Career Center

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

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 4 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/
• 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: In addition to the basic requirements for employment - the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates
• Social Worker - GS-9 (1) Experience - Education - and Licensure
• None beyond the basic requirements
• (2) Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Ability to utilize counseling skills when working with Veterans and family members
• (b) 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
• (c) 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
• (d) Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients - staff - and representatives of community agencies
• (e) 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: (1) 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 (2) 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
• (3) Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above - candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of community resources - how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services - and ability to coordinate services
• (b) Skill in independently conducting psychosocial assessments and treatment interventions to a wide variety of individuals from various socio-economic - educational - and other backgrounds
• (c) 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
• (d) 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
• (e) 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: The incumbent is a professional social worker assigned to Veterans in the PACT setting
• The incumbent must use a high level of skill in assessing - completion of treatment or service planning - service delivery/interventions and case managing complicated psychosocial problems experienced by Veterans
• 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-9 to GS-11
• Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 - Employee Occupational Health Services.

Duties

• A Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU This position is located in Social Work Service - Roseburg VA Health Care System - at the location designated at time of hire
• The incumbent Social Worker provides social work assessment - treatment/service planning - service delivery/interventions - case management and documentation of work
• FUNCTIONS OR SCOPE OF ASSIGNED DUTIES A
• Clinical Functions: The incumbent is a professional social worker assigned to Veterans in the PACT setting
• The incumbent must use a high level of skill in assessing - completion of treatment or service planning - service delivery/interventions and case managing complicated psychosocial problems experienced by Veterans
• Social work responsibilities include the assessment of psychosocial problems often at a time when the Veteran is experiencing crisis and include the provision of short-term - solution focused goal planning and case management with Veterans and/or their families
• Travel up to 25% of the time is a regular part of the position and the incumbent must be able to pass a driver physical from the VA and qualify to operate government vehicles
• (1) Must have a high level of skill and expertise to establish and maintain effective therapeutic relationships with Veterans and/or their families in the PACT setting
• The incumbent is able to independently work with Veterans and their families who are experiencing a wide range of complicated medical - psychiatric - emotional - behavioral - and psychosocial problems
• 2) Must independently complete thorough psychosocial assessments to determine the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and/or their families
• The incumbent must be able to utilize this assessment in facilitating the Veteran's treatment planning/goal setting for attainment of the highest level of independence that is possible and practicable
• (3) Must actively participate as a member of the interdisciplinary treatment team and collaborate with Veterans and Veteran family members to development and implement treatment/service plans and interventions
• (4) Must possess a working knowledge and experience in use of medical and mental health diagnoses - disabilities - and treatment procedures
• This includes acute - chronic and traumatic illnesses - common medications and effects/side effects - and medical terminology
• (5) Must facilitate action for community referrals/placements through collaboration with Veterans - Veteran families - and interdisciplinary treatment team members to ensure that appropriate community placements are completed in a timely manner
• Community placements will include - but are not limited to - referrals to contract nursing homes - Community Living Centers - residential care homes - inpatient and outpatient hospice services
• (6) Must serve as an advocate and liaison between Veterans and/or their families and VA and community resources in order to ensure thorough delivery of services
• (7) Must possess knowledge and ability to independently implement treatment goal planning - provide educational classes - and/or supportive groups for Veterans and families
• B
• Administrative Functions: (1) Is responsible for supporting the mission - policies - and procedures of the Department of Veterans Affairs - the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) - the appropriate Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) - and the facility
• (2) Is willing to serve on committees - work groups - and task forces at the facility as deemed appropriate by the supervisor and Chief of Social Work Services
• (3) Is mindful of keeping their supervisor apprised of problems and recommended solutions to problems encountered in the incumbent's area of responsibility
• (4) Is responsible for furthering one's own professional growth through continuing education and for ensuring continuing education appropriate to the area of assignment
• (5) Is able to provide assistance with the orientation and learning of less experienced social workers and - if interested - to serve as a field instructor for social work students
• Work Schedule: 0800-1630 Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not available EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact V20CompensationTeam@va.gov - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
• Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized