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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. ***This is an open continuous announcement until August 4, 2023. Qualified applicants will be considered and referred as vacancies become available. *** 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: 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). 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. 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. 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). (1) All persons employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education and licensure or certification that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all of the basic requirements in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: (2) Such employees in an occupation that requires a licensure or certification, may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. (3) Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. (4) Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all of the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation. (5) If an employee who was retained in an occupation listed in 38 U.S.C. § 7401(3) under this provision leaves that occupation, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation. Grade Determinations: GS-9 Experience, Education, and Licensure: None beyond the basic requirements. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, the candidate 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 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, candidates 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. 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. References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/120 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. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Services. ["Advocates for and participates in consultative interdisciplinary specialty care that addresses the health and advance care planning goals, psychosocial, spiritual, mental health, substance abuse, and socioeconomic needs of Veterans living with a life-limiting illness. Provides a range of psychosocial and behavioral interventions as a member of the interdisciplinary team and clinic. Serves as a point of contact for communications and case management. Establishes rapport and facilitates Veteran and family-centered goals of care discussions and team meetings. Collaborates with staff in mental health, substance abuse, community home health, and hospice teams, and other allied healthcare professions to address the end-of-life, mental health, psychosocial, and spiritual needs of Veterans, families, and caregivers. Participates with other partners in improving communication and decision making in care related to a life-limiting illness or end-of-life for Veterans. Participates in developing new programs within palliative care; assisting with goals of care discussions with Veterans, families, and caregivers. Helps assess the advance care planning goals, needs, and values of complex Veterans with life-limiting illness. Assists inpatient and outpatient medical teams in understanding and coordinating care plans related to a Veteran's values and goals of care. Coordinates and communicates care needs with inpatient and outpatient interdisciplinary teams. Coordinates with home hospice, CLC, other long-term care facilities or skilled nursing facilities, dialysis centers, and/or contract remote medical providers. Provides the Veteran, family, and/or caregivers with education about palliative care, hospice care, life-limiting conditions, diagnoses, interventions, treatments, management, and selfcare. Screening/Assessment Develops an assessment of the Veteran in collaboration with the interdisciplinary treatment team, the Veteran, family members, and significant others. Demonstrates an understanding of the range of treatment and skills needed for all adult Veterans including visually impaired and geriatric Veterans related to their physical limitations, psychological needs, age associated illnesses, and conditions. Understands the problems of advancing age and respect for the diversification of the aging Veteran population, being sensitive to human growth and development, age-appropriate needs and concerns of the geriatric Veteran. Works within the interdisciplinary treatment team to develop a treatment plan with the Veteran based on this assessment. Treatment Planning/Goal Setting Develops the treatment plan and setting achievable treatment goals with the Veteran/family. Referral to service providers Collaborates with other service providers in reassessing the Veteran's needs. Educates the Veteran and/or caregiver of the available services and assisting them in establishing the appropriate referrals based on the Veteran's preference or that of his surrogate decision-maker. Crisis Intervention Access to multiple resource directories in addition to previously developed resources to meet the demands of a crisis. Makes rapid assessments and developing crisis management plans for referral to mental health inpatient programs. Education/Health promotion and prevention Assists in identifying the health education needs of Veterans and their families or caregivers and works with the interdisciplinary team to develop a plan to address health education needs. Provides specialized health and psychosocial education services to the Veteran, family, and/or caregivers. Refers the Veterans and/or families to the appropriate interdisciplinary team member for identified health education needs. Supportive counseling Provides the Veterans and their caregivers with ongoing supportive counseling. Administrative responsibilities Enters all Veteran/family contacts in the electronic record using appropriate formats and templates. Establishes and maintains positive working relationships with employees, volunteers, consumers and stakeholders within the VA and outside community agencies. Attends all appropriate staff meetings (interdisciplinary treatment team meetings and other committees as appropriate, etc.) and perform other duties as required. Collaborates in the performance improvement processes and comply with performance measures as required by the VA for their specific population and/or program. Participates in activities that obtain feedback from Veterans and work to enhance services as needed. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 52905O, 52906O Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized EDRP Authorized: Contact Micaela.Gaytan@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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