The Senior Social Worker in this position is responsible for providing services to Veterans referred to the Behavioral Health Department through the Emergency Department and may occasionally provide after-hours services for outpatient Behavioral Health Services (BHS), crisis management and referral management. They will report directly to the (BHS) Social Worker Supervisor and must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment. 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. 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. Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Services. English Language Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). GRADE DETERMINATIONS. In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. Senior Social Worker, GS-12 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. 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). Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:(a) Skill in a range of specialized interventions and treatment modalities used in specialty treatment programs or with special patient populations. This includes individual, group, and/or family counseling or psychotherapy and advanced level psychosocial and/or case management.(b) Ability to incorporate complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice.(c) Knowledge in developing and implementing methods for measuring effectiveness of social work practice and services in the specialty area, utilizing outcome evaluations to improve treatment services and to design system changes.(d) Ability to provide specialized consultation to colleagues and students on the psychosocial treatment of patients in the service delivery area, as well as role modeling effective social work practice skills.(e) Ability to expand clinical knowledge in the social work profession, and to write policies, procedures, and/or practice guidelines pertaining to the service delivery area. Reference: VA Handbook 5005/120 Part II Appendix G39 ["The Senior Social Worker provides a variety of complex services for Veterans referred from the Emergency Department (ED) and medical units to include disposition with referrals for transfer of care to Coatesville Hospital and community hospitals. Responsible for completing psychosocial assessments, treatment planning, short-term solution focused counseling with individuals and families who may be in crisis, provided education and referrals for resources and benefits, case management and post-intervention follow-up. Will provide consultation/education to medical center staff and providers. Collect and maintain statistical data assigned by BHS leadership, program planning evaluation and modification, and the supervision of students as assigned. As a member of the interdisciplinary treatment team conducts biopsychosocial assessments of patient's family needs, individual, group, and family counseling and casework services. Ensures equity of access, service and benefits and collects, develops and analyzes data using appropriate clinical indicators and monitors activities to ensure care is provided at the highest quality. Provides education to staff, students, and community providers and organization as needed. Implements written BHS program policies and procedures based on coherent empirical and theoretical rationale that are consistent with patients' rights. Maintains comprehensive patient progress notes, outcomes and discharge planning services. Participates in a rotation of on-call Social Workers including modification of tour of duty as needed to accommodate patient care needs on weekends and holidays. Incumbent shall become a mental health screener, as soon as able to complete the coursework.\nOther duties may be assigned as needed for the benefit of the veterans, family, and quality of services provided. Work Schedule: 7am to 5pm Friday - Monday (days and times of the week may be negotiated)\nCompressed/Flexible: May be available\nTelework: Not available\nVirtual: This is not a virtual position.\nFunctional Statement #: 000000\nRelocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized\nPermanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required"]