Summary

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) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP apply.

Qualifications

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 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
• 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 for GS12: Experience/Education: The candidate must have at least two years of experience post advanced practice clinical licensure and should be in a specialized area of social work practice of which - one year must be equivalent to the GS-11 grade level
• Senior social workers have experience that demonstrates possession of advanced practice skills and judgment
• Senior social workers are experts in their specialized area of practice
• Senior social workers may have certification or other post-masters training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university that includes a defined curriculum/course of study and internship or equivalent supervised professional experience in a specialty
• Licensure/Certification: Senior social workers must be licensed or certified by a state at the advanced practice level which included an advanced generalist or clinical examination - unless they are grandfathered by the state in which they are licensed to practice at the advanced practice level (except for licenses issued in California - which administers its own clinical examination for advanced practice) and they must be able to provide supervision for licensure
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities: In addition to the experience above - candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Skill in a range of specialized interventions and treatment modalities used in specialty treatment programs or with special patient populations
• This includes individual - group - and/or family counseling or psychotherapy and advanced level psychosocial and/or case management
• (b) Ability to incorporate complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice
• (c) Knowledge in developing and implementing methods for measuring effectiveness of social work practice and services in the specialty area - utilizing outcome evaluations to improve treatment services and to design system changes
• (d) Ability to provide specialized consultation to colleagues and students on the psychosocial treatment of patients in the service delivery area - as well as role modeling effective social work practice skills
• (e) Ability to expand clinical knowledge in the social work profession - and to write policies - procedures - and/or practice guidelines pertaining to the service delivery area
• References: VA Handbook 5005/120 PART II APPENDIX G39
• Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 - Employee Occupational Health Services.

Duties

• This Senior Social Worker position is in Social Work services at the Manchester VA Medical Center - located at the Manchester - NH location
• This position is full-time at 40 hours per week
• VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU This Senior Social Worker position functions as an advanced practice mentor and expert in PACT Social Work
• This position is located at the Manchester VA Medical Center in the Social Work Service Line
• Social Work Services are located at the Manchester VAMC and outlying Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCS) and in the communities surrounding each of these locations The Senior Social Worker possesses advanced practice skills and judgment and at least two years in an area of specialized social work practice
• The Senior Social Worker is assigned to clinical work for Primary Care as an expert in Social Work
• Primary Care encompasses the facility's largest Service Line - seeing the majority of enrolled veterans at the Manchester VAMC
• The Senior Social Worker is assigned administrative responsibilities for clinical program and intervention development - evaluation - and modification
• Services provided include serving as the facility's point of contact (POC) for multiple VISN and National initiatives as assigned by supervisor
• The Senior Social Worker should possess an advanced practice certification or other post-masters training in an area of specialized practice
• The Senior Social Worker for PACT provides advanced clinical social work services to Veterans and families in the outpatient clinic setting
• Social work services provided include psychosocial screening and assessment - psychosocial treatment and intervention - specialized case management and care coordination - discharge and/or after-care planning - health education and advanced health care planning - supportive counseling and caregiver support - and administrative and professional duties
• The incumbent works closely with other members of the interdisciplinary treatment teams
• The Senior Social Worker also works closely with a diverse group of veterans and their support persons to improve clinical and programmatic outcomes
• Administrative duties may include - but are not limited to: Serves as the champion/expert on Abuse - Neglect and Exploitation reporting
• providing consultation and education to all staff throughout the facility
• Will provide training and information - at minimum annually - and as needed across the facility on this topic
• Responsible to ensure policies are up to date and being executed appropriately
• Serves as the liaison with the State of New Hampshire for reporting purposes
• assists in development of associated policies and procedures
• Serves as PACT SW Subject Matter Expert (SME) on topics related to aging Veterans which could include but are not limited to surrogate decision making - housing and placement processes for older Veterans - strong collaboration with GEC teams - and resources for in home care supports
• Serves as the facility's POC for the National Initiative: Advance Care Planning Group
• Incumbent will serve as the Advance Care Planning Champion - acting as the expert on this topic - providing consultation and education throughout the facility
• assisting in development of associated policies and procedures
• Ensures most up to date information on the New Hampshire State Advance Directive and VA Advance Directive forms
• Provides at minimum annual training to the facility and service-level training throughout the year as needed
• Clinical duties may include - but are not limited to Must have a high level of skill and expertise to establish and maintain effective therapeutic relationships with Veterans in the Primary Care Clinic and/or their families
• The incumbent is able to independently work with Veterans and their families who are experiencing a wide range of complicated medical - psychiatric - emotional - behavioral - financial - legal and psychosocial problems
• Effective social work in the PACT context often occurs over a series of several visits and may involve the need of the social worker to visit the veteran in their home
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday - 8am-4:30pm
• Compressed/Flexible: Not available Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: F05666 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Contact Karen Chapman - (karen.chapman@va.gov) - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
• Learn more Financial Disclosure Report: Not required NOTIFICATIONS: This position is in the Excepted Service
• This position is a NAGE Bargaining Unit position
• Due to a critical staffing shortage - 38 U.S.C. § 7412 waives the requirement to apply Veterans' preference for this job announcement
• Narrative responses to the knowledge - skills and abilities (KSAs) may be required from the selectee in order to proceed with the appointment
• The incumbent may be required to travel