Summary

The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this occupational series. For more information - refer to Required Documents below. North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health Care System's is searching for a Social Work-Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program with Mental Health Service at the Jacksonville location. Ideal applicants are those who want to contribute to the achievement of quality care standards - as well as the growth and development of a VA academic hospital program.

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:

• United States Citizenship: Be a citizen of the United States
• 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
• 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 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 http://vaww.va.gov/OHRM/T38Hybrid/
• GS-11 Social Worker 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 certification in a state at the independent practice level
• OR - Education
• 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
• While we no longer require essay-style responses to our Knowledge's Skills - Abilities - and Other Characteristics (KSAOs) - you must be able to demonstrate that you possess the (below) competencies which are necessary to perform the work of the position
• Please ensure your resume/CV/application contains sufficient information to support the level of experience/education/training
• otherwise - we will not be able to award you credit for the experience/education/training you claim
• These are the KSA's for this subject position:GS-9 Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities: Ability to utilize counseling skills when working with Veterans and family members
• 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
• This includes acute - chronic - and traumatic illnesses/injuries
• common medications and their effects/side effects
• and medical terminology GS-11 Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities: 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 - educational - and other 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
• Preferred Experience: Experience working on a multi-disciplinary team with experience using evidence based treatment modalities
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-11
• Physical Requirements: Able to meet the physical demands of the position - reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions
• They must have good manual dexterity
• Must be able to express or exchange ideas by means of spoken and written word
• Must be able to view and read information on computer screens.

Duties

• NOTE: This announcement has been amended to change the closing date from 12/31/2026
• The social worker is assigned to the North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System Mental Health Clinic located at Jacksonville VA Clinic
• The social worker's responsibilities include the assessment - diagnosis - and treatment planning of mental health and psychosocial problems - often at a time when the Veteran is experiencing crisis and include the provision of evidence based clinical/psychotherapeutic interventions
• Duties and responsibilities include - but are not limited to: Conducting psychosocial/mental health assessments of Veteran's independently and/or in collaboration with the interdisciplinary treatment team - the Veteran - family members - caregivers - and/or significant others
• Developing a patient centered treatment plan and developing achievable treatment goals with the Veteran - and when appropriate - the family members/caregiver and collaborating with all additional interdisciplinary team providers
• Educating the Veteran and family members/caregivers on the available services and assisting them in establishing the appropriate referrals based on the Veteran's preference or that of his/her surrogate decision-maker
• Developing - updating and using current social worker resources within VA and community social service programs to ensure that Veterans are receiving education - information and referrals to current and viable resources to best meet their psychosocial and mental health needs to enhancing the care/treatment provided
• Recognizing and understanding the intimidation of bureaucracy and will act as an advocate when needed to serve the best interest of the Veteran and family members/caregiver
• Providing education related to navigating the VA system - use of community resources - entitlements - Advance Directives/Living Will/Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care - and Goals of Care Conversations
• Providing psychoeducation to Veterans - family members/caregiver and referring them to appropriate interdisciplinary team members or services for identified health education needs
• Providing Veterans and their family members/caregiver with ongoing supportive counseling and psychosocial/psycho-education as appropriate in the individual - group and family setting
• Establishing and maintaining positive - professional working relationships with employees - volunteers - consumers and stakeholders within the VA - as well as - community agencies and all other internal and external stakeholders
• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Work Schedule: 7:30am - 4:00pm - Monday - Friday Recruitment/Relocation Incentives: Not authorized
• Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not authorized
• Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases
• 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 # 50626F GS-11 Social Worker (MHC)