Summary

This position may be 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 - You must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f) Education
• You must possess 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
• Note: A doctoral degree in Social Work may NOT be substituted for the master's degree in Social Work
• Licensure or Certification* - You must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level
• *Exception - For assignments at the GS-9 level - VHA may waive the licensure or certification requirement for persons who are otherwise qualified - pending completion of state prerequisites for licensure/certification examinations
• 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
• Driver's License Requirement: A current - Valid State issued Driver's License is required for this position
• Grade Determinations: Social Worker - GS-0185-9 GS-09 Social Worker - Knowledge - Skills and Abilities - In addition to meeting the basic requirements - to qualify for the GS-09 - you must demonstrate the following Knowledge - Skills and Abilities: 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-0185-11 GS-11 Licensure Requirement - You must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level
• GS-11 Experience or Education Requirement - In addition to meeting the basic requirements - to qualify for the GS-11 - you must possess 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
• Examples of specialized experience include but are not limited to: Working under close supervision in program areas that do not require specialized knowledge or experience
• Identifying behaviors or symptoms of abuse - neglect or exploitation
• providing education on advance directives and advanced care planning
• providing social work case management
• acting as an patient/family member/caregiver advocate with community service providers/agencies
• assessing the psychosocial functioning and needs of patients and their family members
• In collaboration with the patient - family - and interdisciplinary treatment teams - identifying strengths - weaknesses - coping skills and psychosocial acuity
• Maintaining a current network of internal and external resources to educate the patient and/or family members/caregivers and assist with appropriate referrals
• -OR- 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
• GS-11 Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities - In addition to the experience above - you must demonstrate the following Knowledge - Skills and Abilities: 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: Crisis Intervention
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is 11
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of 9 to 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 Worker must be able to perform primarily light and sedentary 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
• The position requires significant travel in the community - through use of a government vehicle or other individual arrangements - to meet with representatives/stakeholders who provide assistance and support to Veterans in clinics - medical centers - Community Clinics - etc
• This position also requires close visual acuity to perform an 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

• 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 Assist Veterans in developing treatment plans based on their bio-psychosocial assessment & personal goals
• Work collaboratively with Veterans - their family members/caregivers - other members of the BHIP - & affiliated healthcare providers in treatment plan development & modification
• Refer to service providers as appropriate & indicated
• Collaborate with other service providers in reassessing Veteran needs
• Educate Veterans & family members/significant others of the available services
• Assist Veterans in establishing the appropriate referrals based on the Veteran's preference or that of their surrogate decision-maker
• Function as a subject matter expert on VA and/or community resources
• Stay abreast of important updates & changes in programs & services that may enhance the treatment of Veterans
• Review progress notes from the other providers to accurately determine the strengths & limitations of each Veteran
• Educate Veterans - their family members/caregivers - & BHIP members of options available
• Collaborate with Veterans & family members/caregivers on referrals & plans
• Refer to needed services
• Assess the biopsychosocial functioning & needs of Veterans & their family members/caregivers to formulate & implement a treatment plan
• Conduct timely assessment of Veterans in crisis to identify immediate needs - evaluate risk - & initiate safety planning as appropriate
• Incorporate complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis & treatment of Veterans - including making psychosocial & psychiatric diagnoses within approved clinical privileges/scope of practice
• Independently formulate & implement a treatment plan including measurable - achievable goals identifying the Veterans' needs - strengths - challenges - coping skills - & psychosocial acuity
• Utilize a range of treatment techniques & skills - being sensitive to human growth & development - age appropriate needs - & concerns of Veterans
• Provide current techniques to the treatment of Veterans as appropriate & indicated
• Provide Veterans & their family members/caregivers with ongoing supportive counseling to support adaptive coping with severe mental illness(es) - chronic/disabling illness(es) - onset of a catastrophic illness - etc
• Provide individual & group evidence-based therapies (e.g. - CPT - PE - etc.) to Veterans
• Provide consultation - education - & advocacy as Veterans & their family members/caregivers navigate a large & complex healthcare system
• Educate & encourage the Veteran to advocate on their own behalf - thus fostering a sense of independence & empowerment
• Other duties as assigned - which may include: Crisis Intervention: The BHIP social worker is experienced in making rapid assessments & developing crisis management plans for admission to mental health inpatient programs
• Administrative Responsibilities: The BHIP social worker will enter all contact with Veteran/family in the electronic health record using appropriate formats & templates
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday - 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM Compressed/Flexible: May be Available
• 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 Michael.campbell6@va.gov - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
• Learn more Pay: Competitive salary & 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) & 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: May be available
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 57703-A - 57704-A Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.