Senior Social Worker - EDRP​/Authorized

Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) – a student loan payment reimbursement program. VHA policy requires that you meet specific individual eligibility requirements and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. The EDRP 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 a complete review of the application.

• United States Citizenship:
  Non‑citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
• English Language Proficiency:
  You must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f)
• Education:
  
  You must 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 accredited
• Note:
  
  A doctoral degree in Social Work may NOT be substituted for the master's degree in Social Work
• License or Certification:
  You must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level
• Grandfather Provision:
  Eligible under the Grandfathering Provision described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria)
• Advanced Practice Licensure Requirement:
  For Senior Social Worker GS‑185‑12, you must be licensed or certified at the advanced practice level and be able to provide supervision, unless you are grandfathered by the state where you practice at the advanced level (except California)
• Experience Requirement:
  At least two years of experience post advanced practice clinical licensure, with one year equivalent to GS‑11 level, in a specialized area of social work practice (e.g., assessment and documentation of abuse, neglect, exploitation, intimate partner violence, other clinical specialties)
• Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
  Skill in specialized interventions and treatment modalities, individual, group, or family counseling or psychotherapy, advanced psychosocial case management, complex differential diagnosis and treatment within approved clinical privileges, outcome evaluation to improve services, providing consultation to colleagues and students, writing policies and procedures, and expanding clinical knowledge in the social work profession.
• Preferred Experience:
  
  Experience working in a VA Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program or VA Experience in delivering evidence‑based psychotherapies, facilitating care for patients with Serious Mental Illness, PTSD, substance use disorder, and coordinating care with interdisciplinary teams.
• Physical Requirements:
  
  Typical for the occupation; generally no pre‑placement examination required.

• The Senior Social Worker position is an advanced practice role within the Behavioral Health Service Line of the West Texas Veterans Affairs Health Care System (WTXVAHCS).
• The incumbent plays a pivotal role in providing high‑level professional social work services to veterans and their families via telemental health modalities.
• The incumbent is responsible for the implementation and coordination of a wide range of complex social work services, including direct practice, case management, program coordination, consultation, and education.
• The incumbent utilizes advanced clinical skills to address psychosocial needs of veterans and families, particularly in severe mental health, substance abuse, trauma, and other behavioral health issues.
• The incumbent provides a full range of psycho‑diagnostic services, including assessment, and uses appropriate psychotherapeutic techniques in providing quality care.
• Performs evaluations for a wide array of patients representing diverse diagnostic entities.
• Provides evidence‑based psychotherapeutic interventions (individual, family, group, psychoeducation) as indicated and appropriate for the specific setting and duties of the incumbent.
• Provides…