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. Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred & 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. Education. You must possess 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. Note: A doctoral degree in Social Work may NOT be substituted for the master's degree in 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 - For assignments at the GS-9 level, VHA may waive the licensure or certification requirement for persons who are otherwise qualified, pending completion of state prerequisites for licensure/certification examinations. 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. 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: Social Worker GS-0185-9 GS-09 Social Worker Knowledge, Skills & Abilities. In addition to meeting the basic requirements, to qualify for the GS-09, you must demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills & Abilities: Ability to work with Veterans & family members from various socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, educational, & other diversified backgrounds utilizing counseling skills. Ability to assess the psychosocial functioning & needs of Veterans & their family members, & to formulate & implement a treatment plan, identifying the Veterans problems, strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, & assistance needed. Ability to implement treatment modalities in working with individuals, families, & groups to achieve treatment goals. This requires judgment & skill in utilizing supportive, problem solving, or crisis intervention techniques. Ability to establish & maintain effective working relationships & communicate with clients, staff, & representatives of community agencies. Fundamental knowledge of medical & mental health diagnoses, disabilities, & treatment procedures. This includes acute, chronic, & traumatic illnesses/injuries; common medications & their effects/side effects; & medical terminology. Social Worker GS-0185-11GS-11 Licensure Requirement. You must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level. GS-11 Experience or Education Requirement: In addition to meeting the basic requirements, to qualify for the GS-11, you must possess 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) & licensure or certification in a state at the independent practice level. Examples of specialized experience include but are not limited to: Working under close supervision in program areas that do not require specialized knowledge or experience. Identifying behaviors or symptoms of abuse, neglect or exploitation; providing education on advance directives & advanced care planning; providing social work case management; acting as an patient/family member/caregiver advocate with community service providers/agencies; assessing the psychosocial functioning & needs of patients & their family members. In collaboration with the patient, family, & interdisciplinary treatment teams, identifying strengths, weaknesses, coping skills & psychosocial acuity. Maintaining a current network of internal & external resources to educate the patient and/or family members/caregivers & assist with appropriate referrals. -OR- 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. GS-11 Social Worker Knowledge, Skills & Abilities. In addition to the education or experience above, you must demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills & Abilities: Knowledge of community resources, how to make appropriate referrals to community & other governmental agencies for services, & ability to coordinate services. Skill in independently conducting psychosocial assessments & treatment interventions to a wide variety of individuals from various socio-economic, cultural, ethnic, educational & other diversified backgrounds. Knowledge of medical & mental health diagnoses, disabilities & treatment procedures (i.e. acute, chronic & traumatic illnesses/injuries, common medications & their effects/side effects, & medical terminology) to formulate a treatment plan. Skill in independently implementing different treatment modalities in working with individuals, families, & groups who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric, medical, & social problems to achieve treatment goals. Ability to provide consultation services to new social workers, social work graduate students, & other staff about the psychosocial needs of patients & the impact of psychosocial problems on health care & compliance with treatment. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is 11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of 9 to 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, & carrying supplies. Social Worker must be able to perform primarily light & sedentary duties with occasionally moderate physical demands, exercise patience, & control emotions, with reasonable accommodation, if necessary, without endangering the health & safety of the social worker or others. This position requires a valid state driver's license & local travel to provide community-based care to Veterans. The position may require some travel in the community, through use of a government vehicle or other individual arrangements, to meet with representatives/stakeholders who aid & support to Veterans in clinics, medical centers, Community Clinics, etc. This position also requires close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: preparing & analyzing data & figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; extensive reading; & repetitive motions of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers. ["VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf Social Work: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Social-Worker-Career-Flyer.pdf The PACT is a comprehensive team which delivers primary care to Veteran patients in a longitudinal rather than episodic fashion and which has as its focus: prevention; health promotion, coordination, and chronic disease management. The Social Worker in this Veteran­centric approach primarily functions as a direct-care provider for all psychosocial and behavioral health issues with an assigned panel of patients and participates as the medical Social Worker within the PACT. The PACT Social Worker is a professional Social Worker and functions as an independent provider within the PACT. The PACT Social Worker must use a high level of skill in assessing and treating the complicated psychosocial and behavioral health problems of Veterans, caregivers, and their families/significant others. The PACT Social Worker will coordinate with other VA staff and community agencies to assist in problem solving as needed. The PACT Social Worker will conduct psychosocial and behavioral health assessments in collaboration with the interdisciplinary treatment team, the Veteran patient, family members and significant others; interviewing Veterans and family members/significant others and writing the assessment. The PACT Social Worker is responsible for developing the psychosocial treatment plan and setting achievable treatment goals with the Veteran/caregiver and/or family, independently establishing this plan and following up as needed. Throughout the course of treatment, the PACT Social Worker acts as the subject matter expert on VA and/or community resources. The PACT Social Worker is responsible for utilizing current VA and community social service programs and enhancing the content to the benefit of Veterans. The PACT Social Worker understands the intimidation of bureaucracy and will act as an advocate within the VA system when it serves the best interest of the Veteran/caregiver. The PACT Social Worker is experienced in making rapid assessments and developing crisis management plans for patients in crisis. The PACT Social Worker provides education related to VA and community resources, entitlements/benefits, Advance Directives/Living Will and will refer Veterans/families to the appropriate interdisciplinary team member for identified health education needs. The PACT Social Worker will assess for and assist in coordinating services for personal care, long-term care, respite, and other needed services across the continuum of both institutional and non-institutional care. The PACT Social Worker will complete comprehensive psychosocial assessments for patients to help determine when mental health services are needed and make appropriate referrals as outlined by medical center policy. The PACT Social Worker will enter all Veteran/family contacts in the electronic record using appropriate formats and templates. The PACT Social Worker will attend all appropriate administrative and Clinic staff meetings, interdisciplinary treatment team meetings, Social Work staff meetings, other committees, or workgroups as appropriate and as approved by their supervisor. Work Schedule: M-F, 8am - 4:30pm Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact michael.campbell6@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) 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. 1-2 days/Pay Period Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 51687-A, 51688-A Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized"]

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