Social Worker, Mental Health

Summary

The Social Worker in this position is assigned to the Captain James

A. Lovell FHCC in North Chicago - IL providing services at the FHCC Main Campus and in Community Based Outpatient Clinics. The Clinical Social Worker in this position provides mental health services to patients utilizing the FHCC Mental Health Clinic. This is accomplished through collaboration with members of the patient's treatment teams and other interdisciplinary treatment teams - as appropriate.

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 – chief social work or social work executive – will provide the unlicensed/uncertified social worker with 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.
• 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 utilize a Veteran‑centric approach when providing interventions and counseling for Veterans, their family members, caregivers, and survivors.
    • Ability to assess the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and their family members and to formulate and implement a treatment plan – identifying the Veterans’ problems, strengths, weaknesses, coping skills and assistance needed.
    • Ability to implement treatment modalities in working with individuals, families, and groups to achieve treatment goals. This requires judgment and skill in utilizing supportive‑problem‑solving‑or crisis‑intervention techniques.
    • 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 (acute, chronic, and traumatic illnesses/injuries, common medications and their effects/side effects, and medical terminology).
• Social Worker – GS‑11 Experience and Licensure
  • Appointment to the GS‑11 grade level requires completion of a minimum of one year of post‑MSW experience equivalent to the GS‑9 grade level in the field of health care or other social work‑related settings (VA or non‑VA experience) and licensure or…