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 (Transcripts with conferral date required with application package): 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 (Copy of current licensure required with application package): 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/
• 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
• 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)
• Grade Determinations: GS-11 Social Worker (Full Performance Level) 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
• A copy of your current licensure is required with your application package
• 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
• Please note: If using the education substitution for experience - a copy of your doctoral transcripts with conferral date are required with your application package
• 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 - educational - and other 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 goals
• 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: use of fingers - both hands required - ability to see computer screen and utilize computer - keyboard - and mouse - hearing (aid may be permitted) - working closely with others - working alone.

Duties

• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional The Incumbent provides clinical psychosocial and case management services at an advanced practice level to eligible veterans and their family members to meet biological - psychological - social - and environmental needs
• Duties will include: Develops an assessment of the veteran in collaboration with the interdisciplinary treatment team - the Veteran - family members and significant others
• Provides compassionate care to Veterans with serious medical and psychiatric problems thru crisis intervention - counseling - and/or referral
• Assists Veterans to develop coping skills for multiple complex psychosocial issues which impact functioning through group classes on family life skills
• Identifies resources to meet the needs of Veterans
• Delivers psychosocial services via individual - couple - family - and group counseling utilizing face-to-face - telephone - or tele-mental health video conferencing
• Provides the following Integrated Mental Health service delivery in a Primary Care setting: Collaboration with Primary Care Provider (PCP) the Team - making \"warm hand-off\" a priority
• Open Access format in place to address same day clinical issues - \"Trouble shooting\"
• Rapid evaluation and stabilization - consultation
• Once stable - will work in collaboration PCP and return patient to PCP for routine care
• Refer and help facilitate transfer (Referral Management) to specialty mental health care when indicated
• Develops the treatment plan in collaboration with the interdisciplinary treatment team - the Veteran - family members - and significant others - setting achievable treatment goals with the Veteran/family and treatment team
• Educates the Veteran and/or caregiver of the available services and assisting them in establishing the appropriate referrals based on the Veteran's preference
• Educates and encourages the Veteran/family to advocate on their own behalf - thus fostering a sense of independence and empowerment
• Makes rapid assessments and develops crisis management plans for transfer to a safe and supportive environment
• In the event of a medical or psychiatric emergency the Social Worker and other trained staff will follow the Mental Health Crisis protocol of the Walla Walla VA Medical
• Provides education related to VA and community resources - entitlements - Advanced Directives/ Living Will and will refer Veterans/families to the appropriate interdisciplinary team member for identified health education needs
• Educates the Veteran - their families - and the team of all the options available to them and will collaborate with the Veteran and family on the preferred option
• Provides Veterans and their caregivers with ongoing supportive counseling and evidence-based therapies as appropriate
• Counseling support will be provided as individual - group - couple - and/or family based on the clinical treatment needs of the Veteran and their family
• Enters Veteran/family contacts in the electronic record using appropriate formats and templates
• Establishes and maintains positive working relationships with employees - volunteers - consumers and stakeholders within the VA and outside community agencies
• Participates in providing Tele-Mental Health Services to Veterans in rural remote areas as appropriate to address their specific psycho-social care needs
• May provide clinical supervision for Social Work graduate student under the direction of the supervisor
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday - 8:00am-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 VHAEDRPProgramSupport@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)
• 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
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized