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.
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: Master's degree in social work (MSW) 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 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 master's degree in social work. Licensure: Candidate 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. 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). GS-12 Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements, applicants must have at least two years of experience 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. In addition to the experience above, candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: 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. Ability to incorporate complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice. 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. 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. 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. 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, applicants must have at least two years of experience 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. Preferred Experience: Two plus yeas experience in the PACT Social Work Program conducting health behavior assessments and providing interventions. Experience in process improvement and program development. Experience in training or clinically supervising. Reference: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G39 - Social Worker Qualification Standard. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12 Physical Requirements: Work is sedentary but also demands standing, walking, bending, twisting, and carrying light items.
Practices at the advanced level and has specialized knowledge of practices typically related to terminal, chronically ill/injured, legally blind, mentally or physically disabled, and/or elderly patients. Is a critical member of the Interdisciplinary Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) in the Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) and/or the Main Tucson Campus. Services include provision of high quality case management, clinical treatment, advocacy, and 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. Responsible for developing and directing medical social work services for Veterans assigned to their respective assignment location, serving Veterans and their families from a large and rural geographic area. Works collaboratively with medicine, mental health, and specialty services in planning, organizing, managing, and evaluating the social work services needed to further the mission of the clinic in providing exceptional health care to improve the health and wellbeing of the Veterans served by the clinic. Functions autonomously in conducting assessment and coordination of treatment services for the bio-psychosocial problems of the Veteran, often at a time when the Veteran is experiencing crisis. This includes conducting high risk screening for child/elder abuse/neglect, intimate partner violence, homicidal ideation and suicide risk. Must complete thorough bio-psychosocial assessments to determine the presenting problem, to determine in-home factors impacting the problem, and to determine obstacles to treatment and/or follow through with recommended treatments. Functions as a member of the outpatient interdisciplinary team to coordinate with the PACT in an effort to meet the agreed upon goals for a Veteran. Services include but are not limited to homelessness, hospice services palliative care, nursing home care, in-home health services, food and financial resources, VA benefits, and transportation services. Coordinates with Primary Care Providers to develop efficient and effective ways of providing education to patients related to Advance Directives, Pre-Hospital Directives, Goals of Care and Life Sustaining Treatment conversations. The incumbent will provide social work coverage for all areas of PACT SW and other duties as assigned with in the SWS. The incumbent will serve as a Lead social worker in PACT, providing clinical consultation to other PACT social workers and PACT interdisciplinary team (IDT) members. The incumbent will serve on committees, work groups, and task forces at the facility as deemed appropriate by the supervisor and Chief of SWS. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 08:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: 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. Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade). 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) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience. 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: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized