Job Details

Overview

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.

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement. 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).
• 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 masters 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 masters degree in social work. Verification of the degree can be made by going to the CSWE accreditation website. (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 masters degree level. Current state requirements may be found by visiting the VA OHRM resources. (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 will provide the written requirements for licensure or certification, including the deadline and consequences for not obtaining licensure.
  • Failure to obtain license or certification: Social workers must actively pursue meeting state prerequisites for licensure/certification starting from the date of appointment. Failure to become licensed or certified within the prescribed time may result in removal from the GS-0185 social worker series and may result in termination of employment.
  
  

May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees in this occupation who meet the criteria).

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:

1. Ability to work with Veterans and family members from various socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other diversified backgrounds utilizing counseling skills.
2. Ability to assess the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and their family members, and to formulate and implement a treatment plan, identifying problems, strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and needed assistance.
3. Ability to implement treatment modalities in working with individuals, families, and groups to achieve treatment goals, using judgment and skill in supportive, problem-solving, or crisis intervention techniques.
4. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients, staff, and community agency representatives.
5. Fundamental knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities, and treatment procedures, including acute, chronic, and traumatic illnesses/injuries; common medications and their effects/side effects; and medical terminology.

GS-11 Experience and Licensure. Appointment to GS-11 requires completion of a minimum of one year of post-MSW experience equivalent to the GS-9 level in health care or 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 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:

1. Knowledge of community resources, how to make referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services, and ability to coordinate services.
2. Skill in independently conducting psychosocial assessments and treatment interventions for a wide variety of individuals from diverse backgrounds.
3. Knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities and treatment procedures to formulate a treatment plan.
4. Skill in independently implementing different treatment modalities with individuals, families, and groups to achieve treatment goals.
5. Ability to provide consultation to new social workers, students, and other staff about psychosocial needs of patients and impact on health care and treatment compliance.

Preferred Experience: Experience working with Substance Use, Veteran/Military populations, Case Management, and Group facilitation.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit the VA Qualification Standards page (unavailable link in this format).

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 lbs.), moderate carrying (15-44 lbs.), use of fingers, walking, standing, operation of a motor vehicle, near vision correctable to 13"-16" Jaeger 1 to 4, far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other, both eyes, hearing (aid may be permitted), and emotional and mental health stability. Environmental factors include working outside and inside, dry atmospheric conditions, working closely with others, and working alone.