Social Worker - Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program; BHIP

The VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System is recruiting for a Social Worker with the Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP). The incumbent functions as a member of the BHIP team in providing for the biopsychosocial assessment, DSM diagnosis, and treatment of veterans who requirebehavioral health interventions. 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.

In order to qualify for this position, you must meet the requirements below within 30 calendar days of the closing date listed on the announcement.

The basic requirements for employment as a VHA social worker are prescribed by statute in 38 U.S.C. § 7402(b)(9), as amended by section 205 of Public Law 106-419, enacted November 1, 2000. To qualify for appointment as a social worker in VHA, all applicants must meet the following:

• Citizenship
  . Be a citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g this part).
• 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 3 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/.
• English Language Proficiency
  . Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).

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, chief social work or social work executive will provide the unlicensed/uncertified social worker with the written requirements for licensure or certification, including the time by which the license or certification must be obtained and the consequences for not becoming licensed or certified by the deadline.

In all cases, social workers must actively pursue meeting state prerequisites for licensure or certification starting from the date of their appointment. Failure to become licensed or certified within the prescribed amount of time will result in removal from the GS-0185 social worker series and may result in termination of employment.

GS-9
Experience, Education, and Licensure: None beyond the basic requirements. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: