Summary

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. Program 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.

Qualifications

Health Profession Trainees (HPT's) 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. All applicants pending the completion of certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected at the GS-9 level - but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Basic Requirements:

• Citizenship - You must be a citizen of the United States English Language Proficiency - You must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f) Education - You must possess 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
• Note: A doctoral degree in Social Work may NOT be substituted for the master's degree in Social Work License or Certification* - You must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level
• *Exception - For assignments at the GS-9 level - VHA may waive the licensure or certification requirement for persons who are otherwise qualified - pending completion of state prerequisites for licensure/certification examinations
• VHA social workers who are not licensed or certified at the time of appointment must become licensed or certified at the independent - master's level within three years of their appointment as a social worker
• 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-09 Social Worker - Knowledge - Skills and Abilities: In addition to meeting the basic requirements - to qualify for the GS-09 - you must demonstrate the following Knowledge - Skills and Abilities: Ability to utilize counseling skills when working with Veterans and family members
• 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 Licensure Requirement: You must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level
• GS-11 Experience or Education Requirement: In addition to meeting the basic requirements - to qualify for the GS-11 - you must possess 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
• Examples of specialized experience include but are not limited to: Working under close supervision in program areas that do not require specialized knowledge or experience
• Identifying behaviors or symptoms of abuse - neglect or exploitation
• providing education on advance directives and advanced care planning
• providing social work case management
• acting as an patient/family member/caregiver advocate with community service providers/agencies
• assessing the psychosocial functioning and needs of patients and their family members
• In collaboration with the patient - family - and interdisciplinary treatment teams - identifying strengths - weaknesses - coping skills and psychosocial acuity
• Maintaining a current network of internal and external resources to educate the patient and/or family members/caregivers and assist with appropriate referrals
• -OR- 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 - you must demonstrate the following Knowledge - Skills and Abilities: 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 - educational - and other 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
• Preferred Experience: A minimum of 1 year of post-MSW degree experience in the field of mental health social work (VA experience) and licensure or certification in a state at the independent practice level
• Experience in serving as a Mental Health Treatment Coordinator or MH Case Manager for Veterans - ensuring continuity through their treatment
• Experience in managing large patient panels and updating patient treatment plans
• Experience in working on a Behavioral Health interdisciplinary team and coordinating care with other services and providers
• Experience in delivering unscheduled (i.e. - same day) care and crisis management
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-9 or GS-11 Physical Requirements: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation and would generally not require a pre-placement examination

Duties

• VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU The Social Worker (MH RRTP Case Manager) position within the West Texas VA Health Care System (WTVAHCS) is administratively within the Behavioral Health Service Line
• The incumbent will provide face-to-face and/or telemental health (e.g. - telephone - VA Video Connect) services to Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Program (MH RRTP) Veterans
• Serves as the case manager for assigned panel of Veterans
• Completes structured biopsychosocial assessments for Veterans in the Domiciliary for Veterans within identified timelines
• typically within twenty-four to forty- eight hours of admission
• Completes risk assessments and engages in crisis intervention - as appropriate and necessary
• Provides education to patients - family members - and significant others regarding mental disorders and best practices approaches to treatment
• Provides education related to the Veteran's VA entitlements - eligibility - services and programs - as well as community resources for medical- and mental health needs
• Maintains regular contact with assigned Veterans - as clinically indicated (e.g. - as long as ongoing care is requested)
• Coordinates and develops the Veteran's treatment plan - incorporating input from the Veteran - and when appropriate - the family with the Veteran's consent
• Coordinates and develops the Veteran's discharge plan - incorporating input from the Veteran and Interdisciplinary team - as well as the family - when appropriate
• Collaborates with other service providers in assessing Veterans needs for VA services - programs and benefits
• community services programs and benefits
• meets with Veterans - individually to educate the Veteran and as appropriate Veteran's family - caregiver - and/or significant other about available services - as well as assisting with obtaining needed services and establishing appropriate referrals based on the Veteran's preference
• Ensures that referrals to other resources are completed and that the Veteran receives the appropriate level of care - either through the Department of Veterans (VA) or through community resources
• Acts as an advocate for the Veteran - and as appropriate the Veteran's family - caregiver and/or significant other
• educates the Veteran - the Veteran's family - caregiver and/or significant other about methods of self advocacy and encourage the Veteran - the Veteran's family - caregiver and/or significant other to advocate on their own behalf to foster a sense of independence and empowerment Duties are continued in the Education Section
• Work Schedule: Tuesday - Friday - 8 AM - 5:30 PM - Saturday - 8 AM - Noon Compressed/Flexible: Semi-compressed Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Authorized Recruitment Incentives
• Recruitment incentives may be authorized to full-time - part time[ -] or intermittent individuals in their first appointment as a Federal employee or to a newly appointed former Federal employee with at least a 90-day break in service Relocation Incentives
• Relocation incentives may be authorized to full-time Federal employees who must change worksite[s] and physically relocate to a different geographic area when the approving official determines that without the incentive - it would be difficult to fill the position with a high-quality candidate
• Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact the EDRP Coordinator at VISN17EDRP2@va.gov for questions/assistance
• Learn more Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases When setting pay - a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade)
• Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on prior [work experience] or military service experience
• Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment - up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth - adoption - or foster care placement of a child
• Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment - full time employees with a total family income below $144 -000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO):