Social Worker

Summary 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. Program 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. Qualifications 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 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 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 - the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates Social Worker - GS-9 (1) Experience - Education - and Licensure None beyond the basic requirements (2) Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Ability to utilize a Veteran centric approach when providing interventions and counseling for Veterans - their family members - caregivers - and survivors (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 Social Worker - GS-11 (1) 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 NOTE: For appointment licensure or certification at this level please refer to paragraph 3c OR (2) 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 (3) 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 - educational - and other 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 Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit 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 Duties VA Careers - Social Work: The duties of this position include but are not limited to the following: The BHIP Social Worker will provide Mental Health services to the Veteran population at a location of the VA Portland Health Care System Clinical services include provision of high-quality psychosocial assessment - psychotherapy - advocacy - and coordination of linkages to other appropriate VA or community service providers/agencies as needed by the Veteran This is accomplished in collaboration with other members of the Mental Health Division or other interdisciplinary treatment teams as appropriate Screening/Assessment-The social worker will develop an assessment of the Veteran independently and/or in collaboration with the interdisciplinary treatment team - the Veteran - family members - and significant others The goal of the assessment is to highlight the Veteran's strengths - limitations - and internal/external supports and service needs to optimize the Veteran's functional status The biopsychosocial assessment will include clinical interview - administration of psychiatric test instruments - and/or collateral information Some programs will require the use ofbreathalyzers and drugs screens Based on the biopsychosocial assessment - the mental health social worker uses professional judgment and advanced practice skills to make a diagnosis using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders The social worker provides treatment planning - evaluation - and intervention with serious and complicated - highly diverse cases involving substance abuse and psychiatric illness He/she demonstrates an understanding of current and advanced techniques to the treatment of this Veteran population related to their physical limitations - psychological needs - psychiatric conditions - environmental needs and age associated illnesses and conditions Treatment Planning/Goal Setting- The social worker independently develops the mental health treatment plan and sets achievable treatment goals with the Veteran The Social Worker provides independent consultation and makes recommendations to the interdisciplinary team on course of treatment Documentation/Productivity - The social worker will complete documentation in compliance with appropriate documentation standards The social worker consistently maintains an acceptable level of productivity per guidelines which may include special assignments Crisis Intervention - The social worker is experienced in making rapid assessments and developing crisis management plans for various types of crises including housing and financial emergencies - psychiatric relapse - potential suicide - and other high-risk behaviors/situations The social worker will assess for suicidality and self- harm and provide appropriate intervention including but not limited to safety planning The social worker will assist with admission to mental health inpatient programs as needed The social worker has access to multiple resource directories in addition to previously developed resources to meet the demands of a crisis In the event of a medical or psychiatric emergency - staff will follow the protocol of the Mental Health Division at the Portland VA Medical Center Work Schedule: Monday-Friday - 08:00am-4:30pm Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive Contact View email address on click.appcast.io for questions/assistance Learn more Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized #J-18808-Ljbffr