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 requirements 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. Please contact Eva.Gennara@va.gov and cc VISN12EDRP@va.gov for information. 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. 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. Education: Must 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. (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED) Licensure: Must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level. (COPY OF LICENSE REQUIRED) 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. In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. Grade Determinations:GS-9 Level: Experience, Education and Licensure: None beyond the basic requirements. This is the entry level and are closely supervised. In addition, the candidates must demonstrate all of the KSAs:1) Ability to work with Veterans and family members from various socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other diversified backgrounds utilizing counseling skills.2) 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.3) 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.4) Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients, staff, and representatives of community agencies.5) 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 Level: In addition to the basic requirements, you must have a minimum of one year of post-MSW degree experience in the field of health care social work (VA or non-VA experience). OR 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. (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED) AND In addition to the experience above, candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:1) Knowledge of community resources, how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services, and ability to coordinate services.2) 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.3) 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.4) 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.5) 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 Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary. Physical demands do not exceed those of a typical office setting. There may be some walking, standing, twisting, turning, sitting, pushing, bending, repetitive keyboarding, or carrying of light items. The full performance level of this vacancy is 11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of 9 to 11. ["A Recruitment Incentive is authorized. This social worker position provides outpatient clinical social work services as part of an interdisciplinary team in the Mental Health clinic under Social Work Service. Services include provision of, psychotherapy, case management, advocacy, crisis intervention and coordination of linkages to other VA or community service providers. This is accomplished in collaboration with other members of the team or other services as indicated. Completes a psychosocial assessment of the veteran in collaboration with the interdisciplinary treatment team, the veteran, family members and significant others. Demonstrates an understanding of the range of treatment and skills needed for all adult patients including geriatric patients related to their physical limitations, psychological needs and age associated illnesses and conditions. Participates in the treatment planning process with the veteran and the interdisciplinary treatment team based on this assessment. Participates in developing a mutually agreed upon treatment plan with the veteran and family (when possible), which includes veteran-centered goals, objectives and interventions. Throughout the course of treatment, the social worker is a subject matter expert on VA and/or community resources. Collaborates with other service providers in reassessing the veteran's needs. Responsible for educating the veteran and/or caregiver of the available services and assisting them in establishing the necessary referrals based on the veteran's preference or that of his surrogate decision-maker. Provides education related to VA and community resources, entitlements, Advance Directives/Living Will, MH Treatment Preferences and will refer veterans/families to the appropriate interdisciplinary team member for identified health education needs. Reviews the progress notes from the other providers to accurately determine the strengths and needs of each veteran being referred for mental health services. Educates the veteran, their families and the team of all the options available to them and will collaborate with the veteran and family on the preferred option. Provides the veterans and their caregivers with individual, family and group therapy. Enters all veteran/family contacts in the electronic record using approved formats and templates. Attends all staff meetings (interdisciplinary treatment team meetings, Social Work staff meetings, Mental Health staff meetings (as needed), other committees as assigned, etc.). Work Schedule: 7:30am to 4:00pm Telework: Occasional telework may be authorized upon supervisor approval. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: Mental Health Social Worker Recruitment Incentive: Authorized EDRP Authorized: Contact Eva.Gennara@va.gov and cc VISN12EDRP@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]

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