This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.
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/. English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f). 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). Grandfathering Provision: The following is the standard grandfathering policy for all title 38 hybrid qualification standards. Please carefully review the qualification standard to determine the specific education and/or licensure/certification/registration requirements that apply to this occupation. 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: 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. 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. 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. 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. NOTE: If social workers covered under the grandfathering provision of the 1991 Federal law regarding licensure or certification of VHA social workers leave the GS-0185 social work series, they lose the grandfathering protection. If they choose to return at a later date to the GS-0185 series, they must be licensed or certified to qualify for employment as a social worker. Grade Requirements. This section is only to outline the grade determinations used for initial grade placement upon selection and will not be used for minimum qualifications. These grade determinations can be reviewed in VA Handbook 5005, Chapter II, Appendix G39, Social Worker Qualification Standards. 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. 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. Preferred Experience: Prefer 1 year nursing home experience. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards?. Physical Requirements: May require prolonged standing, moderate walking, and manual dexterity. Requires carrying light items such as books, files, or laptop computer. This position requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing. The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations, operative/invasive procedures, or home settings. The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders. The incumbent must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on patient needs.
Major duties include but are not limited to: The incumbent is assigned to the Community Living Center (CLC) program at Sierra Nevada Health Care System under Geriatrics and Extended Care, which includes long term care, short skilled stay and hospice. Services include provision of case management, clinical treatment, advocacy, discharge planning, supportive services to Veterans and/or their family members/significant others, and coordination of linkages to other appropriate VA or community service providers/agencies, as needed. The incumbent must use a high level of skill in assessing and treating the complicated psychosocial problems of Veterans as they transition from the Community Living Center to appropriate placement alternatives. This is accomplished in collaboration with members of the interdisciplinary treatment teams, as appropriate. The incumbent is able to independently work with Veterans and their families who are experiencing a wide range of complicated medical, psychiatric, emotional, behavioral, and psychosocial problems. Screening/Assessment: The incumbent is skilled at independently assessing the psychosocial functioning and needs of veterans in collaboration with the interdisciplinary treatment team, the veteran, guardian, family members and significant others. The incumbent has knowledge and understanding of the range of treatment and skills needed for all adult patients including geriatric patients related to their physical limitations, psychological needs and age associated illnesses and conditions. The incumbent must have an understanding of 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 and be able to provide current and advanced techniques to the treatment of this veteran population. Treatment Planning/Goal Setting/Case Management: Is responsible for the development of the care plan and setting achievable treatment goals with the Veteran and family members/caregiver. Will make recommendations to the interdisciplinary team on course of treatment. Case Management: Will provide case management and care coordination to facilitate the delivery of health care services, incorporates complex multiple causation deferential diagnosis and treatment of Veterans, including making psychosocial and psychiatric diagnosis within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice and, state licensure. Referral to service providers: Is responsible for educating the Veteran and family members/caregivers of the available services and assisting them in establishing the appropriate referrals based on the Veteran's preference or that of his/her surrogate decision-maker. Advocacy: Understands bureaucracy and will act as an advocate when it serves the best interest of the Veteran and family members/caregiver. Crisis Intervention: Social Worker can make rapid assessments and develop crisis management plans. Incumbent will ensure that GEC Supervisory Social Worker and CLC Program Manager are kept informed of any concerns with either patient or community facilities. Education/Health Promotion and Prevention: Will provide education related to VA and community resources, entitlements, Advance Directives/Living Will, Goals of Care Conversations, Catastrophic Disability and refers Veterans and family members/caregiver to the appropriate interdisciplinary team member for identified health education needs. Discharge/Aftercare planning: Will assist Veteran and their family members/caregiver in planning for discharge/aftercare by offering appropriate and viable discharge/aftercare options to the Veteran and appropriate family members/caregiver. Work Schedule: M-F 7:30 to 4:00 Telework: ADHOC only Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 03366F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact V21CCOEEDRP@VA.GOV, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more