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
• Education: Must hold 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
• Licensure: 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
• 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
• A social worker who does not yet have a license that allows independent practice must be supervised by a licensed independent practitioner of the same discipline who is a VA staff member and who has access to the electronic health record
• Grade Determinations: Social Worker - GS-09 Experience - Education - and Licensure - None beyond the basic requirements listed above
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities - In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs (must be clearly demonstrated in your resume): 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
• Social Worker - GS-11 Experience and Licensure - Appointment to the GS-11 grade level requires completion of a minimum of one year post-MSW experience equivalent to the GS-09 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
• 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 - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs (must be clearly demonstrated in your resume): 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: One-two years of social work experience in primary care
• 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
• Physical Requirements: There are no physical demands specific to this work requirement.

Duties

• Total Rewards: Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional The incumbent will function as part of the interdisciplinary treatment team at the Dom VA Medical Center within the Home-Based Primary Care (HBPC) Program
• The HBPC Social Worker provides and coordinates health care services to Veterans in a home environment - residential care setting or virtual video connect (VVC)
• Duties may include but not limited to: Screening/Assessment/Case Management: Develops an assessment of the Veteran in collaboration with the HBPC interdisciplinary treatment team - the Veteran - family members - and significant others
• Assess and provide social work services within the home care setting or VVC
• Treatment Planning/Goal Setting: Develops the treatment plan and/or discharge plans - setting achievable treatment/discharge goals with the Veteran/family
• Attends treatment team meetings and assess Veterans quarterly for social work input during team meetings in a comprehensive and timely manner
• Referral to service providers: Collaborates with other service providers in reassessing the Veteran's needs
• Educates the Veteran - family member - and/or significant other available services and assisting them in establishing the appropriate referrals based on the Veteran's preference or that of his surrogate decision-maker
• Resource Usage/Development: Uses the current social work resource file of VA and community social service programs and enhancing the content to the benefit of Veterans
• Refers the Veteran to needed services
• HBPC Social Worker will maintain communication with SWS - GEC Administration - VISN staff members - and national information regarding the programs involved
• Advocacy: Understands the intimidation of bureaucracy and will act as an advocate when it serves the best interest of the Veteran/family
• Educates and encourage the Veteran/family to advocate on their behalf - thus fostering a sense of independence and empowerment
• Crisis Intervention: Completes rapid assessments and develops crisis management plans for admission to mental health inpatient programs under close supervision
• Follows the protocol of the mental health clinic at the Columbia VAMC in the event of a medical or psychiatric emergency
• Education/Health Promotion and Prevention: Provides education related to VA and community resources - entitlement - and Advance Directives/Living Will to Veterans/ Families
• Supportive Counseling: Provides the Veterans and their caregivers with ongoing supportive counseling to deal with the psychosocial impact of coping with chronic/disabling illness (ex) - onset of a catastrophic illness
• Coordination of Non-institutional and Institutional services: Responsible for the coordination of the referral to services such as ADHC - hospice - respite - and community nursing home care services in collaboration with the interdisciplinary treatment team members
• Participates in the screening of Veterans to accurately determine the strengths and limitations of each Veteran being referred for care
• Administrative Duties: Establishes and maintains positive working relationships with employees - volunteers - consumers - and stakeholders within the VA and outside community agencies
• Attends all appropriate meetings
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday - 8:00am-4:30pm 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 vhaedrpprogramsupport@va.gov - the EDRP Coordinator 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 #: 60991F - 61764F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized