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. ***This is an open continuous announcement until September 29, 2023. Qualified applicants will be considered and referred as vacancies become available. *** 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: 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). 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. 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: GS-9 Experience, Education, and Licensure: None beyond the basic requirements. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 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. GS-11 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. 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. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 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. 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. 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: Must be in overall good health, able to sit at a desk working at a computer, engage in light to moderate physical activity including sitting, walking, bending, and carrying supplies. Social Worker must be able to perform primarily light and sedentary duties with occasionally moderate physical demands, exercise patience, and control emotions, with reasonable accommodation, if necessary, without endangering the health and safety of the social worker or others. This position requires a valid state driver's license and local travel to provide community-based care to Veterans. The position requires significant travel in the community, through use of a government vehicle or other individual arrangements, to meet with representatives/stakeholders who provide assistance and support to Veterans in clinics, medical centers, Community Clinics, etc. This position also requires close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; extensive reading; and repetitive motions of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers. ["Assesses the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and family members to formulate and implement a treatment plan. Provide outreach and crisis intervention services to homeless Veterans in the community, seeking to address the cause as well as the presenting complaint of homelessness. Possess the knowledge and ability to independently implement treatment modalities, provide counseling or psychotherapy for individuals, families, and groups, within the scope of licensure and training. Incumbent independently conducts psychosocial and specialty assessments, triage screenings, and evaluations as needed and within their scope of privileges. Implements treatment modalities to achieve treatment goals using judgement and skills in utilizing supportive, problem solving, or crisis intervention techniques. The incumbent will: Develop treatment plans in collaboration with the Veteran/family/caregiver, with the interdisciplinary treatment team, and with appropriate community partners. Incumbent possesses the skills to offer psychosocial interventions and measures outcomes to interventions. Work independently with Veterans and their families who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric, medical, and social problems utilizing individual, group, family counseling, and psychotherapy skills. Establishes and maintains effective working relationships and communicates with Veterans, staff, and other parties as appropriate. The incumbent will: Work closely with other VAWCHCS programs and services to ensure coordination between entities is facilitated and direct care, referral, and follow up provided for enrolled Veterans is contiguous and based on a continuum of services. In addition, the incumbent will act as a consultant to other staff/team members as needed. Provide consultation services to other staff regarding the psychosocial needs of homeless Veterans and the impact of psychosocial problems on health care and adherence to the treatment plan. Utilizes knowledge of community resources, makes referrals to the community and other government agencies as appropriate, and coordinates services. The incumbent will: Participate in outreach efforts to encourage homeless Veterans to engage in care. Outreach locations may include the following: homeless shelters, resource centers, libraries, parks, streets, homeless camps, and other places not meant for human habitation. Coordinate community resource referrals and community-based services, including information and referral for additional services from other VA programs, other government programs, and community agency programs. Incumbent establishes and maintains effective therapeutic relationships with homeless Veterans and, as appropriate, their families. Conducts independently psychosocial assessments and treatment interventions to a wide variety of individuals from various socio-economic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other diversified backgrounds. The incumbent will: Identify problems, strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and assistance needed. Conduct biopsychosocial and specialty assessments, triage screenings, and evaluations as needed and within their scope of practice. Utilizes knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities, and treatment procedures to formulate a treatment plan. Implements different treatment modalities in working with Veterans, families, and groups who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric, medical, and social problems to achieve treatment goals. Provides consultation, education, and advocacy. The incumbent will: Coordinate services for Veterans, facilitates case conferences, and serves as a liaison to family members and caregivers. Facilitate referrals based upon the Veterans' needs and eligibility. Assist Veterans who have been referred to non-case managed HUD vouchers in the application process. Assist in providing support and resources to Veterans who do not qualify for homeless program services due to being over income. Coordinate, manage, and respond to requests coming from the National Homeless Hotline, consults, phone calls/messages, and community referrals, as well as coordinating follow-up for care provision and closeout. Utilize general knowledge of Veterans' benefits and services relating to special programs, service-connected compensation, and non-service-connected pension. Utilize the ability to evaluate their own practice through professional peer review, case conferences and other organizational means. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm Telework: Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 57850-O, 57851-O Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized EDRP Authorized: Contact Micaela.Gaytan@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]

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