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. 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: Master's degree in social work (MSW) from a school of social work fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), or other master's in science in social work (MSSW), social service administration (MSSA), social service (MSS), social administration (MSA) or social welfare as accredited by the CSWE. You MUST have earned your degree by the time the job announcement closes. Those without the required master's degree will be disqualified. (If you are a VA intern graduating in the next 2 months, you may be eligible, pending credentialing and graduation with required Master's degree.) Licensure: 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 up to the GS-9 level. For those hired without a license, they will be required to obtain licensure within three (3) years of appointment. GS-11: Must have a license to independently practice social work and have 1 year post-MSW experience in the field of health care social work, OR possess a doctoral degree in social work that may be substituted for the required 1 year of professional social work experience in a clinical setting Grade Determinations: GS-9 Requirements: This is the entry level for social workers and is used for social workers with less than 1 year of post-MSW experience and for social workers who are not yet licensed or certified at the independent practice level.GS-11 Requirements: This is the full performance level for social workers. GS-11 Social Workers are licensed or certified to independently practice social work. They are assigned to all program areas, including inpatient or outpatient medicine, surgery, mental health, neurology, rehabilitation medicine, and geriatrics. Employees provide professional, independent social work services in the assigned area. 1. Knowledge of community resources, how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services, and ability to coordinate services. 2. Ability to independently assess the psychosocial functioning and needs of patients and their family members and to formulate and implement a treatment plan, identifying the patient's problems, strengths, weaknesses, coping skills and assistance needed, in collaboration with the patient, family and interdisciplinary treatment team. 3. Ability to independently conduct psychosocial assessments and provide psychosocial treatment to a wide variety of individuals from various socio-economic, cultural, ethnic, educational and other diversified backgrounds. This requires knowledge of human development and behavior (physical and psychological) and the differential influences of the environment, society and culture. 4. Knowledge and experience in the use 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. 5. Knowledge of psychosocial treatment and ability to independently implement treatment modalities in working with individuals, families and groups who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric, medical and social problems to achieve treatment goals. This requires independent judgment and skill in utilizing supportive, problem solving or crisis intervention techniques. 6. Ability to independently provide counseling and/or psychotherapy services to individuals, groups and families. Social workers must practice within the bounds of their license or certification. For example, some states may require social workers providing psychotherapy to have a clinical level of licensure. 7. Ability to provide consultation services to other staff about the psychosocial needs of patients and the impact of psychosocial problems on health care and compliance with treatment. Ability to provide orientation and coaching to new social workers and social work graduate students. Ability to serve as a field instructor for social work graduate students who are completing VHA field placements. 8. Ability to independently evaluate his/her own practice through participation in professional peer review case conferences, research studies, or other organized means. 9. Knowledge and skill in the use of computer software applications for drafting documents, data management, and tracking, especially those programs in use by VHA. References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G39The 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. Please Note: If you are not yet independently licensed, you will not be boarded at or promoted to grade 11. Physical Requirements: Light lifting and carrying (under 15 lbs); use of fingers, both hands required; walking & standing (1 hour); both hands required; Operation of motor vehicle; ability for rapid mental & muscular coordination simultaneously; ability to distinguish basic colors; hearing (aid permitted). Environmental factors include exposure to: excessive heat/cold, dust/fumes, working alone & with others, working around moving vehicles, overhead light, ambient noise, smells from being in close proximity with others (including soap, shampoo, perfume, food and/or lingering tobacco smoke from smokers). ["VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU The duties of this position include but are not limited to the following: Housing and Urban Development-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) is an intensive case management program providing a housing first model of care for Veterans who struggle with housing and employment instability due to complex psychiatric and medical diagnoses. The HUD-VASH program is a multidisciplinary team model designed to provide mental health and psychosocial services to Veterans utilizing Housing Choice Vouchers (HCV) from HUD set aside specifically for Veterans. The HUD­VASH Social Worker is responsible for coordination of case management and mental health treatment to Veterans receiving housing subsidy through HUD. The HUD-VASH Social Worker provides intensive case management services, psychotherapy treatment, biopsychosocial assessments, and support in achieving identified treatment goals as detailed in VHA Directive 1162.05(1) - Housing and Urban Development Department of Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing Program. The HUD-VASH Social Worker provides individual, group, and family counseling and interventions to assist Veterans with housing and employment stability. HUD-VASH Social Workers provide care in community settings and are required to operate a government vehicle as they work with Veterans, meet with community partners, and travel between sites of care. Contact with Veterans will be in person, over the phone, and using video conferencing technology. Case management resource brokering and documenting work in electronic medical record may be performed in an office setting. The HUD-VASH Social Worker provides direct care to Veterans experiencing homelessness and housing instability in the community, in their homes, and in shelter environments. Incumbent provides intensive case management services and implements psychosocial treatment modalities to patients and families who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric, medical, and socioeconomic problems. Incumbent assists Veteran in procuring necessary documents to support application for HUD Section 8 program, housing, and identified resources to support community integration. The HUD-VASH Social Worker provides case management services to support Veterans with housing stability and community integration, including supporting understanding of tenancy rights and responsibilities, HUD policies and expectations, budgeting, attaining, and maintaining sobriety, harm reduction strategies, and other opportunities to ensure Veterans can maintain stable housing. The HUD-VASH Social Worker uses evidence-based treatment modalities that are effective with homeless population including motivational interviewing, crisis intervention, trauma informed care, harm reduction, and holistic whole health approaches to care. Incumbent is expected to utilize knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses, common medication effects and medical terminology to aid in the care of enrolled Veterans. The HUD-VASH Social Worker completes comprehensive bio-psychosocial assessments assessing the psychological functioning and needs of Veteran households to formulate and implement client-centered treatment plans, using Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Timely (SMART) interventions, including Veteran identified strengths, needs, abilities, and preferences; monitoring and updating progress over the course of treatment, meeting Joint Commission and CARF standards. Incumbent updates treatment plans as determined by service policy and when clinically indicated, collaborating across teams and services. The HUD-VASH Social Worker establishes and maintains effective professional working relationships with internal and external partners, including Veteran clients, VA colleagues, and representatives of community agencies. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 08:00am-4:30pm Telework: Ad-hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact V20CompensationTeam@va.gov for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized"]

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