Social Worker

SummaryThe Readjustment Counseling Service is recruiting for 1 Social Worker vacancy at the following location: Fargo, North DakotaResponsibilitiesThe Social Worker will work on a multidisciplinary team that is located within a community-based Vet Center that provides veterans with community outreach, counseling, therapy, treatment and direct services and referral to VA and community resources and community education regarding the problems and needs of the veteran. The selectee is responsible for providing readjustment counseling that includes individual and group counseling to veterans and family members with issues of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and related psychological difficulties, marital and family issues, substance abuse, employment, military sexual trauma, homelessness, bereavement, and other issues impacting upon a veteran's ability to successfully re-enter civilian society. He or she practices independently, using professional judgment and expertise to make decisions about services and treatment provided to veterans and their significant others/family members. Preferred Experience: Working with combat veterans in providing family counseling services. Working with veterans who were sexually traumatized/harassed while in the military. Conducting psycho-social assessments and the provision of processing psychotherapy for trauma related conditions. Implement treatment plans for combat Veterans/and their families. Preferred Experience for Ponce, PR: Speaking the Spanish language fluently. Telework schedules: Not authorized for this position.Virtual work schedules: Not authorized for this positionFunctional Statement Title/#: Social WorkerRelocation / Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized for the position.Relocation Expenses: Not authorized for the positions.Work Schedule: Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. may include some evenings and weekends.Financial Disclosure Report: Not requiredRequirementsConditions of EmploymentQualificationsTo qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 12/27/2019. Basic Requirements for Social Workers: 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 masters of social work. Licensure: Persons hired or reassigned to social worker positions in the GS-185 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 on the OHRM website.Exception: VHA may waive licensure or certification requirement for persons who are otherwise qualified, pending completion of state prerequisites examinations for 3 years from the time of initial appointment. 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. English Language Proficiency: Social workers must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j, this part. Grade Determinations for GS-09 Social Worker (Entry Level): GS-9 is the entry level grade for the GS-185 social work series and is used for social workers with less than one year of post-MSW experience and for social workers who are not yet licensed or certified at the independent practice level. Social workers at the GS-9 level are working toward completion of prerequisites for licensure or certification. Grade Determinations for GS-11 Social Worker (Full Performance Level): Applicant must have completed 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 Possess a doctoral degree in social work from a school of social work. The doctoral degree may be substituted for the required 1 year of professional social work experience in a clinical setting. Examples of qualifying experience includes but is not limited to: independently assessing the psychosocial functioning and needs of patients and their family members and to formulate and implement a treatment plan, identifying the patient's problems, strengths, weaknesses, coping skills and assistance needed, in collaboration with the patient, family and interdisciplinary treatment team. References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/101, PART II, APPENDIX 39. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of 9 to 11. Physical Requirements: Work is mainly sedentary. There may be some walking, standing, bending, carrying/traveling with items such as books and portable laptop.EducationIMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.Additional InformationThis job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members. If you are unable to apply online view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.