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. 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. 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. 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 the CSWE website (https://www.cswe.org/Accreditation.aspx) to verify if that social work degree meets the accreditation standards for a master of social work - Licensure: Persons hired or reassigned to social worker positions in the GS-185 series in VHA 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. Failure to become licensed or certified within the proscribed amount of time may result in termination of employment. - English Language Proficiency: Social workers must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j. 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-9: The entry level grade for the GS-185 social work series and is used for social workers with less than one year of post-MSW experience and for social workers who are not yet licensed or certified at the independent practice level. Social workers at the GS-9 level are working toward completion of prerequisites for licensure or certification. In addition, the candidates must demonstrate the KSAs: 1. Ability to provide psychosocial treatment to a wide variety of individuals from various socio-economic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other diversified backgrounds. This requires knowledge of human development and behavior (physical and psychological), and the differential influences of the environment, society, and culture. 2. Ability to work with patients and families who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric, medical, and social problems utilizing individual, group, and family counseling skills. Work with more complex problems is done under close supervision. With guidance from the social work supervisor, ability to assess the psychosocial functioning and needs of patients and their family members, and to formulate and implement a treatment plan, identifying the patient's problems, strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and assistance needed. 3. Basic knowledge of psychosocial treatment modalities and, under supervision, 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. 4. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, staff, and representatives of community agencies. Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with people from varied backgrounds. 5. 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. 6. Basic skill in the use of computer software applications for drafting documents, data management, and tracking. Ability to learn and utilize software programs in use by VHA. GS-11: Experience, Education and Licensure. GS-11 full performance level requires completion of a minimum of 1 year of post-MSW degree experience in the field of health care social work (VA or non-VA experience) and licensure or certification in a state at the independent practice level; OR In addition to meeting basic requirements, a doctoral degree in social work from a school of social work may be substituted for the required 1 year of professional social work experience in a clinical setting. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the KSAs below: 1. Knowledge of community resources, how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services, and ability to coordinate services. 2. Ability to independently assess the psychosocial functioning and needs of patients and their family members and to formulate and implement a treatment plan, identifying the patient's problems, strengths, weaknesses, coping skills and assistance needed, in collaboration with the patient, family and interdisciplinary treatment team. 3. Ability to independently conduct psychosocial assessments and provide psychosocial treatment to a wide variety of individuals from various socio-economic, cultural, ethnic, educational and other diversified backgrounds. This requires knowledge of human development and behavior (physical and psychological) and the differential influences of the environment, society and culture. 4. Knowledge and experience in the use 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. 5. Knowledge of psychosocial treatment and ability to independently implement treatment modalities in working with individuals, families and groups who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric, medical and social problems to achieve treatment goals. This requires independent judgment and skill in utilizing supportive, problem solving or crisis intervention techniques. 6. Ability to independently provide counseling and/or psychotherapy services to individuals, groups and families. Social workers must practice within the bounds of their license or certification. For example, some states may require social workers providing psychotherapy to have a clinical level of licensure. 7. Ability to provide consultation services to other staff about the psychosocial needs of patients and the impact of psychosocial problems on health care and compliance with treatment. Ability to provide orientation and coaching to new social workers and social work graduate students. Ability to serve as a field instructor for social work graduate students who are completing VHA field placements. 8. Ability to independently evaluate his/her own practice through participation in professional peer review case conferences, research studies, or other organized means. 9. Knowledge and skill in the use of computer software applications for drafting documents, data management, and tracking, especially those programs in use by VHA. References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G39. Social Worker Qualification Standard, 0185. 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: The work is primary sedentary, with occasional requirements to lift office supplies up to approximately 10 pounds. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand and walk. Specific vision abilities required by this job function include but are not limited to close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. ["The incumbent will be organized in order to offer assistance to the outpatient program, opiate treatment program (OTP) and residential treatment. The incumbent will be highly skilled at practice level to eligible veterans and provide clinical psychosocial and case management services at an advance practice level to eligible veterans to meet biological, psychological, social and environmental needs. This is in accordance with VHA mission and professional standards. The population served represents all eras of service with particular attention to engaging the OEF/OIF Veteran.The incumbent functions as a master level social worker on an interdisciplinary team. The position requires extensive work with veterans diagnosed with addiction disorders. Work is complex with data tracking ability to work in both opioid and intensive outpatient programs.Work is also done in the context of both interdisciplinary treatment team and extensive liaison activities with other programs that provide continuity of care services at the necessary level of support.Duties include but are not limited to: Screening of potential veterans who have been referred to the program and collaborate with providers to determine suitability for program. Complete a comprehensive psychosocial assessment on the veteran, taking into account the presenting problems, historical information, medical and psychiatric issues, legal implications, the present environment, significant others and the current support systems. Collaborate with various agencies and providers working with the veteran to gather collateral information and for continuity of care. Review all data and make a clinical assessment, identifying needs and strengths. Utilize advanced clinical training, insight and experience to interpret data and to identify viable treatment options. Provide explanation of the different levels of care available and why one level may benefit the veteran more than another. Utilize advanced clinical judgment to determine the appropriate level of care and to assess the effectiveness of treatment. Make clinical diagnoses based on the psychosocial assessment, utilizing professional judgment and advance practice skills. Perform insightful assessment of complicated cases involving mental illness, legal consequences, transmittable and terminal medical conditions, addictions and other high risk factors. Evaluate the motivation for treatment and determine the willingness or ability to comply with the treatment recommendations. Assist veteran with discharge planning and appropriate referrals for community re-entry. Utilize advanced clinical skills to incorporate the veteran, past experience, current problems, significant others, community agencies and the interdisciplinary team into the treatment planning process. Consult with other specialists in planning treatment for veterans with co-morbidities. Provide consultations and recommendations in the development of interdisciplinary treatment plan. Plan treatment interventions utilizing evidence-based practices. Involve the veteran in the stages of treatment planning, listening to the stated goals and conveying confidence in the veteran's ability to achieve. Effectively work with veterans and significant others from different social, cultural, and ethnic groups. Independently provide individual and group counseling and psycho-education. Consistently offer referrals to VA and non-VA agencies, as needed, and maintain a current and productive network of referral resources. Effectively communicate treatment plans and expectations to other individuals and agencies involved in the treatment of the veteran for continuity of care, while adhering to HIPPA requirements and maintaining social work professional standards of practice. Receive and complete consults requesting services on complex cases using advanced practice skills and expertise. Offers consultation to colleagues and students on the psychosocial treatment of veterans. Demonstrates the ability to teach and mentor staff and social work students assigned to the SUD program. Utilize outcome evaluations to further treatment and designs systems changes based on empirical findings. Participate in the writing of procedures and/or practice guidelines pertaining to the veterans served in the SUD program. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm or as determined by the agency Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Contact kimberly.ford8@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]

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