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. To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 06/16/2023. 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 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 on the OHRM website. English Language Proficiency. Social workers must be proficient in spoken and written English accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j, this part. Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met. Grade Requirements: 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. Examples of specialized experience include but are not limited to 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 advocate with appropriate VA and community service providers/agencies when it serves the best interest of the Veteran and family members/caregiver; assessing the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and their family members identifying the Veteran's strengths, weaknesses, coping skills and psychosocial acuity, in collaboration with the Veteran, family, and interdisciplinary treatment teams; maintaining a current network of internal and external resources to educate the Veteran and/or family members/caregivers and assist with the appropriate referrals. 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. Additionally, you will be rated on the following Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Please make sure that each is addressed in your application package. 1. Knowledge of community resources, how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services, and ability to coordinate services. 2. 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. 3. 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. 4. 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. 5. 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. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Reference: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G39, Social Worker Qualification Standard. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS 11. Physical Requirements: This position requires the ability to read printed material and distinguish colors, such as reading computer screens and the ability to accurately perceive depth so as to move around the work space safely and to appropriately make contact with patients and staff. Some bending and stooping is required, and frequent walking will be required throughout the medical center. ["This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until June 16, 2023. The initial cut-off date for all applicants is 04/05/2023. Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur every 30 days or on as-needed basis until positions are filled. The Aleda E. Lutz VA Medical Center, Community Based Outpatient Clinics is recruiting for a Social Worker. The Primary Care Mental Health Integration (PCMHI) Social Worker provides brief assessment and intervention support to the Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT), with an emphasis on integration of mental health services within primary care. This licensed Master Social worker (LMSW) position is located at the Aleda E. Lutz VA Medical Center and CBOC locations. The experienced LMSW Mental Health Clinic Social Worker independently provides clinical psychosocial and case management services at an advanced practice level to eligible veterans and their family members to meet their mental health needs. This position includes clinical treatment, advocacy, and linkage with appropriate VA and community service providers/agencies as needed by one of the Veterans. This position specifically ensures that Primary Care patients have same day access to mental health intake services and are followed for psychotropic management. This position will also respond to patients who are evaluated as positive on the initial mental health screens for PTSD, Depression, and Substance Abuse. The incumbent is required to interact not only with the patient but also family, significant others, community agencies, and other staff. The position requires that the incumbent has the ability to serve veterans who tend to have frequent and severe crises, lack family or an adequate community support network, be poor at self-monitoring and frequently fail to comply with instructions and treatment, or have significant deficits in coping skills and require continuing professional psychosocial support. Treatment decisions may result in serious consequences to the veteran, and the results may be unpredictable. PCMHI staff located in Saginaw also provide coverage for the Urgent Care. Duties include but are not limited to: Interview's veterans and their family members/significant others to establish facts about the veteran's situation, presenting problems and their causes, and the impact of such problems on the veteran's functioning and health as part of a psychosocial assessment. Interprets and explains VA's treatment. Refers veterans to Benefits officers. Independently evaluates the client's situation. Evaluates the veteran's reaction. Uses professional judgment. Uses advanced practice skills. Uses the initial assessment to determine the veteran's likelihood to accept differing types of assistance or referrals. Develops preliminary psychosocial treatment plans in coordination with veteran/family. Makes recommendations to the interdisciplinary team. Uses known available resources. Makes initial decisions regarding use of VA and non-VA services and referrals. Determines the preferred course of agency action. Provides brief interventions. Provides advice, guidance, emotional support, and other assistance. Provides patient education. Provides education to PACT on mental health and health behavior issues. Monitor medication adherence and response via protocol-driven services. Uses Measurement Based Care (MBC) in accordance with nationally recommended guidelines for PCMHI. Maintain daily open access slots and encourage same day warm handoffs within PACT. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 7:30am-4:00pm, 0800am-4:30pm, depending on facility location. Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized Telework: Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 91566-A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Contact VISN10HREDRPSLRP@va.gov, for questions/assistance. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]

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