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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. Learn more 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 by going to http://vaww.va.gov/OHRM/T38Hybrid/. 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. 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. 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. English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). 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 standards. Please carefully review the qualification standard to determine the specific education and/or licensure/certification/registration requirements that apply to this occupation. Grade Determinations: Social Worker, GS-9 Experience, Education, and Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, candidates 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. Grade Determinations: Social 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 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, 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 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 Physical Requirements: The physical demands of this position involve primarily walking, sitting, talking, use of fingers, both hands required, Near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4, Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other, Hearing (aid permitted). 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. ["Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm\nTelework: Available\nVirtual: This is not a virtual position.\nFunctional Statement #: 000000\nRelocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized\nEDRP Authorized: Contact V21CCOEERDP@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance\nPermanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required The social worker functions as part of the treatment team to provide outpatient mental health services to the veteran population in the Mental Health Clinic (MHC). Responsibilities include providing evidence-based psychosocial treatment to veterans experiencing acute and chronic problems. Services include provision of high-quality case management, clinical treatment, advocacy, and coordination of linkages to other appropriate VA or community service provider/agencies as needed by the veteran. The social worker is required to exercise independent judgment and decision making in the formulation of the treatment plan with the treatment team. Additional responsibilities include an ongoing assessment of the patient's progress and treatment, as well as developing discharge plans from MHC when the patient's condition makes this feasible. Duties of the position include, but are not limited to: Screens and accepts cases referred to MHC and provides mental health treatment to appropriate cases, or refers cases to the best treatment site. Makes an independent assessment of the psychosocial, health care, and financial needs of each veteran, diagnoses mental health disorders ranging in severity and longevity, and formulates a treatment plan addressing the special needs of the veteran population. Identifies gaps in services and develops VA and community resources to meet the needs. Works closely with VA and community health care professionals to provide and support mental health treatment plans for veterans. Provides consultation to health care personnel on the psychosocial components of the veteran's situation. Provides intensive mental health services to veterans that requires the exercise of mature professional judgment and the flexible use of a wide range of clinical skills. Carries full professional responsibility for cases presenting with a wide range of psychosocial and environmental problems. Provides individual, group, and family or couples therapy, utilizing evidence-based psychotherapy interventions. Documents all mental health treatment and social work activity in the veteran's VA Health Care System electronic medical record. Provides psychoeducation and information on referral services to veterans and their families. Investigates community resources and makes information about them available to medical center staff treating veterans with mental health concerns. Provides care and/or services appropriate to the age of the patients being served. Assesses data reflective of the patient's status and interprets the information needed to identify each patient's requirements relative to the age-specific needs and to provide care needed as described in the services' policies and procedures. Provides crisis intervention and is experienced in making rapid assessments and developing crisis management plans. In the event of a medical or psychiatric emergency, staff will follow the protocol of the MHC at the VA Medical Center. Participates in MHC program planning, as well as in the development and maintenance of public understanding and sound working relationships with veterans, community agencies, community health care personnel and personnel from other professional disciplines. Attends interdisciplinary team meetings, rounds, conferences for planning and coordination of services to veterans. Maintains accurate, timely documentation including progress notes, encounter reports, patient data relating services provided, prepares other reports, as required, within specified deadlines. Participates in program/quality improvement reviews of the Mental Health Service and VASNHCS. Participates in professional peer review. Meets with MHC staff on a regular basis. May supervise social work and other trainees/interns, providing the incumbent has at least two years of post-graduate schoolwork experience. Provides coverage to other areas of Mental Health Service or VASNHCS as needed or required. Performs other duties as assigned."]