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

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:

• 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/ 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)
• GS-11: Experience/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
• 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: (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 socioeconomic - cultural - ethnic - educational and other diversified backgrounds
• (c) 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
• (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
• Preferred Experience: Medical Inpatient and Outpatient Social Work Experience
• 2 years of experience providing case management services
• Experience coordinating community-based services including information - education - and referrals
• Experience working with an interdisciplinary team
• Experience addressing psychosocial issues of aging - illness - disability - coping and grief
• 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-11
• Physical Requirements: Physical Requirements: The physical demands of this position involve active listening - reading - observing - and evaluating verbal and nonverbal behavior - walking - speaking - documenting clinical notes - using office equipment such as computers - telephones - fax machines - and photocopy machines
• Light Lifting (20-11lbs
• occasionally
• 10lbs or less frequently)
• Light Carrying (20-11lbs
• occasionally
• 10lbs or less frequently)
• Straight Pulling (up to 1 hour)
• Pushing (1-2 hours)
• Reaching above shoulder
• frequent keyboarding (4-7 hours per day)
• Sitting (4-7 hours per day)
• Walking (up to 3 hours)
• Standing (up to 3 hours)
• Repeated bending (up to1 hour)
• Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously
• Correctable near sited and far sited vision
• Hearing (aid permitted)

Duties

• VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU 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 Duties are but not limited to: Assures timely - appropriate - and patient-centered care is provided during each stage of care and facilitates transitions across VHA facilities and with community providers
• Completes comprehensive psychosocial assessments to determine the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and/or their families
• Utilizes this assessment in facilitating the Veteran's maximum use of treatment for attainment of the highest level of independence that is possible and practicable
• Actively participates as a member of the interdisciplinary treatment team - collaborating with Veterans and family as well as interdisciplinary treatment team members in the development and implementation of treatment goals and interventions
• Treatment plans include measurable - achievable goals identifying the Veterans' needs - strengths - weaknesses - coping skills - and psychosocial acuity
• Utilizes working knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses - disabilities - and treatment procedures - including acute - chronic - and traumatic illnesses - substance abuse disorders - common medications and their effects/side effects - medical terminology
• Uses clinical social work skills and knowledge to maintain Veteran privacy and confidentiality per policies - handbooks - or directives
• Utilizes knowledge and understanding of caregiver stressors while conducting caregiver assessments and provides appropriate caregiver specific interventions
• Provides consultation and education to Veterans and their families regarding community resources - VA benefits - VA specialty programs - and Advance Directives
• This includes the incumbent's knowledge of the process for accessing and/or coordinating community-based services - including information and referral for additional services from other VA programs - other government - and community programs
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00 am-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 - the EDRP Coordinator 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 Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 53866-F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized