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

This is an open continuous announcement until September 30 - 2025. Qualified applicants will be considered and referred as vacancies become available. This announcement may close without advanced notice. 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
• Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f)
• 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/
• 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.] Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment - the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates
• Social Worker - 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
• Social Worker - 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
• Preferred Experience: Experience in Substance Use Disorder treatment - Residential Treatment Experience - Trauma informed interventions Reference: VA Handbook 5005/120 - Part II - Appendix G-39 Dated September 10 - 2019
• 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-9 to GS-11
• Physical Requirements: Must be able to meet the physical demands of the position - reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions
• They must have good manual dexterity - must be able to express or exchange ideals by means of spoken and written word
• Must be able to view and read information on computer screens.

Duties

• Major duties Works with Veterans and family members from various socioeconomic - cultural - ethnic - education - and other diversified backgrounds utilizing counseling skills
• Works with many different ethnicities from a variety of regional settings - including Native Americans from reservations or other communities - African American individuals - those of Hispanic descent - Asian descent - as well as White individuals and LGBTQ+ populations
• Provides social work counseling and psychotherapy services to individuals - groups - and utilizing clinical supervision and mentorship appropriately
• Ensures timely and thorough documentation following Medical Staff Bylaws - Joint Commission - and all applicable standards
• Assesses the biopsychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and their family members - and to formulate and implement a treatment plan identifying a Veteran's problems - strengths - weaknesses - coping skills - and assistance needed
• Collaborates with Veterans and the interdisciplinary care team in the delivery of health care services - including for high-risk Veterans who may be in crisis or under severe psychosocial stress
• Conducts psychosocial assessments and provide psychosocial treatment - utilizing clinical and administrative supervision - to a wide variety of individuals from various socio-economic - cultural - ethnic - educational - and other diversified backgrounds
• Assess the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and their family members and formulate mental health treatment plans - utilizing clinical and administrative supervision - including Veteran goals - problems - strengths - weaknesses - coping skills - and assistance needed - in collaboration with the Veteran - family - and interdisciplinary treatment team
• Ensures timely and thorough documentation following Medical Staff Bylaws - Joint Commission Standards and NASW Code of Ethics guidelines
• Implements treatment modalities in working with individuals - families - and groups to achieve treatment goals
• Provides a wide range of evidence based and ASAM informed interventions and treatment modalities specific to the assessed level of care indicated
• Establishes and maintains effective working relationships and communicate with Veterans - staff - and representatives of community agencies
• Provides assessment - diagnosis - and treatment of substance use disorders as part of a residential substance use disorder treatment team - utilizing clinical and administrative supervision
• Provides consultation to other staff about the psychosocial needs of patients and the impact of psychosocial problems on health care and treatment interventions - utilizing clinical and administrative supervision
• Utilizes case management skills used for screening new referrals - monitoring - and assisting Veterans awaiting admission to SARRTP - and assist with effective discharge planning to maximize successful transition out of SARRTP back to the community
• Utilizes a fundamental knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses - disabilities - and treatment procedures - including acute - chronic - and traumatic illnesses/injuries
• common medications and their effects/side effects
• and medical terminology
• Provides measurable - achievable goals identifying the Veterans' needs - strengths - challenges - coping skills - and psychosocial acuity according to ASAM criteria
• Practices as a dependently licensed Social Worker - under a Supervisory Social Worker in conjunction with a Licensed Independent Practitioner (LIP) providing clinical supervision in the SARRTP Program - aligned under the Mental Health Service - with additional professional practice oversight provided by the Chief - Social Work Service
• Works toward independent licensure within three years from date of hire
• Engages in regular consultation and clinical supervision on a regular basis and as agreed upon with their Clinical Supervisor
• Meets the needs of customers while supporting VA Missions
• consistently communicate and treat customers (Veterans - their representatives - visitors - and all VA Staff) in a courteous - tactful - and respectful manner
• Provides customer with consistent information according to established policies and procedures
• Handles conflict and problems in dealing with customers constructively and appropriately
• Effectively communicates with supervisors and co-workers to facilitate treatment planning and collaborates with divergent multidisciplinary team members in a manner that enhances coordination of comprehensive Veteran care
• Work Schedule: M-F 0800-1630 Telework: Ad-hoc available Virtual: This is NOT a virtual position Functional Statement #:515524-A -515525-A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: NOT Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact Michael.Campbell6@va.gov and Joshua.Titensor@va.gov - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
• Learn more