Career Center

Summary

The Phoenix Veterans Affairs Health Care System's 32nd Street Clinic is recruiting for a Social Worker position assigned to their Mental Health Service. They must possess the knowledge and ability to implement treatment modalities - identify level of functioning - degree of impairment in occupational - social - academic - interpersonal and family - evaluate and assess lethality - perform mental status exams (MSE) - and identify psychiatric manifestations of various medical conditions.

Qualifications

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.

Basic Requirements:

• 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://www.cswe.org/Accreditation to verify that the social work degree meets the accreditation standards for a Master 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 http://vaww.va.gov/OHRM/T38Hybrid/
• Loss of Licensure or Certification
• 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 will result in removal from the GS-0185 social worker series and may result in termination of employment
• Physical Requirements
• Most work is performed in an office setting involving everyday risks or discomforts and the work is generally sedentary
• The position will require some physical effort such as sitting - standing - walking - bending - typing - and carrying of light items such as papers - files - books - or reports that do not require special physical demands
• The work requires typical safety precautions associated with working in a mental health care setting - such as - patient physical or verbal interactions - working with office equipment - and avoiding real or potential accidents
• The work may also require occasional travel to local area satellite facilities and/or out of town/state for required/suggested training - conferences - or meetings
• English Language Proficiency
• Candidates must be proficient
• 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-11 Experience/Education
• 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 certification in a state at the independent practice level
• Licensure/Certification
• In addition to meeting basic requirements - a doctoral degree in social work from a school of social work may be substituted for the required one year of professional social work experience in a clinical setting
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all the following KSAs: Knowledge of community resources - how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services - and ability to coordinate services
• Skill in independently conducting psychosocial assessments and treatment interventions to a wide variety of individuals from various socio-economic - cultural - ethnic - educational - and other diversified backgrounds
• Knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses - disabilities - and treatment procedures (i.e. - acute - chronic - and traumatic illnesses/injuries - common medications and their effects/side effects - and medical terminology) to formulate a treatment plan
• Skill in independently implementing different treatment modalities in working with individuals - families - and groups who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric - medical - and social problems to achieve treatment goals
• Ability to provide consultation services to new social workers - social work graduate students - and other staff about the psychosocial needs of patients and the impact of psychosocial problems on health care and compliance with treatment
• VA Handbook 5005/120 PART II APPENDIX G39
• Physical Requirements: Significant time is spent reading (charts - reports - etc.) - documenting in the computerized patient record - and verbally communicating with patients - colleagues - supervisors and/or community partners
• Some standing - walking - bending - pushing - and lifting (moderately heavy) may be involved
• S/he should be capable of prolonged movement and be physically capable of reading patient records/reports - documenting all clinical encounters in the patient computerized record.

Duties

• VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf Social Work: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Social-Worker-Career-Flyer.pdf Nearly perfect year-round weather and several impeccably designed championship courses have made Phoenix one of the top golf destinations in the world
• But there's more to this mild-mannered metropolis than pristine greens and tee times
• The greater Phoenix area also offers visitors an array of impressive cultural attractions
• Visit the internationally renowned Heard Museum for an in-depth look at Native American history or peruse the fine collection at the Phoenix Museum of Art
• Enjoy a ballet performance at the ornate Orpheum Theater or catch a concert at the state-of-the-art Comerica Theatre
• In addition to golf - the city offers access to numerous outdoor endeavors including rock climbing - hot-air ballooning - desert jeep tours and more
• Family-friendly attractions - first-rate shopping - dining and entertainment - and spectacular recreational activities
• Our new state-of-the-art outpatient clinic consist of approximately 203 -000 net usable square feet of clinical space and approximately 1 -370 parking spaces
• The clinic includes a Veterans Resource Center - education conference rooms and a canteen that has 'grab and go' food offerings and small retail store
• Clinical services include primary care - mental health - laboratory services - specialty and ancillary services
• Duties include - but are not limited to: Establishing and maintaining effective therapeutic relationships with Veterans and/or their families
• Be able to independently work with Veterans and their families experiencing a wide range of complicated medical - psychiatric - emotional - behavioral - and psychosocial problems
• Independently completing thorough psychosocial assessments to determine the mental health diagnosis - psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and/or their families
• Must be able to utilize this assessment in developing and implementing a comprehensive treatment plan for attainment of the highest level of independence that is possible and practicable
• Demonstrating knowledge and experience in the use of medical and mental health diagnoses - disabilities - and treatment procedures
• This includes acute - chronic and traumatic illnesses/injuries - common medications and their side effects - and medical terminology
• Independently conducting psychosocial assessments of high-risk patients to identify suicidality through use of the Suicide Risk Assessment (SRA) and other appropriate tools
• Actively participating as a member of the interdisciplinary treatment team through collaboration with Veterans and family - in the development and implementation of treatment goals and interventions
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 7:30 am to 4:00 pm Compressed/Flexible: May be available based on clinic needs and supervisory approval
• Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases
• When setting pay - a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade)
• Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment - up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth - adoption - or foster care placement of a child
• Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment - full time employees with a total family income below $144 -000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 0000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized