Career Center

Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your 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 complete review of the EDRP application.

Qualifications

***This is an open continuous announcement until August 28th 2025. Qualified applicants will be considered and referred as vacancies become available. *** 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:

• 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-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
• At the time of appointment - the supervisor - chief social work or social work executive will provide the unlicensed/uncertified social worker with the written requirements for licensure or certification - including the time by which the license or certification must be obtained and the consequences for not becoming licensed or certified by the deadline
• 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: Ability to work with Veterans and family members from various socioeconomic - cultural - ethnic - educational - and other diversified backgrounds utilizing counseling skills
• 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 Experience and Licensure: Appointment to the GS-11 grade level requires completion of a minimum of one year of post-MSW experience at the next lower level - 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
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities: In addition to the experience above - candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: 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 - cultural - ethnic - educational and other diversified 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
• References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/120 PART II APPENDIX G39 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-9. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-9 to GS-11
• Preferred Experience: Familiarity with Suicide Prevention and Crisis Mental Health Care
• Experience in working with PTSD - Substance Use Disorders - Co-occurring mental health disorders
• Able to work within an interdisciplinary team (medical providers - psychiatrists - nursing staff - case managers)
• Specialty Training in Evidence Based Psychotherapies (EBP)
• Physical Requirements: This position provides direct services to patients and their families through casework
• Incumbents must be physically and mentally able to efficiently perform the essential functions of the position without hazard to themselves or others
• Normal work of the position requires visual acuity (with the ability to read typewritten characters without strain - corrective lenses are permitted) - keen hearing (aid permitted) - clear distinctive speech - and manual dexterity
• This position requires potentially moderate levels of lifting and carrying (15-44 pounds)
• The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium - dementia - or psychiatric disorders
• The incumbent must be a mature - flexible - sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations - able to shift priorities based on patient needs
• Must complete annual Employee Health requirements - such as annual TB screening or testing - as a condition of employment.

Duties

• Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf Social Work: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Social-Worker-Career-Flyer.pdf The Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) Licensed Independent Provider (LIP) performs specialized treatment of complex mental health needs in BHIP Determines psychosocial and psychiatric diagnoses as a result of a complete assessment - utilizing appropriate assessment tools - within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice
• Provides individual - group - and family psychotherapy interventions used in the treatment of Veterans with a variety of mental health needs
• Implements use of Measurement Based Care for measuring effectiveness of clinical practice and services in specialty areas - utilizing outcome evaluations to improve treatment services
• Demonstrates the ability to design changes based on empirical findings
• Accommodates emergency or urgent care matters
• Interviews veterans and their family members/significant others to establish facts about the Veteran's situation - presenting problems and their causes - and the impact of such problems on the Veteran's functioning and health as part of a psychosocial assessment
• programs
• Uses subjective and objective data in making clinical assessment of the Veteran's needs
• Ability to serve Veterans as outpatients who often have severe crises - lack family or community supports - frequently fail to comply with instructions and treatment - or have significant deficits in coping skills and require continuing professional psychological support
• Assesses at-risk factors and develops a preliminary disposition plan involving the Veteran - and family - or significant others
• Assesses serious and complicated cases involving psychiatric illness - co-morbid medical conditions - dementia - and other high-risk diagnoses
• On an outpatient basis - finds a suitable means of treatment to help veterans and/or significant others cope with stressful situations
• Develops treatment plans in coordination with all BHIP Team Members -
• including goals for treatment
• Assesses for appropriate referrals to additional services and levels of care
• services and referrals
• Arrives at a reasoned conclusion as to the preferred course of agency action
• Provides high- quality - time-limited therapy by utilizing Evidence Based Psychotherapies (EBP) in the treatment of veterans served
• Independently concludes the appropriate action - even in instances where actions can have serious impact on the life of the Veteran
• Administrative Responsibilities The clinician enters all Veteran/family contacts in the electronic record using appropriate/approved formats and templates
• The clinician establishes and maintains positive working relationships with employees - volunteers - consumers and stakeholders within the VA and outside community agencies
• Attends all appropriate meetings (interdisciplinary treatment team meetings - staff meetings - departmental/section staff meetings - other committees as appropriate - etc.) Work Schedule: Monday-Friday - 7:30am-4:00pm Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact Amber.Guinotte@va.gov - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
• Learn more Telework: Ad-Hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 54723O - 54724O Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized