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: 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 as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d). 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 master's of social work. Transcripts must be submitted at time of application. Conferral of degree(s) must be stated on transcript(s). Unofficial transcripts(s) are acceptable 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. Failure to Obtain License or Certification. In all cases, social workers must actively pursue meeting state prerequisites for licensure or certification starting from the date of their appointment. Failure to become licensed or certified within the prescribed amount of time will result in removal from the GS-0185 social worker series and may result in termination of employment Grade Determination: 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; Please provide copy of independent licensure. 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. 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, Social Worker Qualification Standard. Candidates will be expected to perform a large part of their work in community settings. Candidates must have an unrestricted State Driver's License and be cleared upon hire to drive a government vehicle for transporting Veterans. 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: Moderate lifting/carrying (15lbs to 44lbs.); pushing (up to 6 hrs.); operation of a motor vehicle; ability to distinguish basic colors; hearing (aid permitted); Working outside and inside; working closely with others and working alone. ["VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU This Social Worker is assigned to Community Housing and Outreach Services (CHOS), specifically in Housing and Urban Development - Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) at VA Puget Sound Health Care System located in the Puget Sound region, Washington with responsibility to provide direct services for Veterans, their families and caregivers. Duties will include: The incumbent is responsible for providing case management throughout the continuum of care for a caseload of Veterans in the HUD-VASH program. Incumbent performs case finding functions and outreach, identifying and screening Veterans for current mental health status, housing status, access to resources, and other needs. With clinical oversight, the incumbent provides evidence-based psychotherapeutic interventions, including individual, family, and group psychotherapy. Incumbent is an active participant in developing treatment plans in collaboration with the Veteran/family and the interdisciplinary treatment team. Incumbent provides consultation services to other staff regarding the mental health needs of Veterans and the impact of mental health on health care, adherence to treatment plan and other outcomes. Incumbent coordinates community-based services, including information and referral for additional services from other VA programs, other government programs and community agency programs. Incumbent coordinates family conferences and serves as liaison to family members. Incumbent has working knowledge and experience in use of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities and treatment procedures. Provides considerate care, respecting Veteran/family and staff personal values and belief systems. The incumbent is responsible for reviewing agreements between Section 8, landlords, Public Housing Authorities and the VA in establishing appropriate referral sites for HUD-VASH placements. Incumbent verifies the Veteran's status, and eligibility for program participation as defined and directed by Congress. Incumbent is responsible for ensuring that Veterans experiencing homelessness are considered as primary participants for program acceptance. Incumbent is able to provide the customer with consistent information according to established policies and procedures. The incumbent coordinates care including serving as an advocate on behalf of the Veterans to ensure comprehensive service delivery and linking and referring veterans to the VA Medical Center, VA Regional Offices and/or community agencies. The incumbent works with VA Medical Center multi-disciplinary teams and community agencies to strive for developing more effective and efficient ways of delivering healthcare services to HUD-VASH Program veterans. Incumbent performs site visits of HUD-VASH apartments, project-based facilities, and/or in community settings. The incumbent will act as a consultant to other team/staff members. The incumbent will assist patients and their significant others with coping and dealing with the loss and grief experiences in disability, terminal illness and death. The incumbent may be asked to participate in a rotation of on-call social workers, including modification of tour of duty to accommodate patient care needs on weekends and/or after hours. Incumbent demonstrates positive communication skills and behaviors that promote cooperation VA Puget Sound Social Work Services and teamwork with internal and external customers. Incumbent maintains general knowledge of Veterans' benefits and services relating to special programs, service-connected compensation and non-service connected pension; facilitates referrals based upon identified need and eligibility. Incumbent meets the needs of customers while supporting VA missions. Handles conflict and problems in dealing with the consumer constructively and appropriately. Incumbent conducts: routine suicide risk screens; comprehensive assessments and collaborative safety plans when clinically indicated. Follow-up with Veterans who fail to attend appointments per local procedures; Incumbent provides wellness/prevention education and facilitate patient/family support groups as appropriate. Incumbent participates in discharge planning with other disciplines and is responsible for ensuring that discharge plans are executed in a manner that is timely and appropriate. Performs other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm\nCompressed/Flexible: Not Available\nTelework: May be available for highly qualified candidates.\nVirtual: This is not a virtual position.\nFunctional Statement #: 000000\nRelocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized\nEDRP Authorized: Please contact the VISN 20 EDRP Coordinator Stacy Hermann @ V20CompensationTeam@va.gov\nPermanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required"]