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Facilitates the admission process for veterans into the programs under the Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (MH RRTP), specifically participating in the screening process for admission. **This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT. Qualified applicants will be considered and referred upon the hiring manager's requests. Applicants are encouraged to apply early, as this announcement can close before 9/29/2023, if a selection is made.** 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.] 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). Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, you must meet the following grade requirements. GS-9 Social Worker: Experience, Education, and Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Ability to work with Veterans and family members from various socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other diversified backgrounds utilizing counseling skills. (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. GS-11 Social Worker: 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 (KSAs). 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, cultural, ethnic, educational and other diversified 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. References: VA Handbook 5005 Part II Appendix G39 Social Worker Qualification Standard dated September 10, 2019. 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-09 to GS-11. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive 5019. ["VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU Major duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to: Conducts MH RRTP screenings as part of the admission process for all MH RRTP programs and utilizes this screening to identify emotional, social, and environmental strengths and problems related to diagnosis, illness, treatment, and/or life situation. Collaborates with the MH RRTP Screening Board regarding pending consults. Determines which MH RRTP program best meets veterans' needs with the collaboration of the veteran/family and the MH RRTP Screening Board, based on the information gathered during the screening. Provides veterans with written materials/information about the various MH RRTP programs as needed. Conducts Strengths, Needs, Abilities, Preferences (SNAP) assessment and Suicide Screening with veteran prior to admission to the MH RRTP. Maintains a schedule of admissions to and discharges from the MH RRTP programs, and tracks required monitors specified by the MH RRTP Annuals Performance Improvement Plan. Coordinates community-based services through information and referrals to community agencies, VA, and other government programs as needed. Completes suicide screening and related clinical reminders to identify high-risk patients and make referrals for additional services when indicated. Provides crisis intervention services, seeking to address the cause as well as the presenting complaint and has a working knowledge and experience in use of medical and mental health diagnosis, disabilities and treatment procedures. Establishes relationships with veterans and their families during the admission process to the MH RRTP. Works with patients and families who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric, medical, and social problems utilizing case management services. Serving as a liaison to family members may also be necessary during the admission process. Communicates effectively, both orally and in writing, with people from varied backgrounds. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm, or as determined by the agency Telework: Available based on the needs of the facility. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 91959-A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]

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