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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. 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. Have a master's degree in social work from a school of social work fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). CSWE also accredits graduate programs in social work that grant Master's level degrees with other titles including MSSW, MSSA, MSS, MSA, and Master of Social Welfare; and meet the education requirement for appointment in the VA. A doctoral degree in social work may not be substituted for the master's degree in social work. Grade Determinations: GS-9 Social Worker: Experience, Education and Licensure. GS-9 is the entry level grade for the GS-185 social work series and is used for social workers with less than one year of post-MSW experience and for social workers who are not yet licensed or certified at the independent practice level. Social workers at the GS-9 level are working toward completion of prerequisites for licensure or certification. In addition, the candidates must demonstrate the KSAs in subparagraph (b) below. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities 1. Ability to provide psychosocial treatment to a wide variety of individuals from various socio-economic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other diversified backgrounds. This requires knowledge of human development and behavior (physical and psychological), and the differential influences of the environment, society, and culture. 2. Ability to work with patients and families who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric, medical, and social problems utilizing individual, group, and family counseling skills. Work with more complex problems is done under close supervision. With guidance from the social work supervisor, ability to assess the psychosocial functioning and needs of patients and their family members, and to formulate and implement a treatment plan, identifying the patient's problems, strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and assistance needed. 3. Basic knowledge of psychosocial treatment modalities and, under supervision, 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. 4. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, staff, and representatives of community agencies. Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with people from varied backgrounds. 5. 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. 6. Basic skill in the use of computer software applications for drafting documents, data management, and tracking. Ability to learn and utilize software programs in use by VHA. GS-11 Social Worker Experience, Education and Licensure. Promotion to the GS-11 full performance level requires completion of a minimum of 1 year of post-MSW degree experience in the field of health care social work (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 2c. OR, In addition to meeting basic requirements, a doctoral degree in social work from a school of social work may be substituted for the required 1 year of professional social work experience in a clinical setting. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the KSAs in subparagraph below. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities 1. Knowledge of community resources, how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services, and ability to coordinate services. 2. Ability to independently assess the psychosocial functioning and needs of patients and their family members and to formulate and implement a treatment plan, identifying the patient's problems, strengths, weaknesses, coping skills and assistance needed, in collaboration with the patient, family and interdisciplinary treatment team. 3. Ability to independently conduct psychosocial assessments and provide psychosocial treatment to a wide variety of individuals from various socio-economic, cultural, ethnic, educational and other diversified backgrounds. This requires knowledge of human development and behavior (physical and psychological) and the differential influences of the environment, society and culture. 4. Knowledge and experience in the use 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. 5. Knowledge of psychosocial treatment and ability to independently implement treatment modalities in working with individuals, families and groups who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric, medical and social problems to achieve treatment goals. This requires independent judgment and skill in utilizing supportive, problem solving or crisis intervention techniques. 6. Ability to independently provide counseling and/or psychotherapy services to individuals, groups and families. Social workers must practice within the bounds of their license or certification. For example, some states may require social workers providing psychotherapy to have a clinical level of licensure. 7. Ability to provide consultation services to other staff about the psychosocial needs of patients and the impact of psychosocial problems on health care and compliance with treatment. Ability to provide orientation and coaching to new social workers and social work graduate students. Ability to serve as a field instructor for social work graduate students who are completing VHA field placements. 8. Ability to independently evaluate his/her own practice through participation in professional peer review case conferences, research studies, or other organized means 9. Knowledge and skill in the use of computer software applications for drafting documents, data management, and tracking, especially those programs in use by VHA. References: VA Handbook 5005/23, Part II, Appendix G39, SOCIAL WORKER QUALIFICATION STANDARD The full performance level of this vacancy is 11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of 09 to 11. Physical Requirements: Light Lifting (under 15 lbs); Light carrying (under 15 lbs); Straight pulling (1hr); Walking (2hr); Standing (2hr); Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other; Hearing aid permitted. Environmental Factors: Working closely with others; Working alone. ["The HUD-VASH Social Worker is a member of the Harry S Truman Memorial Veterans' Hospital's Housing and Urban Development/VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program. The HUD-VASH program is a component of the Behavioral Health Homeless Programs team and is an intensive case management program aimed at providing psychosocial services primarily to assist chronically homeless Veterans and their families while reside in stable housing supported through HUD's Housing Choice Voucher system. The Housing and Urban Development/VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) Program is a collaborative effort that combines HUD Housing Choice Voucher rental assistance for homeless Veterans with case management and clinical services provided by Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) social workers at VA medical centers and in the community. HUD-VASH's primary goal is to move Veterans and their families out of chronic homelessness through intensive case management services which are designed to improve Veteran's health, mental health, and general well-being and to enhance their ability to become and remain stable, housed, and integrated into the community. Participating Veterans are also connected with health care and supportive services within the VA and community. HUD-VASH Social Workers use the principles of Housing First, Harm Reduction, and Trauma Informed Care in a team-based model of care to support chronically homeless and other vulnerable homeless Veterans in securing and maintaining permanent independent housing. The HUD-VASH Social Worker is a clinical professional who functions as a Social Worker/Case Manager for the Harry S Truman Memorial Veterans Hospital (HSTMVH) Housing and Urban Development/VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program. The HUD-VASH program falls within the Psychosocial Rehabilitation (PSR) programs of the Behavioral Health Services line. Incumbent is responsible for the provision of clinical, case management and supportive services to Veterans receiving housing assistance through HUD's Housing Choice Voucher system. Incumbent practices both within the hospital setting and within the community at large with special emphasis on providing independent clinical psychosocial and case management services within the Veterans' home residences. Intensive case management services and clinical psychosocial services are aimed at assisting chronically homeless or otherwise program eligible Veterans in obtaining and maintaining safe, decent, affordable housing via HUD's HCV system and at meeting the biological, psychological, social, and environmental needs of program eligible Veterans and their family members particularly those needs that may impact housing stability. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00 to 4:30pm Telework: Ad-hoc possible EDRP: Contact julie.steakley@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]

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