Summary

The GS-9 Social Work position is for entry level Social Workers who do not have a full year of experience post Master's degree. The GS-9 Social Worker requires clinical supervision and one year of clinical Social Work experience prior to functioning at the full performance level. The is the GS-11 - The incumbent in this social work position provides intake - outreach and case management services to Homeless veterans to help them transition from homelessness to permanent housing.

Qualifications

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 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
• Current state requirements may be found by going to http://vaww.va.gov/OHRM/T38Hybrid/
• 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 work with Veterans and family members from various socioeconomic - cultural - ethnic - educational - and other diversified backgrounds utilizing counseling skills
• (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 - cultural - ethnic - educational and other diversified 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 https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• 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-09 to GS-11
• Physical Requirements: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation - see Duties section for essential job duties of the position
• May require standing - lifting - carrying - sitting - stooping - bending - pulling and pushing
• May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment
• Driving requirement: Must be able to independently operate Government Vehicle
• Must provide clean driving record report from the DMV during the pre-employment process.

Duties

• Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf Social Work: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Social-Worker-Career-Flyer.pdf The social worker is responsible for completing the following duties/responsibilities: a
• The social worker will conduct psychosocial assessments to determine needs of Veterans and family members
• b
• The social worker is an active participant in the treatment planning process with other disciplines
• c
• The social worker will participate in discharge planning with other disciplines and will be responsible for ensuring that discharge plans are executed in a manner that is timely and appropriate
• d
• The social worker will provide individual - family and group counseling as appropriate
• e
• The social worker will provide consultation/education to Veterans and families on community resources - advance directives and VA benefits
• f
• The social worker will act as a consultant to other team/staff members
• g
• The social worker will act as liaison between VA and community resources - to include marketing and public relation duties as needed
• h
• The social worker will provide case management to Veterans and families - as needed - throughout the continuum of care
• i
• The social worker will provide a full range of discipline-specific services within commonly accepted standards of professional practice which includes case work - individual - family and group counseling - discharge planning - case management and other services as appropriate
• j
• The social worker will address Advance Directives in accordance with the standards of their work area
• k
• The social worker will provide wellness/prevention education and facilitate Patient/family support groups as appropriate
• I
• The social worker will as appropriate - supervise the practice of students - interns or a less experienced case manager
• m
• The social worker will coordinate treatment and communicate with the care lines to facilitate continuity of care for Veterans
• n
• The social worker will participate in committee assignments - as deemed necessary by the service manager
• o
• The social worker will maintain data and statistical compilations to comply with Joint Commission - CARF - VA and medical center policy and procedures
• p
• The social worker will assist patients and their significant others with coping and dealing with the loss and grief experiences in disability - terminal illness and death
• q
• The social worker will document interventions and activities in patient's clinical record utilizing CPRS and ensure appropriate hand off when transferring of patient care
• r
• The social worker will maintain familiarity and responsibility for all performance measures relating to the HUD-VASH Program Work Schedule: Monday-Friday - 7:30am-4:00pm - (Subject to change based on facility needs) Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment - up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth - adoption - or foster care placement of a child
• Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment - full time employees with a total family income below $144 -000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: This is not a telework position
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 01110-F - 01111-F