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

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
• English Language Proficiency
• In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) - no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English
• 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
• 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
• Licensed or certified 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/
• 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
• For appointments at the GS-9 grade level - 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
• Most states require two years of post-MSW experience as a prerequisite to taking the licensure/certification exam - and VHA gives social workers one additional year to pass the licensure/certification exam
• You may qualify based on being covered by the grandfathering provision of this occupations qualification standard
• (Only applicable to current VHA employees that are currently employed in this occupation series)
• Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements stated above - the following qualification criteria must be met for each grade
• The candidate's qualifications must clearly demonstrate the level of competence required for the grade
• GS-09 In addition to meeting the basic requirements for this occupation - you must possess the following Knowledge - Skills and Abilities: Ability to utilize a Veteran centric approach when providing interventions and counseling for Veterans - their family members - caregivers - and survivors
• 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
• NOTE: For appointment licensure or certification at this level please refer to paragraph 3c
• 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 - 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 - 8 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
• 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 in the range of GS-09 to GS-11
• Work Environment: Work is performed in an office/clinic setting with minimal risks that requires normal safety precautions
• the area is adequately lighted - heated - and ventilated
• However - the work environment requires someone with the ability to handle several tasks at once in sometimes stressful situations
• For positions requiring examinations - information is gleaned from the OF 178 - as submitted with the recruitment packet
• Physical Requirements: Operation of a motor vehicle
• Preferred Experience: Experience providing Case Management Experience conducting Biopsychosocial Assessments Experience working with an Interdisciplinary Team Experience working with individuals with Mental Health and/or Substance Use Disorder Diagnoses

Duties

• VA Careers - Licensed Clinical Social Worker: https://youtube.com/embed/U_xC25QsN0w Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional The Housing and Urban Development/ Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD/VASH) Program is an intensive case management program for chronically homeless Veterans aimed at providing psychosocial services to Veterans while residing in stable housing through HUD's Section 8 voucher system - thru the Housing First Philosophy
• This position functions as the Medical Center's Liaison/Housing Specialist for the Veteran Health Care System of the Ozarks (VHSO) - Health Care for Homeless Veterans (HCHV) Program - HUD/VASH Program
• The primary duties may include but are not limited to: Plans - develops and maintains a network of relationships with community resources and other advocates for the homeless to effectively screen and identify Veteran members of the homeless population
• Makes VA or community based referrals - and advocates for scarce resources
• Interviews potential clients - interprets VHA guidelines and eligibility requirements
• Develops professional relationships with local landlords - property managers - and housing navigators
• Develops and maintains a housing stock database for utilization of Homeless staff
• Assists with clinical functions of intake as appropriate to facilitate HUD/VASH involvement - including conducting HUD/VASH psychosocial assessments of a wide variety of individuals from low socioeconomic - but various cultural - ethnic - educational and other diversified backgrounds
• Using known available resources and the initial assessment - makes initial and continuing decisions regarding the services available and referrals needed
• Employs knowledge of psychosocial treatment modalities and implements treatment modalities in working with individuals - families and groups to achieve treatment goals
• Provides guidance - emotional support - and group/individual counseling
• Makes provision for referral services to other agency organizations - community resources - or other Governmental resources to resolve problems
• Employs casework methods and techniques to maintain a therapeutic relationship that will help the client work towards the best way of dealing with his/her problems
• Provides direct social work - mental health - and substance abuse services for Veterans
• Assists and encourages Veteran and significant others in facing problems - thinking them through - evaluating the situation - considering alternative courses of action and arriving at plans for using resources to resolve problems
• Explains client's treatment and progress towards rehabilitation to third parties with jurisdiction - remaining unbiased in the presentation even though consequences are far-reaching and potentially permanent
• Actively participants in the HUD/VASH Program conference calls and attends training offered by the HUD/VASH staff
• Work Schedule: Monday through Friday - 8:00 a.m
• to 4:30 p.m
• (Subject to change based on needs of the service)
• Compressed/Flexible: Not available
• Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized
• Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized
• EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact Jami.Coll@va.gov - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
• Learn more Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases
• 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 #: 564-00548-F/564-00549-F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.