This position is eligible for 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 your start date. Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (1 to 5 years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application. Contact VHA.ELRSProgramSupport@va.gov for questions. 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. 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. 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. 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. English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). Grade Determinations: Social Worker, GS-9 Experience/Education: None beyond the basic requirements. *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/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. 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. *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. Former VA Handbook Reference: Part II Appendix G39 Effective Date: September 10, 2019. 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: This work requires light lifting (under 15 lbs.), use of fingers, near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4, depth perception, hearing (aid my be permitted), emotional and mental stability. Environmental factors are working outside and inside, dust, working closely with others, working alone and protracted or irregular hours of work. ["Social Work: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Social-Worker-Career-Flyer.pdf Develops and maintains relationships with service chiefs as related to issues within the PSC. Will function in telework and office and community-based with regular driving, home-visits to NIC patients. Is responsible for working with and advising a team of clinically independent professional practitioners who function with a relatively high degree of autonomy and minimal supervision. Will brief the SW Supervisor on the level of compliance for the Non-Institutional Long-Term Care Programs. Is responsible for: The continuous monitoring and improvement of the efficiency, effectiveness, timeliness, and quality of services offered within the NIC. Will identify areas for improvement, gather and assess relevant data, develop, and implement ideas for improvement, and evaluate the efficacy of improvements in the organization of clinical social work functions. Prepares, plans, and advises the SW Supervisor of anticipated changes in workload, staffing needs, and program developments. Writes program-specific guidelines and policies as required and sees that these policies are implemented. Identifies problems in service delivery within the NIC and takes corrective action with the concurrence of the SW Supervisor. Will recruit new NIC agency providers and establish contracts for numerous services including homemaker, Home Health Aide, in-home respite care. Oversees the program operations and program evaluations, identifies areas for improvement, gathers and assesses relevant data, develops, and implements improvement plans, and evaluates the efficacy of improvements. Prepares reports from available data and briefs the SW Supervisor and oversight committee(s). Will serve on assigned committees for the medical center as assigned by the SW Supervisor. Functions as the professional representative of the VA Medical Center, Social Work Service, and his/her program by providing public relations and community education regarding the NIC Program. Interacts with Congressional staff and caseworkers regarding Congressional inquiries, investigating the inquiry and preparing a response for the signature of the Chief of Social Work Service and the Medical Center Director. Will maintain open lines of communication with clinical and clerical employees who work with the PCS Programs and keep them apprised of management issues, policies, and activities as they impact SW Services. Is the liaison with community agencies for, Homemaker/Home Health Aide, respite care, Veteran Directed Care, Home, and Community-Based Services. As a field instructor or preceptor, the Social Worker supervises Social Work graduate students in a practicum setting and oversees their clinical field training. Works with students to develop training plans and goals. Regularly assesses student's progress toward training goals and student's overall performance. Provides reports to the school of social work field liaison on the student's progress. Participates in the school of social work's field instructor training programs and the affiliation process and may serve as an adjunct faculty member. Ensuring curricular and accreditation requirements are met and monitoring HPTs and their supervisors for compliance with VA and accrediting body policies and requirements. Work Schedule: Monday thru 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 VHA.ELRSProgramSupport@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions. 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) 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) 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: Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000"]

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