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Social workers assigned to the Spinal Cord Injury/Disorder (SCI/D) Center are responsible for the direct care of inpatients, outpatients, and those veterans served in community based care settings including long term care settings, medical foster homes, and at home. Social workers serve as an integrated member of interdisciplinary treatment teams. 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. 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, this part. Education Requirement: Master of Social Work: Must possess a master's degree in social work from a school of social work fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. Note: 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. COPY OF TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED. Licensure Requirement: Appointment at the GS-11 Full Performance Level: Persons hired or reassigned to full performance 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. OR Appointment at the GS-9 (Entry or Developmental Level): 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 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. Grade Determinations: GS-9 None beyond the basic requirements. 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. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the applicant's resume must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Ability to work with Veterans and family members from various socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other diversified backgrounds utilizing counseling skills. 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. 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. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients, staff, and representatives of community agencies. 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. 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. 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. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, the applicant's resume 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 services. 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. 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. 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. 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. References: VA Handbook 5005 Part II, Appendix G39 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: Light lifting and carrying up to 15 pounds to lift items such as books, binders, reports and records. ["VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU Major duties include, but are not limited to: This position requires the ability to independently conduct comprehensive bio- psychosocial assessments with a wide variety of individuals from various socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other diverse backgrounds. The position requires basic knowledge of human development and behavior (physical and psychological), and the differential influences of the environment, society, and culture. The incumbent will have the ability to work independently with patients and families who are experiencing emotional, medical, psychiatric, medical and/or social problems utilizing individual, group, and family counseling skills. The incumbent will demonstrate the ability to perform case finding functions and outreach. S/he will demonstrate independence in assessing the psychosocial functioning and needs of patients and families. S/he will formulate and implement treatment plans, provide case management services, provide discharge planning services, and identify patient's problems, strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and needs. S/he will independently establish and maintain effective therapeutic relationships with veterans and their families. The incumbent has knowledge of psychosocial needs and will be able to will demonstrate the ability to independently implement treatment modalities in working with individuals, families, and groups to achieve treatment goals. The incumbent will demonstrate clinical judgment and skills in utilizing supportive, problem solving, or provide crisis intervention. S/he will be able to provide counseling or psychotherapy for individuals, families or groups. S/he will develop treatment plans in collaboration with the veteran/family and with the interdisciplinary treatment team. S/he will be able to identify high-risk patients, provide complex case management services, and facilitate team and family meetings. The incumbent will possess the skills to offer psychosocial interventions and measures outcomes to interventions. The incumbent will have the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, staff, and representatives of community agencies. S/he is able to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with people from varied backgrounds. Incumbent will have the able to coordinate community-based services, including information and referral for additional services from other VA programs, other government programs and community agency programs. S/he will have knowledge of medical and mental diagnoses, disabilities, and treatment procedures to include acute, chronic, and traumatic illnesses/injuries; common medications and their effects/side effects; and basic medical terminology. S/he will have working knowledge and skills in the use of word processing, data management, and other computer software. S/he will have the ability to learn and utilize software programs in use by the VHA. S/he will have basic knowledge of veteran's benefits and services relating to special programs, service-connected compensation, non-service connected pension and related benefits. S/he will facilitate referrals based upon veterans needs and eligibility. S/he will independently provide consultation services to staff and will be an active participant to an interdisciplinary team regarding the psychosocial needs of veterans and the impact of psychosocial problems on health care and adherence to treatment plan. S/he will have the ability to evaluate their own practice through professional peer review, consultation, case conferences and other organizational means. The incumbent will communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with people from varied backgrounds. The incumbent will be able to meet the needs of customers while supporting VA missions. S/he will consistently communicate and treat customers (veterans, their representatives, families, visitors, and all VA staff) in a courteous, tactful, and respectful manner. The incumbent will be able to provide the customer with consistent information according to established policies and procedures. S/he will handle conflict and problems in dealing with the consumer constructively and appropriately. Work Schedule: Administrative Days\nTelework: Telework, if approved, will be on an Ad-Hoc basis only.\nVirtual: This is not a virtual position.\nRelocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required"]