Career Center

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. Learn more To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 09/30/2022. BASIC REQUIREMENTS: Citizenship: Be a citizen of the United States. (Non-Citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens. English Language Proficiency: Social Workers must be proficient in spoken and written English. Grade Determinations: 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. (COPIES OF TRANSCRIPTS MUST BE SUBMITTED WITH APPLICATION PACKET) Licensure: Senior social workers must be licensed or certified by a state at the advanced practice level which included an advanced generalist or clinical examination, unless they are grandfathered by the state in which they are licensed to practice at the advanced practice level (except for licenses issued in California, which administers its own clinical examination for advanced practice) and they must be able to provide supervision for licensure. Current state requirements may be found by going to http://vaww.va.gov/OHRM/T38Hybrid/. Certification: Must provide verification of training or certification sufficient to provide clinical supervision to unlicensed social workers (copy of certification required; in CA, 15 hours is required). SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: The candidate must have at least two years post advanced practice clinical licensure and should be in a specialized area of social work practice of which, one year must be equivalent to the GS-11 grade level and have completed training in order to provide clinical supervision to unlicensed social workers (copy of certification required). Senior social workers have experience that demonstrates possession of advanced practice skills and judgment and are experts in their specialized area of practice. Senior social workers may have certification or other post-masters training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university that includes a defined curriculum/course of study and internship or equivalent supervised professional experience in a specialty. (EVIDENCE OF THIS EXPERIENCE MUST BE DOCUMENTED IN YOUR RESUME). In addition to meeting the basic requirements, the candidate must demonstrate the professional knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) below. 1. Skill in a range of specialized interventions and treatment modalities used in specialty treatment programs or with special patient populations. This includes individual, group, and/or family counseling or psychotherapy and advanced level psychosocial and/or case management. 2. Ability to incorporate complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice. 3. Knowledge in developing and implementing methods for measuring effectiveness of social work practice and services in the specialty area, utilizing outcome evaluations to improve treatment services and to design system changes. 4. Ability to provide specialized consultation to colleagues and students on the psychosocial treatment of patients in the service delivery area, as well as role modeling effective social work practice skills. 5. Ability to expand clinical knowledge in the social work profession, and to write policies, procedures, and/or practice guidelines pertaining to the service delivery area. References: VA Handbook 5005/120, Part II, Appendix G39 Social Worker, available in local VA Human Resource Offices. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. Physical Requirements: The physical demands of this position involve primarily walking, talking, use of the telephone, etc. Strenuous physical activity is not required although the incumbent is expected to withstand pressure and stress as part of their day-to-day activities: light lifting under 15 pound, light carrying under 15 pounds, use of fingers, walking and standing up to 8 hours, and operation of motor vehicle. Environmental Factors: Constant noise, working around moving objects or vehicles, working closely with others, and working alone. ["The incumbent, a professional social worker, in this position functions as the Medical Center's Case Manager for VA Sierra Nevada Health Care System for Homeless Veterans Program's, HUD/VASH Program. The HUD/VASH program is a collaborative effort, supported through HUD Section 8 rental assistance vouchers and VA's provision of intensive case management services. The primary goal of HUD/VASH is to move veterans and their families out of chronic homelessness. The primary component of the program is VA case management services, designed to improve veteran's health and mental health, enhancing their ability to remain stable, housed and community-integrated. The incumbent is responsible for program oversight, monitoring and administration, serving as the primary contact with local Public Housing Agencies (PHAs) and providing case management-based services (directly or through referral) necessary to ensure that veteran care is coordinated with the VA medical center, community health or mental health providers, and agencies that serve homeless populations. Duties of the position include, but are not limited to: Responsible for data collection, administrative record keeping, and monitoring patient or program clinical indictors, thresholds, and performance measurements. Reviewing agreements between Section 9 landlords, PHAs, and the VA to establish appropriate referral sites for placements. Establishes, implements, and maintains referral and screening procedures for potential HUD/VASH veteran participants that meets national policy as well as the needs of medical center mental health services and residential programs. Conducts and participates in outreach activities including field interviews, assessments and referrals for homeless veterans contacted in the community, shelters, and \"on the streets,\" as well as those who are referred by VA residential programs, medical centers, or outpatient clinics. Evaluates the veterans' situation, abilities, and capabilities, and arrives at a reasons conclusion including an assessment of vulnerability and prioritization for admission. Assesses at-risk factors and develops a preliminary plan. Uses professional judgment and advanced practice skills to make a psychosocial diagnosis. Effectively provides case management services while utilizing professional skill, objectivity, insight, advanced clinical training, and experience to interpret data and to identify viable treatment options and recognizing potential high-risk factors, acuity, and needs for services. Assists veterans in maintaining appointments at VA Medical Centers and other community agencies for medical, psychiatric, substance abuse, vocational, and other services consistent with veterans' goals associated with healthful independent living. Participates in the assignment of veterans to treatment teams, programs, and consults with other specialists in planning treatment for veterans with co-morbidities. Makes routine visits to each veteran in residence to assess their environment and provide on-going clinical services. Provides consultation to interdisciplinary team members and is responsible for development and maintenance of professional standards of practice and educating others about them. Documents independently in the medical records utilizing paper and/or electronic formats, including psychosocial assessments, diagnostics, treatment, progress notes, follow up, and referral. Other duties as assigned by management. Work Schedule: 8:00am - 4:30pm ; Monday - Friday\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required\nVirtual position: No\nTelework: Yes\nRecruitment and Relocation: Incentives may be authorized for a highly qualified candidate. This position will be open continuous until filled through September 30, 2022. Qualified applicants will be referred every two weeks."]