Career Center

The incumbent will be primarily in person engaging newly enrolled Veterans at Eastern Colorado Healthcare System (ECHCS) in a psychosocial assessment through an electronic screening tool called e-Screening. The location of the position will be at Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center in Aurora, CO. 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. 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. English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. Social Worker, GS-09: 1. Experience, Education, and Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements. 2. 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. Social Worker, GS-11: 1. 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 2. 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. 3. 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-11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-09 to GS-11. Physical Requirements: The work is sedentary. Typically, the incumbent sits comfortably while working. However, there may be some light exertion required when walking, standing, bending, climbing stairs, carrying of light items such as papers, books, small objects, or driving an automobile. No special physical demands are required to perform the work. Ability to complete a Basic Life Support (BLS) course is a position requirement. ["VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU The incumbent will be responsible for administering a biopsychosocial assessment through e-Screening, reviewing each Veteran's responses provided through e-Screening, providing an educational overview about Veteran's VA Healthcare benefits and to provide immediate medical/mental health triage when clinically necessary. Incumbent must meet the needs of customers while supporting VA Missions; consistently communicate and treat customers (Veterans, their representatives, visitors, and all VA Staff) in a courteous, tactful, and respectful manner; provide customer with consistent information according to established policies and procedures; and handle conflict and problems in dealing with customers constructively and appropriately. Incumbent provides age-specific care that is appropriate to the cognitive, emotional, cultural, and chronological maturation needs of the patient. Demonstrates knowledge of changes associated with aging and principles of growth and development relevant to the adult and geriatric age groups; ability to assess and interpret data about the patient's status; and ability to identify age-specific needs and provide the appropriate care based upon the age related factors. Takes into consideration age-related differences of the various Veteran populations served: a) Young adulthood (20-40). Persons in general have normal physical functions and lifestyles. Person establishes relationships with significant others and is competent to relate to others. b) Middle age (40-65). Persons may have physical problems and may have changes in lifestyles because children have left home or change in occupation goals. c) Older adulthood (65-75). Persons may be adapting to retirement and changing physical abilities. Chronic illness may also develop. d) Middle old (75-85). Persons may be adapting to decline in speed of movement, reaction time, and sensory abilities. Also, persons may have increasing dependence on others. e) Old (85 and over). Increasing physical problems may develop Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 7:30 am to 4:00 pm or as determined by the service based on clinical need.\nCompressed/Flexible: Not Available\nTelework: Available\nVirtual: This is not a virtual position.\nFunctional Statement #: Social Worker- e-Screening, FS-09-54789-O and FS-11-54790-O\nRelocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized\nPermanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required"]