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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. English Language Proficiency: Social workers must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j, this part. Education Requirement: Master of Social Work: Applicants must have a master's degree in social work from a school of social work fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. Note: 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. COPY OF TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED. Licensure Requirement: Appointment at the GS-9 (Entry or Developmental Level): 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 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. Appointment at the GS-11 Full Performance Level: Persons hired or reassigned to full performance 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. Grade Determinations: GS-9 (Entry Level): Experience, Education, and Licensure: None beyond the basic requirements. 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. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, the applicant's resume 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. GS-11 (Full Performance Level): 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, the applicant's resume 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. All qualifying experience you possess must be clearly described in your application package. We will not make assumptions when reviewing applications. Failure to demonstrate your experience in your resume may result in disqualification. It is strongly recommended that you write to each KSA in your application package. Preferred Experience: Behavior modification or monitoring experience, nursing home experience. References: VA Handbook 5005 Part II, Appendix G39 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. ["This position is heavily involved in behavioral program development, fostering community partnerships, and continuous quality improvement efforts. The position requires knowledge, expertise, and passion for working with individuals with mental health and/or neurocognitive disorders with associated distressed behaviors, typically within the context of acute and/or chronic medical conditions. Team programming follows a behavioral model that places heavy emphasis on non-pharmacological management of distressed behaviors. Major duties include, but are not limited to, the following: Exhibit skill and expertise in the work with patients and families who are experiencing a wide range of complicated mental, emotional, behavioral, physical, psychosocial, and environmental problems. Possess knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses commonly associated with geriatric patients and dementia diagnosis as well as insight into the needs of and services required for individuals with these conditions and the skills to implement treatment modalities. Use the social work process (psychosocial assessment, diagnosis, and treatment) in collaboration with interprofessional team members to develop holistic case management care plan to implement appropriate psychosocial treatment interventions and behavioral management strategies. Serve as an active participant in the treatment planning process with the BRO Team and other interdisciplinary team members. Must be sensitive to the ethnic and cultural diversity and age-specific challenges of the population and adjusts intervention and treatment plans as appropriate. As a member of the health care team, participates fully in developing, planning, implementing and evaluating and following up on the needs of the veteran. Coordinate care with the interprofessional team and community contacts to promote successful disposition plans and continuity of care. Coordinate discharge plans with other disciplines and is responsible for ensuring that discharge plans are executed in a manner that is timely and appropriate. Provide consultation and education to veterans and families on community resources, advance directives, guardianships, commitments, VA benefits and other elements that may be specific to the care of the individual veteran . Acts as a consultant to other team/staff members and to staff members of Community Nursing Home Program. Provide case management to those veterans served by the BRO team throughout the continuum of care. Participate in the delivery of care in community settings including travel and visits to residential facilities, community nursing homes, groups homes, medical foster homes and other appropriate settings. Provide mentorship and education to community stakeholders regarding VA services and Veterans specific care plans. Effectively communicates with internal and external teams. Provide a full range of social work services within commonly accepted standards of social work practice which includes case work, individual, family and group counseling, discharge planning, case management and other services as appropriate. Coordinate treatment and communicates with the care lines to facilitate continuity of care for veterans during times of transition. Participate in committee assignments, as deemed necessary BRO Program Coordinator. Assist patients and their significant others with coping and dealing with the loss and grief experiences in disability, terminal illness and death. Document social work interventions and activities in patient's clinical record utilizing CPRS and ensure appropriate hand off when transitioning patient care. Mentor and guides less experienced staff and may supervise the practice of social work students. Seek consultation from the EC&R social work supervisor and other program leaders as appropriate. Serve as a partner to CLC social work staff and assists with coverage as needed. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8am - 4:30pm Telework: Ad Hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Contact vhavisn23edrp@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]

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