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. 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. 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 tohttp://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/. 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. At the time of appointment, the supervisor, chief social work or social work executive will provide the unlicensed/uncertified social worker with the written requirements for licensure or certification, including the time by which the license or certification must be obtained and the consequences for not becoming licensed or certified by the deadline. 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: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. Social Worker, GS-9 Experience, Education, and Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Ability to work with Veterans and family members from various socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other diversified backgrounds utilizing counseling skills. (b) 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. (c) 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. (d) Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients, staff, and representatives of community agencies. (e) 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 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. Examples GS-9 level experience include: 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 advocate with appropriate VA and community service providers/agencies when it serves the best interest of the Veteran and family members/caregiver; assessing the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and their family members identifying the Veteran's strengths, weaknesses, coping skills and psychosocial acuity, in collaboration with the Veteran, family, and interdisciplinary treatment teams; maintaining a current network of internal and external resources to educate the Veteran and/or family members/caregivers and assist with the appropriate referrals. 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. 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 socio-economic, 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. References: VA Handbook 5005/120 Part II Appendix G39 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS 9. 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 able to meet the physical demands of the position, reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. They must have good manual dexterity, must be able to express or exchange ideals by means of spoken and written word. Must be able to view and read information on computer screens. ["The incumbent is responsible for providing case management services to Veterans eligible and approved for the Housing and Urban Development-VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) housing voucher; providing case management services (directly or through referral) necessary to ensure that Veteran care is coordinated with the Veterans Affairs Health Care System (VAHCS), community health or mental health providers, and agencies that serve homeless populations; and serving as the primary contact with local Public Housing Agencies (PHAs). Due to the community housing focus of the HUD-VASH program, the incumbent provides services where the Veteran resides, therefore, 70% or more of the incumbent's time will be spent in a community location other than the VAHCS or Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC). Major duties of the position include: The incumbent implements and maintains referral and screening procedures for potential HUD-VASH Veteran participants, as well as for CVAHCS mental health services and residential programs. The incumbent may conduct and participate in outreach activities including field interviews, assessments and referrals for homeless Veterans contacted in the community, shelters, and \"on the streets,\" as well as those who are referred by community social agencies, VA residential programs, medical centers, or outpatient clinics. The incumbent independently assesses the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans, identifying their strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and psychosocial acuity. The incumbent completes a comprehensive psychosocial assessment, interviewing Veterans and their family members/significant others to establish facts about the Veteran's situation, presenting problems and their causes, and the impact of such problems on the Veteran's functioning and health. The incumbent develops psychosocial treatment plans in coordination with interdisciplinary team members, incorporating the Veteran's goals, preferences, and strengths and including interventions for building adaptive and social skills, increased self-care, independent living, employment, crisis resolution, and practical problem solving. The incumbent creates and adjusts the psychosocial treatment plan and interventions based on the Veteran's changing needs and response to interventions. Initiates and effects changes in methods and interventions to promote efficient practice and improve patient outcomes. Effectively uses professional skills, objectivity, and insight. In cases of antagonistic, indifferent, or evasive Veterans and their significant others, the Social Worker deals constructively with both positive and negative reactions, understands disparate values, and reaches Veterans and families from different social and ethnic groups. The incumbent establishes a continuing relationship with the Veteran, evaluating progress toward goals and adjusting the treatment plan as appropriate. Meets with Veteran to assess accomplishments and reestablish goals. Provides frequent and clinically intense individual services in the Veteran's home or community, as warranted by Veteran's clinical needs at a given time. The incumbent provides subject matter consultation to colleagues and students on the psychosocial treatment of homeless Veterans, offering professional opinions based on experience, expertise, and role modeling effective social work practice skills. The incumbent assists Veterans in maintaining appointments at CVAHCS and other community agencies for medical, psychiatric, substance abuse, vocational and other services consistent with Veteran's goals associated with healthful independent living. The incumbent provides crisis intervention when indicated, including evaluation, assessment, triage, initiation of / support in Emergency Detention procedures within scope of licensure, and disposition of patients experiencing behavioral health emergencies. Is required to maintain current BLS and First Aid certification and maintain a current and unrestricted license. The incumbent will attend Mental Health staff meetings, social work discipline meetings, and any other mandatory meetings regularly. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm Compressed/Flexible: May be available with Supervisor approval Telework: 3+ days per pay period Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #:PD53639A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Contact Martha Kimmel, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance at martha.kimmel@va.gov. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required"]

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