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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. 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 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: Social Workers must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Policy. Education: All applicants must 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. To verify that the social work degree meets the accreditation standards for a Master's of Social Work go to: http://www.scwe.org/Accreditation; UNOFFICIAL OR OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT IS REQUIRED OR YOUR APPLICATION MAY NOT BE REVIEWED. Licensure/Certification: Persons hired or reassigned to social work 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. VHA MAY WAIVE THE LICENSURE/CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENT FOR PERSONS WHO ARE OTHERWISE QUALIFIED, PENDING COMPLETION OF STATE PREREQUISITES FOR LICENSURE/CERTIFICATION EXAMINATIONS. THIS EXCEPTION ONLY APPLIES AT THE GS-09 GRADE LEVEL. GS-11 AND ABOVE, THE CANDIDATE MUST BE LICENSED/CERTIFIED. 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: GS-09: Experience, Education, and Licensure: None beyond the basic requirements. However, the candidate must demonstrate ALL of the following Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): a) Ability to work with Veterans and family members from various socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other diversified backgrounds utilizing counseling skills; b) 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; c) Ability to implement treatment modalities in working with individuals, families, and groups to achieve treatment goals. This requires judgement and skill in utilizing supportive, problem solving, or crisis intervention techniques; d) Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients, staff, and representatives of community agencies; e) 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 effect, and medical terminology. GS-11: Experience and Licensure/Certification: Appointment to the GS-11 grade level requires completion of a minimum of one (1) year of post-MSW experience equivalent to the GS-09 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 submitted for the required one year of professional social work experience in a clinical setting AND;In addition the the experience above, candidates must demonstrate ALL of the following Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): a) Knowledge of community resources, how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services, and ability to coordinate services; b) Skill in independently conducting psychosocial assessments and treatment interventions to a wide variety of individuals from various socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other diversified backgrounds; c) 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; d) 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; e) 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. References: VA Handbook 5005/120, Part II, Appendix G39, Social Worker Qualification Standard, dated 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: Typically, the employee sits comfortably indoors to do the work. This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking; standing; sitting, bending; carrying of light items such as papers, books, small parts; or driving an automobile; etc. Use of fingers, both hands required, ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously, near vision correctable at 13" to 16", hearing (aid permitted), clear distinctive speech. ["The incumbent functions as an entry level Mental Health Service Line (MHSL) Social Worker within Substance Use Disorders (SUD) and Trauma Services at the Cheyenne VA Health Care System (CVAHCS). The incumbent provides specialty clinical care for Veterans with SUD within the Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) level of care at the Cheyenne VA Medical Center. VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU Major duties include, but are not limited to- Provides initial assessments and follow up counseling and therapy services for veterans with substance use disorders, within the scope of the BHIP model of care. Independently assesses the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans, identifying their strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and psychosocial acuity 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, with a focus on those impacted by substance use disorders. Independently formulates and implements a treatment plan in collaboration with the Veteran and families/caregivers when appropriate; participates in interdisciplinary review of ongoing treatment of assigned Veterans on an annual and as-needed basis. Provides a range of interventions and treatment modalities which may include individual, group, and/or family counseling or psychotherapy for veterans with substance use disorders, within scope of licensure. Provides crisis intervention when indicated, including timely assessment of at-risk Veterans in crisis to identify immediate needs, evaluate risk, and initiate safety plan as appropriate. Provides ongoing documentation of Veteran's treatment progress using a psychosocial and behavioral framework. Provides clinical case management and care coordination to facilitate appropriate delivery of health care services, incorporating complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment of Veterans. Works collaboratively with Interdisciplinary Treatment Teams. Establishes and sustains collaborative relationship with SUD and BHIP providers along with other team members providing care to assigned Veterans. May serve on committees, work groups, and task forces at the facility and VISN level or in the community. 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. Attends Mental Health Service Line and Social Work Discipline meetings and other mandatory meetings regularly. Assists in identifying and carrying out continuous process review projects to improve the safety and quality of care provided to Veterans. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm Telework: Hybrid telework may be authorized for highly qualified candidates at the discretion of the supervisor Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 54455-A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Contact Martha.Kimmel@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]

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