Social Worker - Primary Care

Summary

The incumbent social worker will be assigned to provide 1.0 FTEE social work services to Veterans and their families receiving Primary Care (PC) within the Iowa City VA HCS.

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:
  
  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://(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below). 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 /T38
  
  Hybrid/
• Exception: VHA may waive the licensure or certification requirement for persons who are otherwise qualified – pending completion of state prerequisites for licensure/certification examinations; this exception only applies at the GS-9 grade level
• For the GS-11 grade level and above, the candidate must be licensed or certified; at the time of appointment the supervisor will provide written requirements for licensure or certification, including the deadline and consequences
• Failure to obtain a license or certification within three years may result in removal from the GS-0185 social worker series and may result in termination of employment
• Once licensed or certified, social workers must maintain a full, valid, and unrestricted independent license or certification to remain qualified for employment; loss of licensure or certification may result in removal from the GS-0185 social worker series and may result in termination of employment
• English Language Proficiency:
  Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f). 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:
  Social Worker – GS-9 Experience – Education – and Licensure; none beyond the basic requirements
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
  Ability to work with Veterans and family members from various socio‑economic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other diversified backgrounds utilizing counseling skills; ability to assess psychosocial functioning and needs, formulate and implement a treatment plan, identify Veterans’ problems, strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and assistance needed; ability to implement treatment modalities with individuals, families, and groups to achieve treatment goals; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients, staff, and representatives of community agencies;
  
  fundamental knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities, and treatment procedures, including acute, chronic, traumatic illnesses/injuries, common medications and their effects/side effects, and medical terminology; ability to provide consultation services to new social workers, graduate students, and other staff about psychosocial needs of patients and the impact on health care and treatment compliance.
• For GS-11:
  Appointment requires one year of post‑MSW experience equivalent to GS-9 grade level and licensure or certification in a state at independent practice level, or a doctoral degree in social work may substitute for the one year of professional experience.
• Pref…