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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. 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/. 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. English Language Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). 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 the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. GS-9 Experience, Education, and Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. 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. GS-11 Experience and 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. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. 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. References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/120 PART II APPENDIX G39 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-09 to GS-11. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service. ["***This is an Open and Continuous announcement for multiple locations/positions and can be taken down at any time. VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU ***Due to the multi-specialty availability of this posting, here is a small listing of information on each specialty Incumbent serves as a Social Worker on an interdisciplinary outpatient mental health team in which the employee conducts a variety of outpatient services, including the provision of individual and group psychotherapy and patient evaluations. Also includes providing consultation to other disciplines within and outside of mental health. The Social Worker may reside in any of the following mental health teams: Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP), Primary Care Mental Health Integration (PCMHI), Substance Abuse Treatment Program (SATP), or PTSD Clinical Team (PCT). PCMHI (Primary Care Mental Health Integration): Work within the Primary Care setting to provide consultation, therapeutic counseling, and mental health support for mild-to-moderate cases. Provide functional assessments and diagnostic services for Veterans with a range of psychopathology, health psychology, and behavioral medicine concerns. Provide evidenced-based psychotherapeutic interventions as indicated and appropriate for the Primary Care setting, which may include individual, family, and group psychotherapy and psychoeducation. BHIP (Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program): Provide time-limited, evidence based therapy to Veterans experiencing a wide range of mental health diagnoses. Conduct biopsychosocial assessments to inform follow-up care Facilitate group Evidence Based Psychotherapies SATP (Substance Abuse Treatment Program): Provide individual and group Evidence Based Therapies for individuals with substance use disorders Provide case management services bridging medication treatment, housing programs, and legal system involvement for veterans with a substance use and mental health disorder Work with dually diagnosed veterans (substance use disorder and mental health disorder) across all levels of care. PCT (PTSD Clinical Team): Provides evidenced-based individual and group therapy for PTSD Conduct PTSD and trauma-specific intake and psychodiagnostic assessments Participates in clinic-based program evaluation and development workgroups and projects Inpatient Mental Health: Conducts brief and comprehensive psychosocial assessments Provides case management and care coordination of complex mental health and psychosocial health care needs Collaborates with interdisciplinary treatment teams to provide discharge planning for Veterans on inpatient psychiatry Work Schedule: The primary tour of duty will vary between locations. Compressed/Flexible: Available Telework: Partial telework may be available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Available only for Substance Abuse Treatment Program (SATP) and Inpatient Mental Health positions. EDRP Authorized: Contact v20-benefits@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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