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
• Grade Determinations: 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
• Social Worker - GS-9 (1) Experience - Education - and Licensure
• None beyond the basic requirements
• (2) Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Ability to work with Veterans and family members from various socioeconomic - cultural - ethnic - educational - and other diversified backgrounds utilizing counseling skills
• (b) 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
• (c) 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
• (d) Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients - staff - and representatives of community agencies
• (e) 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 (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
• References: VA Handbook 5005/120 - Part II - Appendix G39 - Social Worker Qualification Standard - GS-0185 - Veterans Health Administration - dated September 10 - 2019
• Driver's License: Candidate must have a current state issued driver's license
• Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 Employee Occupational Health Service

Duties

• Major duties include but not limited to: Serves as the liaison between PCMHI and ADTP services which includes participating in team meetings
• Manages Stepped Care consult process in accordance with VA consult management protocol
• Independently completes biopsychosocial assessments - to include - diagnosing substance use and mental health disorders - making treatment recommendations - and completing referrals
• Independently develops treatment plans in collaboration with the veteran/family and with the interdisciplinary treatment team using clinical diagnostic and level of care tools to determine clinical interventions
• Independently implements evidence-based treatment modalities - providing psychotherapy for individuals - families and groups
• Monitors progress toward treatment goals using measurement-based care
• Independently documents all services provided in the Veteran's VA Health Care System electronic medical record
• Works closely with VA and community health care professionals to provide and support treatment plans for veterans
• Provides consultation to health care personnel on the psychosocial components of the veteran's situation
• Works with the VA Community Care team to assist with care coordination for Veterans referred to non-VA care programs for SUD Provides community outreach for difficult to engage Veterans following hospital discharge
• Serves as a liaison with inpatient units to provide consultation - refer - and assistance in support of discharge planning for Veterans with a mental health diagnosis
• Assists in the coordination of care between inpatient units and outpatient SUD services to ensure veterans are provided with post-discharge care
• Monitors follow-up services via dashboards and other tracking mechanisms - for Veterans discharged from the inpatient units to ensure SAIL measures are met
• Identifies - develops - and facilitates accessibility and utilization of VA and community resources to meet the needs of PCMHI/ADTP veterans
• Independently coordinates community-based services - including information and referral for additional services from other VA programs - other government programs and community agency programs
• Collaborates with members of the PCMHI/ADTP teams and other specialty clinics to provide comprehensive SUD care to veterans
• Coordinates referrals with interdisciplinary team related to point of care testing (POC): urine drug screenings - breathalyzer testing and/or measurement of vital signs
• Identifies high risk patients and works with interdisciplinary team to develop treatment plan
• Provides crisis intervention and is experienced in making rapid assessments and developing crisis management plans
• Is responsible to stay abreast of current theory and treatment modalities by reading professional journals - attending conferences - clinic seminars and teleconferences - and reading materials given out by staff and Mental Health Service
• Participates in ADTP program planning - as well as in the development and maintenance of public understanding and sound working relationships with veterans - community agencies - community health care personnel and personnel from other professional disciplines
• Attends interdisciplinary team meetings - rounds - conferences for planning and coordination of services to veterans
• Maintains accurate - timely documentation including progress notes - encounter reports - patient data relating services provided - prepares other reports - as required - within specified deadlines
• Participates in program/quality improvement reviews of the Mental Health Service and VASNHCS
• Participates in professional peer review
• Meets with PCMHI/ADTP staff on a regular basis
• Provides coverage to other areas of Mental Health Service or VASNHCS as needed or required
• Utilizes 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
• 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
• Provides coverage to other areas of Mental Health Service or VASNHCS as needed or required
• Performs other duties as assigned
• Work Schedule: 8:00am - 4:30pm Monday - Friday Telework: This position is eligible for telework on an Ad- Hoc Basis EDRP Authorized: Contact V21CCOEEDRP@VA.GOV - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
• Learn more Financial Disclosure Report: Not required