Senior Social Worker

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. Program 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.

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.

• United States Citizenship:
  Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• Education:
  • Master's degree in Social Work from a CSWE-accredited program.
  • Doctoral degree cannot substitute for the MSW.
  • Schools in "candidacy status" do not qualify until fully accredited.
• Grandfathering Provision:
  • Employees who met qualifications when appointed are considered qualified for current grade and series.
  • Those grandfathered may not be promoted above journey level or hold supervisory roles unless fully meeting current qualifications.
  • Loss of grandfathered status occurs if leaving the occupation.
• English Language Proficiency:
  • Must be proficient in spoken and written English.

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).

• Must have at least two years of post-licensure experience at the advanced practice level.
• At least one year equivalent to the GS-11 level
  , demonstrating advanced practice skills, clinical judgment, and expertise in a specialized area.
• May possess post-master's certification or advanced training from a nationally recognized organization or university.

• Must be licensed at the advanced practice level
  , requiring an advanced generalist or clinical exam (state-specific variations apply; California administers its own clinical exam).
• Must be able to provide clinical supervision for licensure.

Candidates must demonstrate:

• Skill in specialized interventions and treatment modalities used in complex or specialty programs.
• Ability to incorporate complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment.
• Knowledge in designing and implementing methods to evaluate specialty practice effectiveness.
• Ability to provide advanced consultation and role‑model effective practice.
• Ability to expand clinical knowledge and develop policies, procedures, and practice guidelines.

Prefer experience working in interdisciplinary teams, brief evidence‑based interventions, and brief/focused assessments.

For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/Qualification Standards/.

The full performance level of this vacancy is a GS-12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is a GS-12.

Must meet standards in VA Directive/Handbook 5019.