Social Worker - Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Fargo, ND, United States
Fargo VA Health Care System is recruiting for a Mental Health Counselor for the Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program under the Mental Health Service Line. The position will be filled by either a Social Worker or a Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor. This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP).
Qualifications
Applicants pending 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: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
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.
Exception: VHA may waive the licensure or certification requirement for persons who are otherwise qualified – pending completion of state prerequisites for licensure/certification examinations. 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.
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: GS-9 – Experience – Education – and Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements.
Demonstrated Knowledge – Skills – and Abilities
In addition to the experience above – the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
(a) Ability to utilize a Veteran‑centric approach when providing interventions and counseling for Veterans, their family members, caregivers, and survivors.
(b) 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.
(c) Ability to implement treatment modalities in working with individuals, families, and groups to achieve treatment goals, requiring judgment and skill in utilizing supportive, problem‑solving, or crisis intervention techniques.
(d) Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients, staff, and representatives of community agencies.
(e) Fundamental knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities and treatment procedures, including acute, chronic, and traumatic illnesses/injuries, common medications and their effects/side effects, and medical terminology.
GS‑11 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.
Additional KSAs for GS‑11
(a) Knowledge of community resources – how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services – and ability to coordinate services.
(b) Skill in independently conducting psychosocial assessments and treatment interventions to a wide variety of individuals from various socio‑economic, educational, and other backgrounds.
(c) Knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses – disabilities and treatment procedures – to formulate a treatment plan.
(d) 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.
(e) 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.
All qualifying experience you possess must be clearly described in your application package.
Duties
The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers.
As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care – you will operate in a model with three core elements – seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran, done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran’s community.
This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America’s Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well‑being.
This position provides Mental Health services to the Veteran population enrolled at the Fargo VA Healthcare System.
Services include provision of high quality clinical treatment – advocacy – and coordination of linkages to other appropriate VA or community service providers and agencies as needed by the client.
This is accomplished in collaboration with other members of the MHC Team or other interdisciplinary treatment teams as appropriate.
This position is located on the main campus of the Fargo VA Healthcare System.
Duties include – but are not limited to: screening/assessment, treatment planning/goal setting, treatment/therapy, referral to service providers, advocacy, crisis intervention, education/health promotion and prevention, coordination of non‑institutional and institutional services, evidence‑based psychotherapy, administrative responsibilities.
This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) – a student loan payment reimbursement program.
You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit our EDRP application within four months of appointment.
Program approval – award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application.
Former EDRP participants are ineligible to apply.
Compensation and Benefits
Work Schedule: Monday‑Friday – 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Recruitment Incentive (Sign‑on Bonus): 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 401(k) 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: No. Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
EDRP: Eligible.
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized.
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Qualifications
Applicants pending 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: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
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.
Exception: VHA may waive the licensure or certification requirement for persons who are otherwise qualified – pending completion of state prerequisites for licensure/certification examinations. 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.
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: GS-9 – Experience – Education – and Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements.
Demonstrated Knowledge – Skills – and Abilities
In addition to the experience above – the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
(a) Ability to utilize a Veteran‑centric approach when providing interventions and counseling for Veterans, their family members, caregivers, and survivors.
(b) 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.
(c) Ability to implement treatment modalities in working with individuals, families, and groups to achieve treatment goals, requiring judgment and skill in utilizing supportive, problem‑solving, or crisis intervention techniques.
(d) Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients, staff, and representatives of community agencies.
(e) Fundamental knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities and treatment procedures, including acute, chronic, and traumatic illnesses/injuries, common medications and their effects/side effects, and medical terminology.
GS‑11 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.
Additional KSAs for GS‑11
(a) Knowledge of community resources – how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services – and ability to coordinate services.
(b) Skill in independently conducting psychosocial assessments and treatment interventions to a wide variety of individuals from various socio‑economic, educational, and other backgrounds.
(c) Knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses – disabilities and treatment procedures – to formulate a treatment plan.
(d) 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.
(e) 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.
All qualifying experience you possess must be clearly described in your application package.
Duties
The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers.
As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care – you will operate in a model with three core elements – seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran, done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran’s community.
This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America’s Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well‑being.
This position provides Mental Health services to the Veteran population enrolled at the Fargo VA Healthcare System.
Services include provision of high quality clinical treatment – advocacy – and coordination of linkages to other appropriate VA or community service providers and agencies as needed by the client.
This is accomplished in collaboration with other members of the MHC Team or other interdisciplinary treatment teams as appropriate.
This position is located on the main campus of the Fargo VA Healthcare System.
Duties include – but are not limited to: screening/assessment, treatment planning/goal setting, treatment/therapy, referral to service providers, advocacy, crisis intervention, education/health promotion and prevention, coordination of non‑institutional and institutional services, evidence‑based psychotherapy, administrative responsibilities.
This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) – a student loan payment reimbursement program.
You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit our EDRP application within four months of appointment.
Program approval – award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application.
Former EDRP participants are ineligible to apply.
Compensation and Benefits
Work Schedule: Monday‑Friday – 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Recruitment Incentive (Sign‑on Bonus): 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 401(k) 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: No. Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
EDRP: Eligible.
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized.
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