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. ***This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until September 30, 2023. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be July 26, 2023, with subsequent cut-off dates on the 1st of each month. Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis until positions are filled.*** Basic Requirements: Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g this part). 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. Drivers License. Have a valid drivers license. GS-12, Senior Social Worker 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. AND 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. AND Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: 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. Ability to incorporate complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice. 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. 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. 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. Preferred Experience: 3 years of out patient social work experience. Exhibits leadership qualities Demonstrates to work independently or as a team member Demonstrates strong work ethic References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/120 PART II APPENDIX G39 Preferred Experience: Experience working independently, serving with Veterans who carry a variety of diagnostic challenges and need housing and assistance maintaining permanent housing. Experience assessing needs, providing crisis intervention, working with community partners. Must have 2 years post license at the advance practice level. Physical Requirements: This position provides direct services to patients and their families through casework. Incumbents must be physically and mentally able to efficiently perform the essential functions of the position without hazard to themselves or others. Normal work of the position requires visual acuity (with the ability to read typewritten characters without strain, corrective lenses permitted), keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. This position requires potentially moderate levels of lifting and carrying (15-44 pounds). The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders. The incumbent must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on patient needs. Must complete annual Employee Health requirements, such as annual TB screening or testing, as a condition of employment. ["VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU Responsible for the significant program responsibility of developing a systematic program that operates as a unique panel of services in the area of permanent supportive housing. Develops programming that is accountable to VA but also accountable to Housing & Urban Development Regulations, which governs the housing subsidy provided by that agency. Accountable for full utilization of vouchers for his/her catchment area which will often be an area of excess of 100 miles in diameter. Determines when veterans are eligible for HUD/VASH services as well as no longer in need of case management services & inform the public housing authority to terminate their housing assistance. Performs specialized treatment of complex physical and/or mental illness the CBOC environment. Develops & implements methods for measuring effectiveness of social work practice & services in specialty areas, utilizing outcome evaluations to improve treatment services. Demonstrates the ability to teach & mentor staff & students in the special area of practice & to provide supervision for licensure or specialty certifications. Evaluates the client's situation, including the veteran's reaction to it & ability to deal with it, & arrives at a reasoned conclusion. Using the psychosocial assessment, uses professional judgment & advanced practice skills to make a psychosocial diagnosis. Develops a preliminary disposition plan, involving the veteran & family or significant other. Meets with veteran to assess accomplishments & re-establish goals. Communicates confidence in the veteran's ability & worth, helping the veteran address problems utilizing larger support systems as appropriate. Provides individual & group counseling services, in some settings including psychotherapy. Develops working relationships & agreements with other organizations having responsibilities for the same patient population. Makes provision for referral services from other agencies, community resources (i.e. transition or halfway houses, shelters, etc.), & other Governmental agencies to resolve problems. Professional judgment, including knowledge of normal & abnormal behavior, is an inherent competency applied in daily interactions with veterans. Treats veterans with serious medical & psychiatric problems through counseling or referral. Meets with veteran to assess accomplishments & re-establish goals. Documents independently in the clinical records utilizing paper and/or electronic formats, including psychosocial assessments, diagnostics, treatment, progress notes, follow up & referral. Explains veteran's treatment & progress to third parties as appropriate. Manages the quality control & evaluation of the professional services provided. Directs/coordinates clinical & psychosocial services & is accountable for the overall effectiveness of the services provided. Modifies services to best meet the treatment needs of veterans & to promote efficient practice. Serves as a mentor to other social workers, particularly those at the entry level. Provides clinical supervision for unlicensed social workers & for social work associates. Establishes, implements, & maintains referral & screening procedures for potential HUD/VASH veteran participates that meet national policy as well as the needs of medical center mental health services & residential programs. Maintains current & establishes new relationships with other community based services providers for the homeless, & when appropriate, represents VA at community service provider meetings. Assists veterans in maintaining appointments at VA medical centers & other community agencies for medical, psychiatric, substance abuse, vocational & other services consistent with veteran's goals associated with healthful independent living. Assists veterans who encounter problems obtaining services from the VA & other service delivery agencies through advocacy, linking, and/or by assisting with their problem solving/social interaction skills. Provides direct mental health & substance abuse services for veterans & family members or significant others in support of the veteran's treatment. Requires an advanced level of knowledge & understanding of the services & benefits available for community, state & federal agencies. Due to the position requiring incumbent to be off station a valid driver's license is required. Work Schedule: 7:30 AM - 4:00 PM Telework: Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 55786-O Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized EDRP Authorized: Contact Linda.Orchard@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]
The Veterans Health Administration is America’s largest integrated health care system, providing care at 1,298 health care facilities, including 171 medical centers and 1,113 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics), serving 9 million enrolled Veterans each year.
