This position is assigned to the North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System (NF/SGVHS) Emergency Department and Inpatient Acute Psychiatry, located in Gainesville, FL. The social worker's responsibilities include the assessment of psychosocial and mental health problems, actively participating in multi-disciplinary treatment planning, individual and group counseling, and evidence based therapies with Veterans and/or their family members/significant others/caregivers. Applicants must meet the requirements by the closing date of this announcement. 02/05/2025 Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Must be US Citizen. 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 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. The incumbent must be licensed or certified by a state at the independent or advanced practice level as determined by an ASWB advanced generalist or clinical examination. Current state requirements may be found by going to http://vaww.va.gov/OHRM/T38Hybrid/. 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 meeting the basic requirements stated above, the following qualifications criteria must be met in determining the appropriate grade assignment of candidates. GS-11 Social Worker candidates must have the following: Experience and Licensure: Completion of a minimum of one (1) 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 listed above, a doctoral degree in social work from a school of social work may be substituted for the required one (1) year of professional social work experience in a clinical setting. You must attach additional transcripts to support this qualification. While we no longer require essay-style responses to our Knowledge's Skills, Abilities, and Other Characteristics (KSAOs), you must be able to demonstrate that you possess the (below) competencies which are necessary to perform the work of the position. Please ensure your resume/CV/application contains sufficient information to support the level of experience/education/training; otherwise, we will not be able to award you credit for the experience/education/training you claim. If selected, you may be required to submit narrative responses then. These are the KSA's for this position and grade level: 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. Grade Determinations: The full performance level of this position is the GS-11 grade level. References: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005/120, Part II, Appendix G39, Social Worker Qualification Standard. For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: The work requires extreme patience and controlling of emotions. Day-to-day work involves sitting, walking, standing and carrying light objects. Work is typically performed in a clinical setting that exposes the incumbent to the communicable diseases. 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 ideas by means of spoken and written word. Must be able to view and read information on computer screens. Position involves sitting for long periods of time. ["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 social worker is responsible for ensuring appropriate patient-centered discharge plans aimed to achieve maximum independence are prepared for Veterans. Work performed is commensurate with appropriate level of licensure and within the guidelines of state licensure laws. Duties include but are not limited to: Works within the interdisciplinary treatment team, to share in the development of a treatment plan with the Veteran based on this assessment. With the treatment team, the social worker will assess and determine needs for high risk suicide protocol to be implemented. The social worker will collaborate with PACT social workers, Suicide Prevention Coordinators, Mental Health Treatment Coordinators, Health Care for Homeless Veteran (HCHV) social workers as appropriate. Developing the discharge plan through collaboration with the Veteran, family members/caregiver, and the interdisciplinary team. The social worker establishes plans, goals and evaluates outcomes of interventions Responsible for planning and organizing work, coordinating with clinical interdisciplinary staff, other professional and clinical staff, and management personnel. This social worker is responsible for reviewing and coordinating all phases of the continuing care for Veterans served. Responsible for educating the Veteran and family members/significant others/caregivers of the available services and assisting them in establishing the appropriate referrals based on Veterans preference. The social worker will ensure discussion on resources and referrals are documented in the electronic health record. Has knowledge of psychosocial and mental health evidence based treatment modalities and has the ability to implement evidence based treatment modalities in working with Veterans and families Provides education related to navigating the VA system, use of community resources, entitlements, Advance Directives/Living Will/Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care, and Life Sustaining Treatment Decisions through Goals of Care Conversations Assesses, coordinates, and then facilitates the completion of appropriate paperwork for referrals to VA/community nursing homes, community residential care facilities, assisted living facilities, medical foster homes, veteran domiciliary, adult day health care, home based health care services and others. Provides individual and group evidence-based therapies and treatment (i.e. Motivational Interviewing, CPT, PE, CBT, Seeking Safety, Educational, support etc.) appropriate to level of licensure to Veterans and their families/caregivers. Preferred experience: Experience should be in Mental Health, Behavioral Health and/or Medical Settings and include Case Management. ED experience preferred. Work Schedule: Monday to Friday 7:30am-4:00pm Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: Social Worker Emergency Department/Acute Psychiatry Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not authorized Additional Benefits: Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of existing pay, higher or unique qualifications, or special needs of the VA. 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)"]

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