Social Worker (Outpatient)

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 Citizenship: Be a citizen of the United States(Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3 - section A - paragraph 3g this part)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 accreditedA doctoral degree in social work may not be substituted for the master's degree in social workVerification 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 workLicensure: 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 levelCurrent 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)Grandfathering Provision: The following is the standard grandfathering policy for all title 38 hybrid qualification standardsPlease carefully review the qualification standard to determine the specific education and/or licensure/certification/registration requirements that apply to this occupationAll persons employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title - series and grade held - including positive education and licensure or certification that are part of the basic requirements of the occupationFor employees who do not meet all of the basic requirements in this standard - but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it - the following provisions apply: Such employees in an occupation that requires a licensure or certification - may be reassigned - promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level - or changed to lower grade within the occupation - but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positionsEmployees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed - on a temporary or permanent basis - until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standardEmployees initially grandfathered into this occupation - who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all of the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupationIf an employee who was retained in an occupation listed in 38 U.S.C.7401(3) under this provision leaves that occupation - the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupationNOTE: If social workers covered under the grandfathering provision of the 1991 Federal law regarding licensure or certification of VHA social workers leave the GS-0185 social work series - they lose the grandfathering protectionIf they choose to return at a later date to the GS-0185 series - they must be licensed or certified to qualify for employment as a social workerGrade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment - the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidatesSocial 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 levelOR 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 settingDemonstrated 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 servicesSkill in independently conducting psychosocial assessments and treatment interventions to a wide variety of individuals from various socio-economic - educational - and other backgroundsKnowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses - disabilities and treatment procedures (i.eacute - chronic and traumatic illnesses/injuries - common medications and their effects/side effects - and medical terminology) to formulate a treatment planSkill 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 goalsAbility 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 treatmentPreferred Experience: Experience providing outpatient mental health care Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/VA Handbook 5005/120 - Part II - Appendix G39 Social Worker Qualification StandardThe full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentaryTypically - the employee will sit to do the workHowever - there may be some walking - standing - bending - carrying of light items (such as books - papers) - accessing transportation - and/or driving a government vehicle and transporting Veterans in a government vehicleThe work requires patience and control of emotionsThe work may require occasional use of appropriate techniques to physically restrain clients who present a danger to self or othersSee VA Directive and Handbook 5019. Duties Functions: Clinical Functions: Has a high level of skill and expertise to establish and maintain effective therapeutic relationships with Veterans in the Mental Health Center and/or their familiesIs able to independently work with Veterans and their families who are experiencing a wide range of complicated medical - psychiatric - emotional - behavioral - and psychosocial problemsIndependently completes thorough psychosocial assessments to determine the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and/or their familiesAble to utilize this assessment in facilitating the Veteran's maximum use of treatment for attainment of the highest level of independence that is possible and practicableActively participate as a member of the interdisciplinary treatment team and actively participates through collaboration with Veterans and family as well as interdisciplinary treatment team members in the development and implementation of a resident centered treatment planPossesses a working knowledge and experience in use of medical and mental health diagnoses - disabilities - and treatment procedures - including acute - chronic and traumatic illnesses - common medications and their effects/side effects - and medical terminologyFacilitates discharge planning through collaboration with Veterans and their families as well as interdisciplinary treatment team members to ensure that appropriate discharge plans are executed in a timely mannerServes as a liaison between Veterans and/or their families and VA and community resources in order to ensure thorough delivery of servicesThis involves coordination of Veteran and family involvement in the development of treatment plans - coordination of Veteran involvement in monthly Resident Council meetings - and coordination of family involvement in monthly Family Council meetings Possesses knowledge and ability to independently implement treatment modalities - provide counseling and/or supportive groups for Veterans and familiesProvides consultation and education to Veterans and their families regarding community resources - VA benefits and specialty programs - and advance directivesThis includes the incumbent's knowledge of the process for accessing and/or coordinating community-based services - including information and referral for additional services from other VA programs - other government programs - and community programsAdministrative Functions: 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 facilityServes on committees - work groups - and task forces at the facility as deemed appropriate by the supervisor and Chief of Social Work ServicesIs mindful of keeping their supervisor apprised of problems and recommended solutions to problems encountered in the incumbent's area of responsibilityIs responsible for furthering one's own professional growth through continuing education and for ensuring continuing education appropriate to the area of assignmentIs able to provide assistance with the orientation and learning of less experienced social workers and - if interested - to serve as a preceptor for social work studentsIs able to demonstrate knowledge and skill in the use of software applications for drafting documents and data management as well as other computer systems in use by the VHAIs able to maintain a level of productivity and quality consistent with the complexity of the assignment and consistent with Social Work standards - Joint Commission standards - and facility standardsWill participate in a rotation of on-call social workers - including modification of tour of duty to accommodate patient care needs on weekendsNOTE: Additional Functions or Scope of Assigned Duties are required and can be provided upon requestWork Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:30pmTelework: Ad Hoc - as determined by the agency policyVirtual: This is not a virtual positionFunctional Statement #: 91702-A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentiveContact vhaedrpprogramsupport@va.gov - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistanceLearn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized