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 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. 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. English Language Proficiency: Social workers must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j, this part. Grade Determinations: GS-9 Entry Level Social Worker 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: (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. GS-11 Full Performance Social Worker 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 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: This position requires light lifting and light carrying. Hearing (Aid permitted) is also required. ["The VA Northern California Health Care System Social Work Service is currently recruiting for Social Workers at the Fairfield location. This position works at the David Grant Medical Center (DGMC) which is a military treatment facility. Patients served include both Department of Defense (DOD) and VA patients being treated by the Joint Venture Program and may include both inpatients and outpatients. Accordingly, the interface of these two complex health care systems requires knowledge of both systems and intervening within the interface of these two systems is critical to assure success of these and future ventures as well as to ensure continuity of care for Veterans and military service members and their families. This position primarily supports the Hematology/Oncology and Radiation/Oncology Clinics as well as the inpatient Medical/Surgical Unit at DGMC. A relocation/recruitment incentive may be authorized for highly qualified applicants. Major duties include, but are not limited to: Performs case management of complex physical and psychosocial problems in cardiovascular patients (DOD and VA) incorporating complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment of patients. Employs, establishes, and maintains effective therapeutic relationships with Veterans and/or their families who are experiencing medical, psychiatric, emotional, behavioral, and psychosocial problems. Completes thorough psychosocial assessments, including psychosocial diagnosis and high-risk assessments, to determine the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and/or their families. Participates as a member of the interdisciplinary treatment team and actively participates through collaboration with Veterans and family as well as interdisciplinary treatment team members in the development and implementation of treatment goals, interventions, and discharge plans. Uses a variety of psychotherapeutic approaches based on the diagnostic assessment to minimize the anxiety of both the patient and/or significant others during their transition to other levels of care. Facilitates action for community placements through collaboration with Veterans and their families as well as interdisciplinary treatment team members to ensure that appropriate community placements are completed in a timely manner. Serves as a liaison between Veterans and/or their families and VA and community resources to ensure thorough delivery of services. Provides consultation and education to Veterans and their families regarding community resources, VA benefits and specialty programs, and advance directives. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday with exact schedule to be discussed during the interview process.\nTelework: Not availableVirtual: This is not a virtual position.\nFunctional Statement #: 612-00253-F\nRelocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be authorized for highly qualified applicants.\nEDRP Authorized: Contact V21CCOEEDRP@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance\nPermanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required"]