Senior Social Worker (Knoxville BHIP)

Knoxville, Tennessee, Tennessee, The incumbent located at the William C. Tallent Outpatient Clinic, James H. Quillen VAMC, serves as a core member of each Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) team within the Mental Health service. As a Senior Social Worker, the incumbent bears responsibility for providing assessment, psychotherapy, treatment planning, and coordination of Mental Health Services. 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 – Candidates must 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 – Social workers at the GS-12 must be licensed or certified by a state at the advanced practice level which included an advanced generalist or clinical examination, unless they are grandfathered by the state in which they are licensed to practice at the advanced practice level (except for licenses issued in California, which administers its own clinical examination for advanced practice) and they must be able to provide supervision for licensure. 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-12 Level: Senior Social Workers must posses at least two years of experience post advanced practice clinical licensure and should be in a specialized area of social work practice of which, one year must be equivalent to the GS-11 grade level. Senior social workers have experience that demonstrates possession of advanced practice skills and judgment. Senior social workers are experts in their specialized area of practice. Senior social workers may have certification or other post-masters training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university that includes a defined curriculum/course of study and internship or equivalent supervised professional experience in a specialty, and are able to demonstrate the following knowledge, skills and abilities: Ability to independently conduct psychosocial assessments and provide psychosocial treatment to a wide variety of individuals from various socio-economic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other diversified backgrounds. This requires knowledge of human development and behavior (physical and psychological) and the differential influences of the environment, society, and culture. Knowledge of community resources, how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services, and ability to coordinate services.

Ability to collaborate and communicate effectively with professional and non-professional health personnel at all organizational levels. Ability to negotiate, procure, and advocate to effectively match Veterans with the right services and incorporate risk management, state laws, current trends in disease prevention, and epidemiological/population-based resourcing in performance of daily job functions. Advanced knowledge of and mastery of theories and modalities used in the specialized treatment of complex physical or mental illness. Ability to incorporate complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment of veteran patients, including making psychosocial and psychiatric diagnoses within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice. Ability to determine priority for services and provide specialized treatment services. Advanced and expert skill in a range of specialized interventions and treatment modalities, including individual, group, and/or family counseling or psychotherapy and advanced level psychosocial and/or case management interventions used in the treatment of veterans with polytraumatic injuries, spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, visual impairment, post-traumatic stress disorder, etc. Ability to provide subject matter consultation to colleagues and students on the psychosocial treatment of patients treated in the specialty area, rendering professional opinions based on experience and expertise and role modeling effective social work practice skills. Ability to teach and mentor staff and students in the specialty area of practice and to provide supervision for licensure or for specialty certifications. Preferred Experience: Outpatient Mental Health, Psychotherapy, Interdisciplinary Teams, Experience with Veterans or Service Members. References: VA Handbook 5005/120, Part II, Appendix G39 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12.

Physical Requirements: All candidates must be physically and mentally able to perform efficiently the essential functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation, without hazard to themselves or others. Candidates must meet the physical requirements outlined in Section II and Section VI of the OPM Operating Manual, Qualification Standards for General Schedule Positions and must possess emotional and mental stability. [“VA Careers – Social Work: https://youtube. com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU The Senior Social Worker (Knoxville BHIP) works as an independent practitioner on an integrated team to provide psychotherapy, case management and treatment planning services to veterans with complex medical, social and behavioral conditions to enhance the delivery of care and improve treatment outcomes. The incumbent primarily provides evidence based therapeutic interventions to identify and address goals of rehabilitation, recovery, health maintenance, improved quality of life, and community integration. The incumbent collaborates with the multidisciplinary team to deliver quality Mental Health Services for Veterans with a broad range of diagnostic, cultural, and social presentations. Duties include but are not limited to: Conducts intake and needs assessment of Veterans and their significant others. Identifies symptoms which may lead to clinical diagnoses of SMI and co-occurring disorders. Provides all necessary assessment functions, e. g.

interviewing, psychosocial histories, and referrals to aid in the development of treatment plans. Independently formulate and implement a treatment plan including measurable, achievable goals identifying the Veterans’ needs, strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and psychosocial acuity. Independently assesses the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and their family members, identifying the Veteran’s strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and psychosocial acuity. Provides psychotherapy and counseling, incorporating complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment of Veterans, including making psychosocial and psychiatric diagnoses within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice. Will provide recovery-oriented treatment with the goal to support the Veteran independently in the community at the Veteran’s highest level of functioning and quality of life. Will document social work interventions and activities in patient’s clinical record utilizing CPRS and ensure appropriate hand off when transferring of patient care. 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. 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. Will participate in committee assignments, work groups, and task forces as deemed necessary by the Social Work Supervisor and Mental Health Section Chief, Knoxville. Well assesses and document identified behaviors or symptoms of abuse, neglect, exploitation and/or intimate partner violence, advocating and intervening when clinically appropriate.

Uses clinical social work skills and knowledge to maintain Veteran privacy and confidentiality per policies, handbooks or directives. 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. Links the Veteran with services, resources, and opportunities, in order to maximize the Veteran’s independence, health and well-being. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday 6:45am- 3:30pm or 8:45am- 5:30pm Telework: Optional, Part time only Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required”]

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