This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan reimbursement program. If selected for this position you must meet specific individual eligibility requirement and submit your application within four months of appointment. The final award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) is determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services office. To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement. 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. 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). English Language Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). 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. Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. Social Worker, GS-9 (1) Experience, Education, and Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements. (2) 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. Social Worker, GS-11 (1) 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. NOTE: For appointment licensure or certification at this level please refer to paragraph 3c. OR (2) 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. (3) 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. Preferred Experience: 2-3 years of specialized experience in Women's Health or supporting women's health services References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/120 September 10, 2019 PART II APPENDIX G39 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-9. 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 (15-44 pounds); use of fingers; both hands required; operation of crane, truck, tractor, or motor vehicle; specific visual requirement (see computer screen); hearing (aid permitted); occasional travel Environmental Factors: Working closely with others; Working alone ["Duties include but are not limited to: Independently complete thorough psychosocial assessments to determine the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and/or their families. Assess functional acuity of the patient and provide appropriate interventions. Member of the interdisciplinary treatment team and actively participate through collaboration with Veterans and family as well as treatment team in the development and implementation of treatment goals and interventions. Works with Veterans and families who are experiencing a wide range of complicated medical, psychiatric, emotional, behavioral, and psychosocial problems. Facilitate 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. Understand caregiver stressors, ability to conduct caregiver assessment and provide appropriate caregiver specific interventions. Serve as a liaison between Veterans and/or their families and VA and community resources. Knowledge and ability to independently implement treatment modalities and evidence-based practices as well as provide educational classes, and/or supportive groups for Veterans and families, including shared medical appointments. Use and teach Veterans in the effective use of the My HealtheVet system. Skill in using computer systems. Consultation to colleagues and students on the psychosocial treatment and care coordination of complex patients. Expert and leader among peers in the psychosocial care of medically complex patients. Knowledge of medical/mental health diagnoses, disabilities, and treatment procedures, including acute, chronic and traumatic illnesses, substance abuse disorders, bereavement, common medications, and general medical terminology. Skill and expertise to establish and maintain effective therapeutic relationships with, and in assessing and treating the complicated psychosocial problems of, Veterans and their families/significant others. Accepts referrals originating from any member of the interdisciplinary team, from Veterans and/or their families who call or walk-in for assistance. Conducts assessments to determine psychosocial problems that cause distress. Provides consultation/education to Veterans and their families regarding community resources, VA benefits and specialty programs, and advance directives. Knowledge of community agencies that are covered by Medicare, Medi-Cal, and VA pay to ensure Veterans receive the services they need with the least amount of financial burden. Helps patient and family to understand the contributing factors to the problem and discusses with them the pros and cons of possible short-term and long-term solutions. Consultation and education to Veterans and their families regarding community resources, VA benefits and specialty programs, and Advance Directives. Consultation to other treatment team and staff members regarding psychosocial needs of Veterans and/or their families and the impact of the identified psychosocial problems on the Veteran's health care planning and compliance with treatment. Knowledge of Veteran's benefits and services, community resources, and process for making appropriate referrals to community and other governmental programs or agencies. Skills and knowledge to provide case management services to Veterans and their families throughout the continuum of care. Utilize principles of human growth and development over the life span and will be able to assist Veterans in coping with the loss and grief experiences from disability and terminal illness. Knowledge of the signs/symptoms of abuse, neglect and exploitation. Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing with people from varied backgrounds. Provides wellness/prevention education and stress management. Assists patients and their significant others with coping and dealing with the loss and grief experiences in disability, terminal illness, and death. Liaison between Veterans and/or their families and VA and community resources Train and mentor staff in the special area of practice and to provide supervision for advanced licensure. Field instructor for social work graduate students who are completing VHA field placements. Serves on committees, work groups, and task forces at the facility Preparing presentations for community hospitals and community providers groups Develops innovations in practice interventions, participates in program development, assists in assessing and maintaining program effectiveness. Work Schedule: Mon-Fri 8-4:30 Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Approved: Please contact the VISN 20 EDRP Coordinator Stacy Hermann @ V20CompensationTeam@va.gov Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]

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