists with biopsychosocial assessment - treatment planning - psychotherapy - crisis intervention - behavioral management strategies - and interdisciplinary care coordination for Veterans with dementia - mood disorders - psychotic disorders - substance use disorders - neurocognitive decline - and psychiatric conditions complicated by chronic illness or functional loss - with supervisory oversight commensurate with case complexityThe Social Worker supports recovery-oriented - trauma-informed - and Veteran-centered care across the General CLC and the Geriatric Psychiatric CLC - including long-term care - memory care - and geriatric psychiatry settings as applicable - under the direction of the assigned supervisorThe GS-11 Community Living Center (CLC) Social Worker - which includes Social Work on General Long-Term Care - Subacute Rehab - Dementia - and Geriatric Psych units - is a licensed - independent practitioner within Social Work Service - assigned to the Extended Care service lineThe incumbent provides specialized clinical social work services to older adult Veterans with complex psychiatric - cognitive - behavioral - and psychosocial needsThe Social Worker delivers comprehensive biopsychosocial assessment - treatment planning - psychotherapy - crisis intervention - behavioral management strategies - and interdisciplinary care coordination for Veterans with dementia - mood disorders - psychotic disorders - substance use disorders - neurocognitive decline - and psychiatric conditions complicated by chronic illness or functional lossThe Social Worker promotes recovery-oriented - trauma-informed - and Veteran-centered care across the General CLC and the Geriatric Psychiatric CLC - including long-term care - memory care - and geriatric psychiatry settings as applicablePerforming other duties as assignedWork Schedule: 8:00 AM - 4:30 PMTelework: Not availableVirtual: This is not a virtual position.