Details
Posted: 05-May-22
Location: Seattle, Washington
Salary: Open
Categories:
Mental Health/Social Services
Internal Number: 652679200
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. Learn more To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement. Basic Requirements: Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States. 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. 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. For appointments at the GS-9 grade level, VHA social workers who are not licensed or certified at the time of appointment must become licensed or certified at the independent, master's level within three years of their appointment as a social worker. Most states require two years of post-MSW experience as a prerequisite to taking the licensure/certification exam, and VHA gives social workers one additional year to pass the licensure/certification exam. In states such as California, Washington, and others where the prerequisites for licensure exceed two years, social workers must become licensed at the independent, master's level within one year of meeting the full state prerequisites for licensure. English Language Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). Grade Determinations: Social Worker, GS-9: Experience, Education, and Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, candidates must demonstrate all of the following 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 judgment 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 effects; and medical terminology. Social Worker, 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: (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 socio-economic, 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, September 10, 2019. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. The grade at which an applicant may be hired is GS-9 to GS-11. Physical Requirements: Day-to-day work requires moderate lifting and carrying (15-44 pounds), straight pulling (up to 6 hours), pushing (up to 2 hours), use of fingers, walking (up to 6 hours), standing (up to 2 hours), repeated bending (up to 6 hours), operation of a motor vehicle, the ability to distinguish basic colors, hearing (aid permitted), and the ability to work closely with others. Work may be performed inside and outside. ["This Social Worker is assigned to Community Housing and Outreach Services (CHOS), specifically in Housing and Urban Development - Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) Program at VA Puget Sound Health Care System with responsibility to provide direct services for Veterans, their families, and caregivers. The HUD-VASH Social Worker is the key point of contact between the medical center and public housing authorities in the community. The HUD-VASH Social Worker is assigned a to a specific area and case manages homeless Veterans and family in getting into permanent housing. The incumbent is responsible for providing independent case management throughout the continuum of care for a caseload of Veterans in the HUD-VASH program both within the community, within the Veteran's home, the VA Medical Center and other community agencies. Case management is defined as the provision of services by VA clinical staff to Veterans experiencing homelessness and includes all activities to provide appropriate treatment to house and maintain Veterans in HUD approved, stable housing. Clinical Functions: Assess and document identified behaviors or symptoms of abuse, neglect, exploitation, and/or intimate partner violence. Conduct: routine suicide risk screens; comprehensive assessments and collaborative safety plans when clinically indicated; follow-up appointments for all Veterans upon initiation on the \"High Risk for Potential Suicide List\" in compliance with VACO directives; follow-up with Veterans who fail to attend appointments per local procedures; and consultation with the Suicide Prevention Coordinator, a member of the Suicide Risk Reduction Committee, or a MHS supervisor as needed to ensure the safety and welfare all Veterans. Remain up to date on suicide prevention training materials and clinical tools and utilize as appropriate in clinical practice. Act as an advocate with appropriate VA and community service providers and agencies when it serves the best interest of the Veteran and family members/caregiver to ensure comprehensive service delivery and referrals of Veterans to the VA Medical Center, VA Regional Offices, and/or community agencies to maximize the Veteran's independence, health, and well-being. Review agreements between Section 8, landlords, Public Housing Authorities, and the VA in establishing appropriate referral sites for HUD-VASH placements. Perform site visits of HUD-VASH apartments to ensure that Veterans reside in safe environments in compliance with local housing codes. Independently assess the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and their family members, identifying the Veteran's strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and psychosocial acuity. Identify family/caregiver stressors, conduct assessments, and provide specific interventions. Conduct timely assessment of at-risk Veterans and their family/caregivers who are experiencing a wide range of complicated medical, behavioral health, financial, legal, and psychosocial problems. Independently formulate and implement a treatment plan including measurable, achievable goals identifying the Veteran's needs, strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and psychosocial acuity. Provide independent evidence-based psychotherapeutic interventions, including individual, family, and group psychotherapy. Coordinate community-based services, including information and referral for additional services from other VA programs, other government programs, and community agency programs. Ensure Veterans experiencing homelessness are considered as primary participants for program acceptance. Analyze ethical/care issues, applying appropriate theoretical principles and ensure application of institutional policy Provide a full range of social work services within commonly accepted standards of social work practice which includes case work, individual, family and group counseling, discharge planning, case management, and other services as appropriate. Administrative Functions: Perform accountability functions and document all contacts, interventions, and activities with patients/families in the electronic medical record and complete statistical and other reports in accordance with VA Medical Center and respective professional discipline/Service level policies and procedures. Input relevant information into the HOMES database and the Veteran's electronic health record within the required timeline to document, evaluate, and enhance the quality of service provided to Veterans. Work Schedule: Mon - Fri, 8am to 4:30pm\nTelework: Available as Determined by Agency Policy\nVirtual: This is not a virtual position\nFunctional Statement #: 000000\nRelocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized\nEDRP Authorized: Contact the VISN 20 EDRP Coordinators, Stacy Hermann or Taia Henderson @ V20CompensationTeam@va.gov\nPermanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required"]