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. To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement. * 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 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. 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. Loss of Licensure or Certification: Once licensed or certified, social workers must maintain a full, valid, and unrestricted independent license or certification to remain qualified for employment. Loss of licensure or certification will result in removal from the GS-0185 social worker series and may result in termination of employment. English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). Grade Determinations: Social Worker, GS-9 Experience/Education: None beyond the basic requirements. *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. Social Worker, GS-11 Experience/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. 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. *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. 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: Light lifting (15Lb), light carrying, (under 15Lb ), use of fingers, operation of motor vehicle and mental and emotional stability. Environmental Factors include working closely with others. ["This Social Worker is assigned to the Housing and Urban Development - Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) Programs at VA Puget Sound Health Care System with responsibility to provide direct services for Veterans, their families and caregivers in Veteran's homes and community settings. Duties include but are not limited to: Provide professional, independent clinical case management services to homeless and formerly homeless Veterans and their families with in home and community settings. Performs site visits to apartments, project-based facilities, and/or in community settings. Coordinating care to, ensure that Veterans experiencing homelessness are considered as primary participants for the program and are provided with appropriate VA and non- VA referrals to minimize impact of homelessness/ housing instability. Independently performs case finding functions and outreach, identifying and screening Veterans for current mental health status, housing status, access to resources, and other needs Acts as a liaison to Section 8/Public Housing Authorities, landlords, community providers and the VA when establishing/ maintaining housing. Will provide on-going advocacy, education, and communication with community partners and Veteran to address needs and ensure stable housing. Provide a full range of services within the Social Work Scope of Practice based on Veteran needs, acuity level, and preferences for care. Services include but are not limited to: case management, providing evidence-based psychotherapeutic interventions, providing individual, family, and group psychotherapy/ psychoeducation, discharge planning, and other serves as needed. Collaborates with each Veteran to create: comprehensive, person centered, biopsychosocial assessments, individualized treatment plans, and regular reassessments to monitor progress in the program and address Veteran needs. Conducts: routine suicide risk screens; comprehensive assessments and collaborative safety plans when clinically indicated. Assesses and documents behaviors or symptoms of abuse, neglect, exploitation, and/or intimate partner violence, reports issues per VA, professional licensure, and state policies. Documents all Veteran care in the electronic health record in accordance with facility policy. Document and maintains the accuracy of HUD-VASH participant data in Homeless Operational Management and Evaluation System (HOMES). Provide consultation and psychoeducation to Veterans and Veteran families on topics including community resources, Advance Directives, VA benefits, budgeting, activities of daily living, and recovery goals. Collaborate with VA multi-disciplinary teams and community agencies to promote coordination and communication in treatment. Act as a consultant to other team/staff members providing consultation services regarding the psychosocial needs of Veterans and the impact of psychosocial problems on health care and adherence to treatment plan. Perform other related duties as assigned. Will be expected to perform a large part of their work in community settings. Must have an unrestricted State Driver's License and be cleared to drive a government vehicle for transporting Veterans Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8am - 4:30pm Telework: Available, per agency policy. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Contact V20CompensationTeam@va.gov for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]

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