Social Worker
Location: Walla Walla, Washington
Description: Department of Veterans Affairs is currently interviewing Social Worker right now, this vacancy will be designated in Washington. For detail informations about this vacancy opportunity please read the description below. Vacancy Identification Number (VIN): 896298
You could be part of an important initiative to provide mental health care for our nations Veterans!
Secretary of! Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki has announced that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will be adding approximately 1,600 mental health clinicians - to include nurses, psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers as well as nearly 300 support staff to its existing workforce.
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) needs mental health support staff who possess the energy, compassion, and commitment to serve those who serve our Country. Whatever the job title, every position in VA will give you a chance to make a meaningful and personal contribution to the lives of truly special and deserving people - our Veterans.
Working for VA is one of the most emotionally satisfying and professionally rewarding ways to dedicate the best within you to your country's service.
If you are transitioning from the military or a Veteran already, we invite you to explore the benefits of continuing your career at the VA. The VA is committed to hiring Veterans.!
The VA is much more than just another employer. It i! s an honorable, open and welcoming community of those who care. Gratitude is our motivation and service is our mission. The VA has adopted Core Values and Characteristics that apply universally across the Department. The five Core Values define "who we are," our culture, and how we care for Veterans, their families and other beneficiaries. The Values are
I
ntegrity,
C
ommitment,
A
dvocacy,
R
espect and
E
xcellence ("I CARE").
America's Veterans need you!
To find out more, go to
http://www.va.gov/jobs/
.
Special Employment Consideration:
VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply, including those eligible for hiring under 5 CFR 213.3102(u), Schedule A,
Appointment of persons with disabilities
[i.e., mental retardation (intellectual disabilities), severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities], an! d/or
Disabled veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more
.
The Jonathan M. Wainwright Memorial VA Medical Center supports Psychosocial and Substance Abuse Residential Rehabilitation and Outpatient services to veterans throughout Southeastern Washington, Southwestern Idaho, and Northeastern Oregon. If you would like more information regarding the facility please go to the following website:
http://www.wallawalla.va.gov/
Walla Walla is a pleasant town of 40,000 near the beautiful Blue Mountain range of SE Washington State. Excellent public schools and two 4-year colleges are an asset. Our Main Street has been ranked as one of the best small town main streets in the U.S and also was voted friendliest city in the US by Rand-McNally in 2011. Sunset Magazine has proclaimed Walla Walla as one of the 10 best small towns in the U.S. and as a tourist destination because of the internationally acclaimed wine ind! ustry.
KEY REQUIREMENTS
U. S. Citizenship
Mu! st pass pre-employment examination
English Language Proficiency required
Designated and-or Random Drug Testing required
Background and-or Security Investigation required
DUTIES:
The incumbent will be responsible for providing independent outreach services to homeless veterans in communities and rural areas distant from the Medical Center. Assignments involve providing continuing social work services at a field location alone or with another team member. Such assignments typically require extensive coordination of services with a wide range of residents of various communities such as local lawyers, physicians, public officials, and with local social agencies. Makes independent professional decisions and recommendations with infrequent recourse to supervisory guidance. Interview potential clients, interprets guidelines and eligibility requirements and completes psychosocial history and assessment. Plans, develops and maintains a ! network of relationships with community resources and other advocates for the homeless to effectively screen and identify veteran members of the homeless population. Develops appropriate treatment plans. Monitors client's progress, maintains comprehensive case documentation, and shows discretion in the decision to adjust treatment.
Tour of Duty: 8am to 4:30pm Monday-Friday
Relocation expenses are not authorized for this vacancy.
QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:
BASIC REQUIREMENTS:
·
U.S. Citizen.
·
Education: 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 soci! al work. [Verification of the degree can be made by going to the
to verify if that social work degree meets the accreditation standards for a master of social work.]
·
Licensure: Persons hired or reassigned to social worker positions in the GS-185 series in VHA must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level. For this position applicants must be licensed to practice independently as a Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). Current state requirements may be found on the
OHRM website
.
·
English Language Proficiency: Social workers must be proficient in spoken and written English.
·
Experience: For the GS-11 grade level applicants must have one year of specialized experience. To be creditable, the experience must have required the use of knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics associated with current professional social work practice. The experience or e! ducation must be post-MSW degree. Experience and education satisfying this requirement must be active professional practice, which is paid/non-paid employment as a professional social worker, as defined by the appropriate state licensing board. Qualifying experience must also be at a level comparable to social work experience at the next lower level. In addition to meeting the basic requirements, a doctoral degree in social work from a school of social work may be substituted for the required 1 year of professional social work experience in a clinical setting. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the KSAs listed below:
1. Knowledge of community resources, how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services, and ability to coordinate services.
2. Ability to independently assess the psychosocial functioning and needs of patients and their family members and to formulate and implement a treatment plan, identifyin! g the patient's problems, strengths, weaknesses, coping skills and assi! stance needed, in collaboration with the patient, family and interdisciplinary treatment team.
3. 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.
4. Knowledge and experience in the use 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.
5. Knowledge of psychosocial treatment and ability to independently implement treatment modalities in working with individuals, families and groups who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric, medical and social problems to ! achieve treatment goals. This requires independent judgment and skill in utilizing supportive, problem solving or crisis intervention techniques.
6. Ability to independently provide counseling and/or psychotherapy services to individuals, groups and families. Social workers must practice within the bounds of their license or certification. For example, some states may require social workers providing psychotherapy to have a clinical level of licensure.
7. Ability to provide consultation services to other staff about the psychosocial needs of patients and the impact of psychosocial problems on health care and compliance with treatment. Ability to provide orientation and coaching to new social workers and social work graduate students. Ability to serve as a field instructor for social work graduate students who are completing VHA field placements.
8. Ability to independently evaluate his/her own practice through participation in professional peer re! view case conferences, research studies, or other organized means.
!
9. Knowledge and skill in the use of computer software applications for drafting documents, data management, and tracking, especially those programs in use by VHA.
The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11.
The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-9 to 11.
The Professional Standards Board (a peer-review group) will review the selected candidateÂ's education and experience and recommend the grade and step at which the candidate will be placed.
The salary is based on the grade and step approved for the selected candidate.
Physical Requirements: Applicants must be physically and mentally able to efficiently perform the essential functions of the position without hazard to themselves or others. Depending on the essential duties of a specific position, usable vision, color vision, hearing, or speech may be required. However, in most cases, a specific physical condition or impa! irment will not automatically disqualify an applicant for appointment. The loss or impairment of a specific function may be compensated for by the satisfactory use of a prosthesis or mechanical aid. Reasonable accommodation may also be considered in determining an applicantÂ's ability to perform the duties of a position.
APPLICANTS PLEASE NOTE: Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Applicants must, therefore, only report attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website:
http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html
. All education claimed by applicants will be verified by the appointing agency accordingly. 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.
Veterans' Preference: When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference on their application or résumé. Applicants claiming preference based on service-connected disability, or based on being the spouse or mother of a disabled or deceased Veteran, must complete an SF 15, Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference. Veterans who are still in the service may be granted tentative preference on the basis of information contained in their applications, but they must produce a DD Form 214 or other proof prior to appointment to document entitlement to preference. For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit
http://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/veterans.aspx
.
HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED:
Your application, résumé and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for! employment. You may also be evaluated based upon the question responses you provide during a structured interview. In responding to structured interview questions you should be sure to cite specific examples of experience, explain exactly what you did, and the outcome.
BENEFITS:
Working for the Department of Veterans Affairs offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes, in part, paid vacation, sick leave, holidays, life insurance, health benefits, thrift savings plan, and participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System. In addition to traditional "dollars and cents" benefits, we offer a range of benefits to help balance work and life. For more information please visit us at
http://www.vacareers.va.gov/why-choose-va/index.asp
.
OTHER INFORMATION:
- .
If you were eligible to this vacancy, please give us your resume, with salary requirements and a resume to Department of Veterans Affairs! .
Interested on this vacancy, just click on the Apply button, you will be redirected to the official website
This vacancy starts available on: Tue, 21 May 2013 18:27:41 GMT