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. Program 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. 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 (MSW) 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. Please note: A doctoral degree in social work may not be substituted for the master's degree in social work. Licensure. 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 Regulations. May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria). Must pass a background check. May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria). Grade Determinations: (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: For Series 0185- Social Worker- Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) References: VA Handbook 5005/120, Part II, Appendix G39, Social Worker GS-0185 The full performance level of this vacancy is 11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is 11. Physical Requirements: See VA Handbook and Directive 5019. ["As the Social Worker you will develop a thorough psychosocial assessment of the veteran in collaboration with the interdisciplinary treatment team, the veteran and family members/significant others. The goal of the psychosocial assessment is to highlight the veteran's strengths, limitations, and internal/external supports and service needs in order to optimize the veteran's functional status. You must possess working knowledge and experience in use of medical and mental health diagnosis, disabilities and treatment procedures, including acute, chronic and traumatic illnesses, common medications and their effects/side effects, and medical terminology. You will demonstrate an understanding of the range of treatment and skills needed for all adult patients, being sensitive to human growth and development, age-appropriate needs and concerns of the veteran, and be able to provide current and advanced techniques to the treatment of this veteran population. It is your responsibility as the Social Worker, working within the interdisciplinary treatment team. An initial psychosocial assessment is required as well as reassessments as defined by policy. - Treatment Planning/Goal Setting - You are responsible for contributing to the development of the treatment plan and setting achievable treatment goals with the veteran, family members/significant others and other Outpatient Mental Health clinical staff. You must facilitate discharge planning through collaboration with Veteran and their families as well as interdisciplinary treatment ream members. - Referral to service providers - Throughout the course of treatment, you are the subject matter expert on VA and/or community resources. You will collaborate with other service providers in reassessing the veteran's needs. You are responsible for educating the veteran and family members/significant others of the available services and assisting them in establishing the appropriate referrals based on the veteran's preference or that of his surrogate decision-maker. - Crisis Intervention -experience in making rapid assessments and developing crisis management plans for admission to mental health inpatient programs. You must meet the demands of a crisis using available resources. In the event of a medical or psychiatric emergency, staff will follow the protocol of his/her respective mental health unit/program and Carl Vinson VA Medical Center. - Education/Health promotion and prevention - You will provide education related to VA and community resources, entitlements, Advance Directives/Living Will and will refer veterans and family members/significant others to the appropriate interdisciplinary team member for identified health education needs. - Coordination of non-institutional and institutional services -You will review the progress notes from the other providers to accurately determine the strengths and limitations of each veteran. You will educate the veteran, their family members/significant other and the team of all the options available to them and will collaborate with the veteran and family members/significant other on the preferred option and facilitate discharge planning. - Supportive counseling -You will provide the veterans and their family members/significant other with ongoing supportive counseling. The purpose of such counseling is to deal with the psychosocial impact of coping with severe mental illness (es), chronic/disabling illness (es), onset of a catastrophic illness, etc. - Case Management- As the social worker, you must possess skills and knowledge to provide case management services to Veterans and their families throughout the continuum of care. You must be able to review mental health consults in a timely manner and assist with scheduling appropriate mental health services as needed or when referred. - Therapy - You will be equipped to utilize various clinical treatment modalities both in individual and group settings including Evidence-Based Psychotherapy (EBP) approaches such as cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Acceptance/Commitment Therapy (ACT), Problem Solving Therapy (PST), etc. The Social worker will attend VA EBP trainings as availability of such trainings allows. Other Administration Duties apply. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 4: 30 p.m. Telework: Not Available Functional Statement #: 52552F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized. EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact ???????lena.gowder@va.gov or tran.brunsberg@va.govContact, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,321 health care facilities, including 172 VA Medical Centers and 1,138 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics) to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. VHA Medical Centers provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy. In addition, most of our medical centers offer additional medical and surgical specialty services including audiology & speech pathology, dermatology, dental, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, podiatry, prosthetics, urology, and vision care. Some medical centers also offer advanced services such as organ transplants and plastic surgery.
