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. 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: Be a citizen of the United States. Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. 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 accredited. A doctoral degree in social work may not be substituted for the master's degree in social work. Licensure: Persons hired or reassigned to social worker positions in the GS-185 series at the 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/. Once licensed or certified, social workers must maintain a full, valid, and unrestricted independent license or certification to remain qualified for employment. Loss of licensure or certification will result in removal from the GS-0185 social worker series and may result in employment termination. Grade Determinations. In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. Senior Social Worker GS-12 Experience and Education: The candidate must have at least two (2) years of experience post advanced practice clinical licensure and should be in a specialized area of social work practice of which, one (1) year must be equivalent to the GS-11 grade level. Senior social workers have experience that demonstrates possession of advanced practice skills and judgment. Senior social workers are experts in their specialized area of practice. Senior social workers may have certification or other post-masters training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university that includes a defined curriculum/course of study and internship or equivalent supervised professional experience in a specialty. Licensure/Certification: Senior social workers must be licensed or certified by a state at the advanced practice level which included an advanced generalist or clinical examination, unless they are grandfathered by the state in which they are licensed to practice at the advanced practice level (except for licenses issued in California, which administers its own clinical examination for advanced practice) and they must be able to provide supervision for licensure. While we no longer require essay-style responses to our Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities, (KSA's), you must be able to demonstrate that you possess the (below) competencies which are necessary to perform the work of the position. Please ensure your resume/CV/application contains sufficient information to support the level of experience/education/training. Otherwise, we will not be able to award you credit for the experience/education/training you claim. The GS-12 KSA's for this subject position are; Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Skill in a range of specialized interventions and treatment modalities used in specialty treatment programs or with special patient populations. This includes individual, group, and/or family counseling or psychotherapy and advanced level psychosocial and/or case management. Ability to incorporate complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice. Knowledge in developing and implementing methods for measuring effectiveness of social work practice and services in the specialty area, utilizing outcome evaluations to improve treatment services and to design system changes. Ability to provide specialized consultation to colleagues and students on the psychosocial treatment of patients in the service delivery area, as well as role modeling effective social work practice skills. Ability to expand clinical knowledge in the social work profession, and to write policies, procedures, and/or practice guidelines pertaining to the service delivery area. 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). Preferred Experience: Preferred experience is at least 3 years of experience in a mental health and/or medical setting. Candidates must be licensed at the advanced practice level, and must have the ability to provide supervision for licensure. References: VA Handbook 5005/120 Part II Appendix G39, Qualification Standard for DVA Social Workers. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. Physical Requirements: Able to meet the physical demands of the position, reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. They must have good manual dexterity. Must be able to express or exchange ideas by means of spoken and written word. Must be able to view and read information on computer screens. The job entails walking, standing, bending, traveling among several different stories/floors, sitting, working on a computer, carrying objects. The Senior Social Worker is required to travel on a regular basis to other locations of care within the North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System to carry out job duties/assignments. The Senior Social Worker is required to drive and/or travel using personal vehicle or government vehicle to other sites of care within the NF/SG VHS, as well as, to community partners, as necessary to accomplish work assigned. Travel will be for long periods of time, up to three hours each way. Travel is expected at least 50% of work week. ["DUTIES: This Senior Social Worker position will be organizationally called \"LGBTQ+ Veteran Care Coordinator\". This position will be located at the Malcom Randall VA Medical Center in Gainesville, Fl. They will provide services to Veterans across all of NF/SG health system and serve as the system-wide subject matter expert. The Senior Social Worker performs duties associated with ensuring respectful, patient-centered, and competent care for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning Veterans. The Senior Social Worker supports the implementation of national and VISN-level policies and maintains regular communication with the LGBTQ+ Program (10P4Y) regarding VA policies and procedures. The Senior Social Worker serves as the Point of Contact for LGBTQ+ Veteran-related health care issues. They plan regular training events for both clinical and administrative staff members in order to enhance knowledge, understanding and compliance with VA policies. The Senior Social Worker participates in outreach and community-based activities to include helping facilities celebrate LGBTQ+ special observances such as LGBTQ+ Pride month, LGBTQ+ Health Awareness Week, and Transgender Awareness Month. Ensures program materials and safety symbols throughout the facility. Coordinates with the EEO LGBTQ+ Special Emphasis Manager (SEPM) as appropriate to engage in collaborative outreach, event planning and address LGBTQ+ Veteran employee concerns. The Senior Social Worker establishes partnerships with facility departments, programs, committees, and workgroups to respond to compliments, complaints, inquiries, and recommendations from various stakeholders. The Senior Social Worker assists with the facility's response to the Healthcare Equity Index (HEI) survey. As lead clinical coordinator for transgender Veteran care, the Senior Social Worker serves as the Point of Contact for transgender Veterans seeking medical or supportive care within NF/SG VHS. They complete psychosocial assessments and provide focused case management, care coordination and education regarding affirming VA and community based resources. The Senior Social Worker fosters transgender Veterans' social support and connection through referral to VA support groups, community organizations, and special events within the VA and community. Provides subject matter expertise regarding the complex and marginalized Veteran population by offering education and consultation to clinical staff; working with clinicians to facilitate appropriate and respectful care of LGBTQ+ Veterans; offering guidance on placing consults and orders, while modeling respectful language and appropriate documentation per VHA policies. Provides individual counseling to transgender Veterans, using minority stress theory as a framework to explore mental and physical health risk factors, offering support and education across stages of transition; assessing symptoms of Gender Dysphoria/comorbid mental health diagnoses, and referring for more intensive therapy as appropriate. The Senior Social Worker requires advance level knowledge and understanding of the biopsychosocial, behavioral health and mental health needs of Veterans and their family members/caregivers. The Senior Social Worker is primarily responsible for providing psychosocial and mental health assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning/execution, care management, case management, crisis intervention and evidence-based psychotherapy services to Veterans, their families/caregivers in assigned clinical position. This position may include requires the ability to make and complete work assignments within the program area, with very limited or no direct supervision. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm Compressed/Flexible: Not available. Telework: Not available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: Senior Social Worker Women's Health and LGBTQ, FS #50720F. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]
Providing Health Care for Veterans: The Veterans Health Administration is America’s largest integrated health care system, providing care at 1,255 health care facilities, including 170 medical centers and 1,074 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics), serving 9 million enrolled Veterans each year.
