Summary

This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until September 30 - 2026. The first cut-off dates for referral of eligible applications will be 12/04/2025. All eligible applicants will be reviewed and referred to the hiring manager no later than 12/18/2025. Eligible applications received after 12/04/2025 date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.

Basic Requirements:

• Citizenship
• Be a citizen of the United States
• (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3 - section A - paragraph 3g this part)
• 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
• 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
• (COPY OF TRANSCRIPT WITH CONFERRED DATE REQUIRED) Licensure/Certification
• 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/
• (COPY OF LICENSE REQUIRED FOR GS-11) 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
• GRADE DETERMINATIONS: GS-9 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 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 - 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
• (COPY OF TRANSCRIPT WITH CONFERRED DATE REQUIRED) Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• 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
• PREFERRED EXPERIENCE: Experience working with veterans
• REFERENCE: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://department.va.gov/employees/va-qualifications-standards/
• 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 (under 15 pounds) - use of fingers - be able to see a computer screen - and hearing (aid may be permitted)
• Environmental factors include working closely with others and working alone.

Duties

• Complete same-day Initial Five Element Mental Health Screening for all Veterans requesting mental health support
• Complete Measurement Based Care (i.e. - PHQ9 - GAD7 - etc) as part of clinical assessment to assist with determination of placement along the MH Continuum of Care and uses Behavioral Health Lab (BHL) software to support efficiency of administration and clinical review
• Using the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) - screen Veterans for risk of suicide
• Also screen for homicidality and other risk-related concerns
• Complete Comprehensive Suicide Risk Evaluation (CSRE) when indicated and provide intervention as necessary
• Complete MH Safety Plan and Suicide and Overdose Behavior Reports as needed Collaborate with Suicide Prevention Team
• Coordinate care for Veterans needing assistance with psychotropic medications - substance treatment services - homelessness services - among others
• Collaborate with MGVAMC's inpatient and outpatient services to support discharge planning and care transitions for Veterans new to mental health or substance abuse services
• Assist Veterans with coordination of care between BHS and other MGVAMC services (i.e. - enrollment - Primary Care - Urgent Care Clinic) and actively communicate with those healthcare teams
• Utilize face-to-face - telephone - and virtual modalities to assist with efficiency and patient preference
• Work actively with VA and non-VA mental health treatment teams - Veteran family members - and others invited by Veterans to participate in their care
• Document care provided in the Electronic Medical Record (EMR) - in full compliance with agency policies
• Accept additional and special assignments aligned with program - service - and agency goals
• Complete comprehensive Behavioral Health biopsychosocial intake assessments
• Utilizing DSM-5-TR criteria - diagnose MH disorders
• Complete initial treatment planning through Shared-Decision Making conversation with Veterans
• Support and encourage Veterans to participate in the full-complement of behavioral health services - including groups/classes - Whole Health programming - VA Chaplaincy programming - peer support - etc
• Document care provided in the Electronic Medical Record (EMR) - in full compliance with agency policies
• Accept additional and special assignments aligned with program - service - and agency goals
• Maintain PowerChart Referral Worklist for requests for service referrals Review initial Mission Act eligibility criteria and discuss as needed with referring provider - Veteran - and/or the Facility Office of Community Care (FOCC)
• When initial Mission Act eligibility criteria are met - contact Veteran to discuss Mission Act - Psychotherapy Episode of Care (EOC) model - and work to engage Veteran on EOC model
• Review secondary authorization requests (when community provider is requesting additional visits) for compliance with evidence-based care criteria and contacts Veteran and service provider when those criteria are missing or not demonstrate
• Respond to these requests within 24 hours per medical center policy regarding referral management
• Maintain list of community - state - and national resources - organizations - and support groups that may constitute appropriate care providers or support agencies for Veterans new to MH services
• Contribute to regional and national work groups that focus on provision of timely MH care to Veterans and report on these to service and facility Managership
• Use standard office software (word processing - e-mail - etc.) for performance of duties
• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am-4:30pm Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact VHA.ELRSProgramSupport@va.gov - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
• Learn more Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases
• When setting pay - a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade)
• Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment - up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth - adoption - or foster care placement of a child
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized