Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval - award amount (up to $200 -000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.

Qualifications

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
• 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/
• English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f)
• 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)
• Grandfathering Provision: The following is the standard grandfathering policy for all title 38 hybrid qualification standards
• Please carefully review the qualification standard to determine the specific education and/or licensure/certification/registration requirements that apply to this occupation
• All persons employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title - series and grade held - including positive education and licensure or certification that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation
• For employees who do not meet all of the basic requirements in this standard - but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it - the following provisions apply: Such employees in an occupation that requires a licensure or certification - may be reassigned - promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level - or changed to lower grade within the occupation - but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions
• Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed - on a temporary or permanent basis - until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard
• Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation - who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all of the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation
• If an employee who was retained in an occupation listed in 38 U.S.C. 7401(3) under this provision leaves that occupation - the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation
• NOTE: If social workers covered under the grandfathering provision of the 1991 Federal law regarding licensure or certification of VHA social workers leave the GS-0185 social work series - they lose the grandfathering protection
• If they choose to return at a later date to the GS-0185 series - they must be licensed or certified to qualify for employment as a social worker
• Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 Employee Occupational Health Service Grade Requirements
• This section is only to outline the grade determinations used for initial grade placement upon selection and will not be used for minimum qualifications
• These grade determinations can be reviewed in VA Handbook 5005 - Chapter II - Appendix G39 - Social Worker Qualification Standards
• Grade Determination: 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.

Duties

• Major duties include but not limited to: Identify problems - strengths - weaknesses - coping skills and needed assistance
• Provide psychosocial support to Veterans with highly complex health and/or mental health problems and the provision of short-term - solution focused counseling with Veterans and/or their families
• Make rapid assessments and developing crisis management plans for Veterans in crisis
• Maintain access to approved resource directories in addition to previously developed resources to meet the demands of a crisis
• Complete appropriate clinical reminders and screening tools for assessing suicide risk
• As appropriate - will complete Comprehensive Suicide Risk Evaluations (CSRE) and Safety Plans
• Represent the VA with professionalism and respect to both internal and external stakeholders
• Collaborate with other service providers in assessing the Veteran's needs as appropriate
• Educate Veterans and/or caregiver of the available services and assisting them in establishing the appropriate referrals based on the Veteran's preference or that of their authorized surrogate decision-maker
• Utilize current VA and community social service programs and enhancing the content to the benefit of Veterans
• Serve as a liaison with community agencies - assist Veterans (or caregivers) with referrals for services from community and government agencies - and help coordinate these services - when appropriate
• Coordinate with other VA staff and community agencies to assist in problem solving as needed
• Run psychotherapeutic and psychoeducational groups for Veterans - caregivers and/or family members
• Ensure biopsychosocial assessments highlight Veterans' strengths - limitations - and internal/external supports and service needs to optimize their functional status
• Assess - treat - and appropriately refer for the psychosocial problems that cause distress - which often impact the health condition and create barriers to care
• Accept referrals from any member of the interdisciplinary team - Veterans - caregivers and/or family members who call or walk-in for assistance - and from community professionals
• Complete comprehensive psychosocial assessments for patients to help determine what psychosocial and mental health services are needed and make appropriate referrals as outlined by medical center policy
• Develop treatment plans in collaboration with the Veteran/family/caregiver - interdisciplinary treatment team - and appropriate community partners
• Incumbent provides psychosocial interventions and measures outcomes to interventions
• Provide therapeutic services to individuals - families - and groups covering a wide variety of psychosocial issues
• Coordinate with PCMHI and/or specialty Mental Health clinicians after these referrals are made to ensure a continuity of care between the PACT and the Mental Health teams
• Conduct psychosocial and behavioral health assessments in collaboration with the interdisciplinary treatment team - the Veteran - family members and significant others (as appropriate)
• Conduct applicable clinical reminders within their approved clinical privileges or scope of practice
• Act as a subject matter expert in psychosocial determinants of health within the primary care setting
• Provide education - consultation - and support to all PACT Social Workers throughout the healthcare system
• Understand the intimidation of bureaucracy and will act as an advocate within the VA system when it serves the best interest of the Veteran/caregiver
• Educate and encourage the Veteran/caregiver to advocate on their own behalf - thus fostering a sense of independence and empowerment - when appropriate and feasible
• Collect - develop - and analyze data - in coordination with Primary Care Social Work Supervisor - using appropriate clinical indicators and monitoring activities to assure that the care provided is of the highest quality
• Attending all appropriate administrative and clinic staff meetings - interdisciplinary treatment team meetings - professional practice meetings and committee or workgroup meetings as appropriate and as approved by their supervisor
• Seeking feedback from stakeholders - working to enhance services and making necessary adjustments as needed
• Accepting workgroup - committee and/or special assignments that are necessary to meet program goals or customer needs
• Conduct Advance Care Planning via Group Visit (ACP-GV) Groups
• Providing coverage - both temporarily and/or long-term - for Ambulatory Care Social Workers as needed or required by the Ambulatory Care Social Work Supervisor
• Work Schedule: 8:00am - 4:30pm Monday - Friday Telework: This position is eligible for telework on an Ad- Hoc Basis Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• EDRP Authorized: Contact V21CCOEEDRP@VA.GOV - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
• Learn more Financial Disclosure Report: Not required