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. *** This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until March 31, 2025 or until position is filled. The initial cutoff date for referral of eligible applications will be December 17, 2024. Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as needed basis until positions are filled. *** 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 will not be appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C. chapters 73 or 74, to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA who are not proficient in written and spoken English. See Chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part. 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. Current state requirements may be found by going tohttp://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. For appointments at the GS-9 grade level, 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. Grade Determinations: Social Worker, GS-9 Experience, Education, and Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). 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 Experience and/or Education. 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). 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. 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.NOTE: For appointment licensure or certification at this level please refer to paragraph 3c. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). 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. Preferred Experience: VA experience. 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. 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 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 Workers must be able to perform primarily light and secondary 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. This position will require significant travel in the community, through the use of a governement vehicle or other individual arrangements, to meet with representatives/stakeholders who aid and support Veterans in clinics, medical centers, community clinics, etc. (Travel wil be determined based on the needs of Veterans.) This position also requires close visual acuity to perform 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. ["Provides case management and care coordination to facilitate appropriate delivery of health care services, incorporate complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment of Veterans, including making psychosocial and psychiatric diagnoses within approved clinical privileges. Links Veterans with services, resources, and opportunities, to maximize their independence, health, and well- being. Conducts timely assessment of Veterans in crisis to identify immediate needs, evaluate risk, and initiate safety planning as appropriate. Provides interventions independently with Veterans and their families/caregivers who are experiencing a wide range of complicated medical, behavioral health, financial, legal, and psychosocial problems. Formulates and implement a treatment plan including measurable, achievable goals identifying the Veterans' needs, strengths, challenges, coping skills, and psychosocial acuity. Serves on committees, work groups, and task forces at VAWCHCS, the VISN 19, or in the community, as approved by their supervisor. Provides subject matter consultation to colleagues and students on the psychosocial treatment of Veterans offering professional opinions based on experience, expertise, and role modeling effective social work practice skills. Establishes and maintains ongoing education programs for Veterans, community agencies, students, and staff, to facilitate understanding of social work interventions specific to the complex needs of Veterans presenting with Alcohol/Substance Use Disorders and other co-occurring mental health/medical issues. Assess and document behaviors or symptoms of abuse, neglect, or exploitation. Assess the psychosocial functioning and needs of the Veteran's and their family members identifying the Veteran's strengths, weaknesses, coping skills and psychosocial acuity, in collaboration with the Veteran, family members, and interdisciplinary team. Using known available resources and the initial assessment of the Veteran's likelihood to accept differing types of assistance, makes initial and continuing decisions regarding use of VA and non-VA services and referrals. Provides case management and care coordination to facilitate appropriate delivery of health care services and incorporates complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment of Veterans, including making psychosocial and psychiatric diagnosis within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice. Collaborates with the interdisciplinary team, develop discharge plans and set achievable discharge goals with consideration of the Veteran's self-determination and personalized recovery goals. Coordinates post-discharge services including VA services and community-based services. Attends interdisciplinary treatment team meetings, updating treatment and discharge plans as appropriate. Acts as an advocate with appropriate VA and community service providers/agencies. Maintains a current and productive network of referral resources. Makes referrals to other services in the VA, as well as to other agencies, community resources, and other Governmental agencies. Works collaboratively with the Veteran, taking into consideration the Veteran's self-determination, when presenting VA and community-based referral options for the Veteran's needs/goals. Acts as an advocate with appropriate VA and community service providers/agencies. Maintains a current and productive network of referral resources. Makes referrals to other services in the VA, as well as to other agencies, community resources, and other Governmental agencies. Works collaboratively with the Veteran, taking into consideration the Veteran's self-determination, when presenting VA and community-based referral options for the Veteran's needs/goals. Provides professional, independent social work services to Veterans who are experiencing issues related to Alcohol/Substance Use Disorders and who are experiencing a wide range of complex medical, psychiatric, emotional, behavioral, and psychosocial problems. Utilizes crisis intervention techniques with Veterans who are in an acute crisis and knows/implements the Suicide Prevention and Management of Suicidal Behavior policy. Conducts timely assessment of at-risk Veterans in crisis to identify immediate needs, evaluate risk, and initiate safety plan as appropriate. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm Compressed/Flexible: May be available. Telework: Available on an ad-hoc basis. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 60240-O / 60241-O Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be authorized. EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact Jillana.martinez@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized."]

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