Senior Social Worker (BHIP) - Rec/Relo Incentive Authorized

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Approval - award amount (up to $200 -000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application. Learn more

• 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 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
• NOTE: Licenses from the state of Alabama no longer meet VA regulatory requirements for independent licensure
• If you are licensed in the State of Alabama - you must also be licensed at the Independent Level in another state
• Physical Requirements
• See VA Directive and Handbook 5019
• English Language Proficiency
• Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. A 7403(f)
• Preferred Experience:GS-12 VA or DOD experience Work experience in community settings Experience incorporating outcome measures into treatment Experience with evidence-based psychotherapies for individuals - groups - couples - and families Experience in case management in complex settings
• Experience in outpatient general mental health clinics
• Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment - the following criteria must be met when determining the grade level
• Senior Social Worker - GS-12 Experience and Education
• The candidate must have 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
• Licensure/Certification
• Individuals assigned Senior Social Worker must be licensed or certified at the advanced practice level and must be able to provide supervision for licensure
• NOTE: Licenses from the state of Alabama no longer meet VA regulatory requirements for independent licensure
• To qualify for the assignment of Senior Social Worker at the GS-12 level - you must have 2 years of experience at the advanced practice level - earned while having an active - unrestricted advanced practice license in a U.S. state or territory other than Alabama
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Skill in a range of specialized interventions and treatment modalities used in specialty treatment programs or with special patient populations
• This includes individual - group - and/or family counseling or psychotherapy and advanced level psychosocial and/or case management
• (b) Ability to incorporate complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice
• (c) Knowledge in developing and implementing methods for measuring effectiveness of social work practice and services in the specialty area - utilizing outcome evaluations to improve treatment services and to design system changes
• (d) Ability to provide specialized consultation to colleagues and students on the psychosocial treatment of patients in the service delivery area - as well as role modeling effective social work practice skills
• (e) Ability to expand clinical knowledge in the social work profession - and to write policies - procedures - and/or practice guidelines pertaining to the service delivery area Physical Requirements: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation and would generally not require a pre-placement examination References: VA Handbook 5005/120 Part II Appendix G39 - September 10 - 2019 The grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-12
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit

• VA Careers - Social Work: VA Careers - Licensed Clinical Social Worker: Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf Social Work: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Social-Worker-Career-Flyer.pdf The Senior Social Worker is assigned to the Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP)
• The BHIP Senior Social Worker: performs specialized treatment of complex physical or mental illness
• incorporates complex multiple causation in different diagnosis and treatment of Veteran patients - including making psychosocial and psychiatric diagnoses within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice
• provides individual - group - and family psychotherapy and advanced level case management interventions used in the treatment of Veterans with poly-trauma injuries - spinal cord injuries - traumatic brain injuries - visual impairment - posttraumatic stress disorder - addictions - and other serious disorders
• conducts case management for Veterans
• develops and implements methods for measuring effectiveness of social work practice and services in specialty areas - utilizing outcome evaluations to improve treatment services
• demonstrates the ability to design changes based on empirical findings
• develops and implements methods for measuring effectiveness of social work practice and services in specialty areas - utilizing outcome evaluations to improve treatment services
• consults with colleagues and students on the psychosocial treatment of patients treated in specialty areas - rendering professional opinions based on experience and expertise and role modeling effective social work practice skills
• teaches and mentors staff and students in the special area of practice and to provide supervision for licensure or specialty certifications
• uses the social work process (psychosocial assessment - diagnosis - and treatment) to conduct an intake health status assessment or an update assessment for Veterans
• utilizes clinical reminders to evaluate the need for health care - behavioral and mental health services
• makes appropriate referrals for health care - individual - group - marital - or family treatment services
• Duties are continued in the education section of this announcement
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 8 AM - 4:30 PM CST EDRP Authorized: Contact the EDRP Coordinator at ... for questions/assistance
• Learn more Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Authorized Recruitment Incentives
• Recruitment incentives may be authorized to full-time - part time[ -] or intermittent individuals in their first appointment as a Federal employee or to a newly appointed former Federal employee with at least a 90-day break in service Relocation Incentives
• Relocation incentives may be authorized to full-time Federal employees who must change worksite[s] and physically relocate to a different geographic area when the approving official determines that without the incentive - it would be difficult to fill the position with a high-quality candidate
• Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases When setting pay - a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of existing pay - higher or unique qualifications - or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade)
• Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on prior [work experience] or military service experience
• Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment - up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth - adoption - or foster care placement of a child
• Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment - full time employees with a total family income below $144 -000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: This is an onsite position
• Telework may be offered when deemed necessary by the department AD-HOC (Employees who telework on an occasional - episodic - or short-term basis - and have completed required telework training and telework agreement.) (Portion of day acceptable) Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required