Career Center

Summary

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 your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval - award amount (up to $200 -000) & 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 ineligible to apply.

Qualifications

*** This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until June 2 - 2025 or until position is filled. The initial cutoff date for referral of eligible applications will be December 17 - 2024. Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as needed basis until positions are filled. *** 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 will not be appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C. chapters 73 or 74 - to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA who are not proficient in written and spoken English
• See Chapter 2 - section D - paragraph 5a - 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
• Current state requirements may be found by going tohttp://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
• For appointments at the GS-9 grade level - VHA social workers who are not licensed or certified at the time of appointment must become licensed or certified at the independent - master's level within three years of their appointment as a social worker
• Grade Determinations: Social Worker - GS-9 Experience - Education - and Licensure
• None beyond the basic requirements
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSAs)
• 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/or Education
• 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)
• 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
• 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.NOTE: For appointment licensure or certification at this level please refer to paragraph 3c
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSAs)
• 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
• Preferred Experience: VA experience
• 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
• 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: Must be in overall good health - able to sit at a desk working at a computer - engage in light to moderate physical activity
• including sitting - walking - bending - and carrying supplies
• Social Workers must be able to perform primarily light and secondary duties with occasionally moderate physical demands - exercise patience - and control emotions - with reasonable accommodation - if necessary - without endangering the health and safety of the social worker or others
• This position requires a valid state driver's license and local travel to provide community-based care to Veterans
• This position will require significant travel in the community - through the use of a governement vehicle or other individual arrangements - to meet with representatives/stakeholders who aid and support Veterans in clinics - medical centers - community clinics - etc
• (Travel wil be determined based on the needs of Veterans.) This position also requires close visual acuity to perform activity such as
• preparing and analyzing data and figures - transcribing - viewing a computer terminal - extensive reading - and repetitive motions of the wrists - hands - and/or fingers.

Duties

• Provides case management and care coordination to facilitate appropriate delivery of health care services - incorporate complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment of Veterans - including making psychosocial and psychiatric diagnoses within approved clinical privileges
• Links Veterans with services - resources - and opportunities - to maximize their independence - health - and well- being
• Conducts timely assessment of Veterans in crisis to identify immediate needs - evaluate risk - and initiate safety planning as appropriate
• Provides interventions independently with Veterans and their families/caregivers who are experiencing a wide range of complicated medical - behavioral health - financial - legal - and psychosocial problems
• Formulates and implement a treatment plan including measurable - achievable goals identifying the Veterans' needs - strengths - challenges - coping skills - and psychosocial acuity
• Serves on committees - work groups - and task forces at VAWCHCS - the VISN 19 - or in the community - as approved by their supervisor
• Provides subject matter consultation to colleagues and students on the psychosocial treatment of Veterans offering professional opinions based on experience - expertise - and role modeling effective social work practice skills
• Establishes and maintains ongoing education programs for Veterans - community agencies - students - and staff - to facilitate understanding of social work interventions specific to the complex needs of Veterans presenting with Alcohol/Substance Use Disorders and other co-occurring mental health/medical issues
• Assess and document behaviors or symptoms of abuse - neglect - or exploitation
• Assess the psychosocial functioning and needs of the Veteran's and their family members identifying the Veteran's strengths - weaknesses - coping skills and psychosocial acuity - in collaboration with the Veteran - family members - and interdisciplinary team
• Using known available resources and the initial assessment of the Veteran's likelihood to accept differing types of assistance - makes initial and continuing decisions regarding use of VA and non-VA services and referrals
• Provides case management and care coordination to facilitate appropriate delivery of health care services and incorporates complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment of Veterans - including making psychosocial and psychiatric diagnosis within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice
• Collaborates with the interdisciplinary team - develop discharge plans and set achievable discharge goals with consideration of the Veteran's self-determination and personalized recovery goals
• Coordinates post-discharge services including VA services and community-based services
• Attends interdisciplinary treatment team meetings - updating treatment and discharge plans as appropriate
• Acts as an advocate with appropriate VA and community service providers/agencies
• Maintains a current and productive network of referral resources
• Makes referrals to other services in the VA - as well as to other agencies - community resources - and other Governmental agencies
• Works collaboratively with the Veteran - taking into consideration the Veteran's self-determination - when presenting VA and community-based referral options for the Veteran's needs/goals
• Acts as an advocate with appropriate VA and community service providers/agencies
• Maintains a current and productive network of referral resources
• Makes referrals to other services in the VA - as well as to other agencies - community resources - and other Governmental agencies
• Works collaboratively with the Veteran - taking into consideration the Veteran's self-determination - when presenting VA and community-based referral options for the Veteran's needs/goals
• Provides professional - independent social work services to Veterans who are experiencing issues related to Alcohol/Substance Use Disorders and who are experiencing a wide range of complex medical - psychiatric - emotional - behavioral - and psychosocial problems
• Utilizes crisis intervention techniques with Veterans who are in an acute crisis and knows/implements the Suicide Prevention and Management of Suicidal Behavior policy
• Conducts timely assessment of at-risk Veterans in crisis to identify immediate needs - evaluate risk - and initiate safety plan as appropriate
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm Compressed/Flexible: May be available
• Telework: Available on an ad-hoc basis
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 60240-O / 60241-O Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be authorized
• EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact Jillana.martinez@va.gov - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
• Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized.