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

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.

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 Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. §
• 7403(f)
• 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
• Current state requirements may be found by going to http://vaww.va.gov/OHRM/T38Hybrid/
• 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
• Failure to Obtain License or Certification: In all cases, social workers must actively pursue meeting state prerequisites for licensure or certification starting from the date of their appointment
• Failure to become licensed or certified within the prescribed amount of time will result in removal from the GS-0185 social worker series and may result in termination of employment
• Loss of Licensure or Certification: Once licensed or certified, social workers must maintain a full, valid, and unrestricted independent license or certification to remain qualified for employment
• Loss of licensure or certification will result in removal from the GS-0185 social worker series and may result in termination of employment
• Grade Determinations: Social Worker GS-9: Experience, Education, and Licensure: None beyond the basic requirements
• 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
• Social Worker 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
• In addition to the experience above, the candidate 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
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• 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
• Physical Requirements: This work requires light lifting (under 15lbs), use of fingers, operation of motor vehicle, near vision correctable at 13"
• to 16"
• to Jaeger 1 to 4, depth perception, hearing (aid may be permitted), emotional and mental stability, and clear speech
• Environmental factors are working outside and inside, dust, working closely with others, working alone, and protracted or irregular hours of work.

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 Serves as Coordinator for the Non-Institutional Care (NIC) programs within Social Work Service
• Assumes the technical and administrative responsibility for the management of the Homemaker / Home Health Aid (H/HHA) Program, Respite Program and Veterans Direct Home, Adult Day Health, and Community Based Programs
• Strong emphasis will be placed on data collection
• Conduct ongoing intensive reviews and appraisals of the programs to ensure the accomplishment of objectives and adherence to standards set by governing bodies
• Duties vary by grade, but at the GS-11 level: Functions or Scope of Assigned Duties Develops and maintains relationships as related to issues
• The position will function in telework and office and community-based with regular driving, home-visits
• Responsible for working with and advising a team
• Brief Supervisor on the level of compliance for the Non-Institutional Long-Term Care Programs
• Continuous monitoring and improvement of the efficiency, effectiveness, timeliness, and quality of services offered within the NIC
• Prepares, plans, and advises the Social Work Supervisor of anticipated changes in workload, staffing needs, and program developments
• Remain current on clinical aspects and prepare to fill in for the various social work clinicians
• Provide clinical support
• Provide timely and accurate information to the Supervisor and others
• Writes program specific guidelines and policies and sees that these policies are implemented
• Recruit new NIC agency providers and establish contracts for numerous services
• Development of policies and operating procedures
• Addresses the relationships with community agencies and contract providers
• Oversees the program operations and program evaluations
• Prepares reports from available data
• Works to establish quality management monitors for NIC responsibility
• Functions as the professional representative of the VA Medical Center, Social Work Service, and program by providing public relations and community education regarding the NIC Program
• Interacts with Congressional staff and caseworkers regarding Congressional inquiries, investigating the inquiry and preparing a response
• Maintain open lines of communication
• Liaison with community agencies
• As a field instructor or preceptor, supervises Social Work graduate students in a practicum setting and oversees their clinical field training
• Regularly assesses student's progress toward training goals and student's overall performance
• Participates in the school of social work's field instructor training programs and the affiliation process and may serve as an adjunct faculty member
• Ensuring curricular and accreditation requirements are met and monitoring HPTs and their supervisors
• Coordinating with the VA medical facility DEO and Sponsoring Institution Program Director
• If not prohibited by conflict-of-interest standards and after consultation with the OGC Ethics Specialty Team, tracking HPT attendance and managing HPT schedules
• Serving as a clinical supervisor or preceptor for HPTs
• Attending APC meetings
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8am-4:30pm Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact VHA.ELRSProgramSupport@va.gov for questions/assistance
• Learn more 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 (13-26 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 $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 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) Telework: Not authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position Functional Statement #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized