Career Center

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

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 by going to http://vaww.va.gov/OHRM/T38Hybrid/
• (1) 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
• At the time of appointment - the supervisor - chief social work or social work executive will provide the unlicensed/uncertified social worker with the written requirements for licensure or certification - including the time by which the license or certification must be obtained and the consequences for not becoming licensed or certified by the deadline
• (a) 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
• Most states require two years of post-MSW experience as a prerequisite to taking the licensure/certification exam - and VHA gives social workers one additional year to pass the licensure/certification exam
• In states such as California - Washington - and others where the prerequisites for licensure exceed two years - social workers must become licensed at the independent - master's level within one year of meeting the full state prerequisites for licensure
• (b) 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
• Physical Requirements
• See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 - Employee Occupational Health Services
• English Language Proficiency
• Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f)
• 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 a Veteran centric approach when providing interventions and counseling for Veterans - their family members - caregivers - and survivors
• (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
• 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.

Duties

• VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU The duties of this position include but are not limited to the following: The social worker will provide Mental Health services to the Veteran population enrolled in a BHIP location of the VA Portland Health Care System
• Clinical services include provision of high-quality care coordination - psychosocial assessment - counseling - advocacy - and coordination of linkages to other appropriate VA or community service providers/agencies as needed by the Veteran
• This is accomplished in collaboration with other members of the Mental Health Division or other interdisciplinary treatment teams as appropriate
• As the primary same day access provider for the clinic the social worker will provide rapid assessment of Veteran needs and appropriate treatment planning
• The social worker will review all safety concerns especially harm to self or others and follow appropriate protocols
• The social worker will conduct Needs Assessment and Intervention Plan to engage the Veteran in goal planning - evaluation - and intervention
• He/she demonstrates an understanding of current and advanced techniques to the treatment of this Veteran population related to their physical limitations - psychological needs - psychiatric conditions - environmental needs - and age associated illnesses and conditions
• The social worker is the subject matter expert on VA and/or community resources
• The social worker will collaborate with other service providers in reassessing the Veteran's needs
• The social worker is responsible for educating the Veteran and family members/significant others of the available services and assisting them in establishing the appropriate referrals based on the Veteran's preference or that of his surrogate decision-maker
• The social worker serves as the Mental Health Treatment Coordinator for all Veterans treated by their BHIP
• The also oversee population-based interventions and metrics to track and enhance care for all Veterans served by the team
• The social worker uses these metrics to facilitate daily team huddles about Veterans scheduled to be seen that day to ensure the team is aware of recent changes in treatment needs or risk factors
• Serving as the MHTC the social worker works with the Veteran to develop and maintain a treatment plan which is reviewed every 6 months
• The social worker coordinates with specialty mental health to develop the treatment plan and facilitate transfers between programs
• The social worker is experienced in making rapid assessments and developing crisis management plans
• The social worker takes the lead in assisting clinic staff during a crisis facilitating inpatient admission or outpatient management of the crisis
• They conduct safety plans and coordinate with other providers
• The social worker has the ability to engage individuals and their families or other support systems about their mental health needs and can facilitate discussions around these needs in individual and group formats
• The social worker provides education related to VA and community resources - entitlements - Advance Directives/Living Will and will refer Veterans and family members/significant others to the appropriate interdisciplinary team member for identified health education needs
• The social worker will enter all Veteran/family contacts in the electronic record using appropriate formats and templates
• This information will be entered in a complete - confidential - and professional manner to ensure information on the Veteran is shared with other VA staff
• This information will be reviewed on a regular basis
• The social worker will establish and maintain positive working relationships with employees - volunteers - consumers and stakeholders within the VA and outside community agencies
• The social worker will attend all appropriate staff meetings (i.e
• team meetings - committee meetings - workgroups - etc. - as appropriate) and perform other duties as required
• The social worker will collaborate in the performance improvement processes and comply with performance measures as required by the VA for their specific population and/or program
• The social worker will participate in activities that obtain feedback from clients and work to enhance services as needed
• When applicable - the social worker can provide orientation and coaching to new social workers and social work graduate students
• They also can serve as a field instructor for social work graduate students who are completing VHA field placements
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday - 8:00am-4:30pm EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact V20CompensationTeam@va.gov - for questions/assistance
• Learn more Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized