Senior Social Worker

Summary
The Urgent Care Clinic - like the Emergency Department setting - is less structured and involves walk-in/ triage patients - those who are "unassigned" to Primary Care Teams - and patients who are more complex in nature than those presenting for routine care. Given this unpredictable work environment - the Urgent Care Social Worker needs to have advanced triage skills and flexibility in juggling multiple case issues to meet Veteran care needs.

Qualifications
Applicants must meet the minimum qualifications at the time of application.

Basic Requirements

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
• English Language: Must be proficient in spoken and written English
• Education-Transcripts Submitted: Must 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 to verify that the social work degree meets the accreditation standards for a masters of social work
• Licensure-Documentation Submitted: 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
• (NOTE: For those who have a Florida LCSW license - you must be registered with the state as a ""Qualified Supervisor"" in order to provide supervision for licensure or specialty certification
• All others must meet the requirements of their state of licensure to be able to provide supervision for licensure.) Applicants with Puerto Rico LSW must be an active member of the College of Social Work Professionals of Puerto Rico (CPTSPR) and must provide CPTSPR active membership certification
• For additional information - please visit Membership - CPTSPR
• 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)
• All persons employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title - series and grade held - including positive education and licensure or certification that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation
• For employees who do not meet all of the basic requirements in this standard - but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it - the following provisions apply: Such employees in an occupation that requires a licensure or certification - may be reassigned - promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level - or changed to lower grade within the occupation - but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions
• Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed - on a temporary or permanent basis - until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard
• Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation - who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all of the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation
• If an employee who was retained in an occupation listed in 38 U.S.C.
• under this provision leaves that occupation - the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation
• Grade Determinations: Experience/Education: The candidate must have at least two years of experience post advanced practice clinical licensure and should be in a specialized area of social work practice of which - one year must be equivalent to the GS-11 grade level
• Senior social workers have experience that demonstrates possession of advanced practice skills and judgment
• Senior social workers are experts in their specialized area of practice
• Senior social workers may have certification or other post-masters training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university that includes a defined curriculum/course of study and internship or equivalent supervised professional experience in a specialty
• Licensure/Certification: Senior social workers must be licensed or certified by a state at the advanced practice level which included an advanced generalist or clinical examination - unless they are grandfathered by the state in which they are licensed to practice at the advanced practice level (except for licenses issued in California - which administers its own clinical examination for advanced practice) and they must be able to provide supervision for licensure
• Preferred Experience: Due to the nature of this position - those with FL licensure (ability to Baker Act) are highly preferred
• Documentation Submitted Experience in performing assessments - treatment planning - care coordination - crisis intervention - and advocacy
• Able to work independently providing psychosocial support to client populations with highly complex health and/or mental health problems and the provision of short-term - solution focused counseling with clients and/or their families
• Experience in locating and obtaining community resources and assisting with linkage to appropriate referrals
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit
• Physical Requirements: The incumbent must be in overall good health - able to sit at a desk working at a computer - engage in light to moderate physical activity including sitting - walking - bending - and carrying supplies
• The incumbent must be able to perform primarily light and sedentary duties with occasionally moderate physical demands with reasonable accommodation - if necessary - without endangering the health and safety of others
• Position requires walking throughout the clinic and/or Medical Center - standing for extended periods of time - and involves sitting at a computer and in counsel and consultation with Veterans and interdisciplinary teams
• Position may require minimal travel.

Duties

• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional The Urgent Care Social Worker will develop an assessment of the Veteran in collaboration with the interdisciplinary treatment team - the Veteran - family members and significant others
• Duties include - but are not limited to: Responsible for developing a treatment plan and setting achievable treatment goals with the Veteran/family
• Independently providing advanced-level psychosocial support to a special Veteran population with highly complex health and/or mental health problems and the provision of short-term - solution focused counseling with Veterans and/or their families
• Demonstrates an advanced understanding of the range of treatment and skills needed for all adult patient including geriatric patients related to their physical limitations - psychological needs and age associated illnesses and conditions
• Provide a full range of advanced practice Social Work services to include case work - Measurement Base Care - individual - family and group counseling - discharge planning - case management and other services as appropriate
• Provides education related to VA and community resources - entitlements - Advance Directives/Living Will and will refer Veterans/families to the appropriate interdisciplinary team member for identified health education needs
• Responsible for assisting the Veteran/family in establishing the appropriate referrals based on the Veteran's preference or that of his/her surrogate decision-maker
• Experienced in making rapid assessments and developing crisis management plans for Veterans within the VA and community
• Participate in coverage for Social Work services on the assigned unit/service - and when needed for other programs or teams both inpatient and outpatient as needed
• Will coordinate treatment and communicate with other Social Workers and community program coordinators to include NIC - CNH - and TCM - Behavioral Health Programs - Homeless Program - Suicide Prevention etc. - to facilitate continuity of care for Veterans - to include emergent placement if needed
• Utilize Veteran Video Connect (VVC) technology - or other approved virtual care platforms - as one service delivery method available to provide Veteran care
• Responsible for successful maintenance of professional licensure requirements at the independent practitioner level or working toward obtaining independent social work licensure by attending both group and individual training supervision sessions until requirements are met for independent licensure
• Communicates effectively both orally and in writing
• Work Schedule: Monday through Friday from 11:30am to 8:00pm 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 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year)
• Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on prior work experience or military service experience
• 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 $ 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) Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 82084F