Summary

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.

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
• Proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f)
• Hold 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
• Note: A doctoral degree in Social Work may NOT be substituted for the master's degree in social work
• Licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level
• 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: GS-12 Senior Social Worker 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 must be able to provide supervision for licensure
• GS-12 ASWB Examination: Must have completed and passed the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) advanced generalist or clinical examination
• GS-12 Senior Social Worker Experience: Must possess at least two years of experience post advanced practice clinical licensure of which - one year must be equivalent to the GS-11 grade level
• Examples of specialized experience include - but are not limited to: assessing and documenting identified behaviors or symptoms of abuse - neglect - exploitation and/or intimate partner violence
• use of clinical social work skills
• maintaining patient privacy and confidentiality per policies - handbooks or directives
• acting as an advocate with appropriate community service providers and agencies when it serves the best interest of the patient and family members/caregiver
• independently assessing the psychosocial functioning and needs of patients and their family members - identifying the patient's strengths - weaknesses - coping skills - and psychosocial acuity
• Applicable experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment
• Senior social workers are experts in their specialized area of practice
• Applicable experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment
• Senior social workers are experts in their specialized area of practice
• GS-12 Senior Social Worker Knowledge - Skills and Abilities: In addition to meeting the licensure and experience for the GS-12 level - must possess the following Knowledge - Skills and Abilities: 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
• 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-12
• Physical Requirements: Traveling throughout the medical center and the community is required - as is performing activities involving sitting - walking - standing - bending - and carrying such items as books - papers - and files
• In carrying out responsibilities - it may be necessary for the incumbent to travel into the community where he/she conducts interviews with the Veterans - their families - representatives of community health and welfare agencies and law enforcement agencies
• The incumbent must possess a current Driver's License and drive a government vehicle in carrying out professional duties when deemed necessary.

Duties

• Major duties include: Provides direct services to Veterans enrolled in the Home Based Primary Care (HBPC) Program at the Southern Arizona VA Health Care System (SAVAHCS) ranging from young adults to geriatric Veterans
• 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
• Serve as a subject matter expert to colleagues - providing professional opinions and support for psychosocial treatment of these complex populations when consulted
• Provides a comprehensive psychosocial assessment and integrates it into an overall plan of care in collaboration with the interdisciplinary treatment team - the Veteran - family members and significant others - whenever possible
• Coordinates community-based services - including information and referral for additional services from other VA programs - other government programs and community agency programs
• identifies and prioritizes high-risk patients and provides case management services
• Establishes and maintains effective therapeutic relationships with Veterans and their families
• Provides initial and annual caregiver burden assessment and provides individual counseling - resources - respite and general caregiver support as needed on a case by case basis
• Provides consultation services to other staff regarding the psychosocial needs of Veterans and the impact of psychosocial problems on health care and adherence to treatment plan Enters all Veteran/family contacts in the electronic record using appropriate formats and templates
• Reviews - updates and writes policies - procedures - and/or practice guidelines pertaining to the specialty population or specialty treatment program based on experience and evidence based practice research
• Establishes a continuing effective therapeutic relationship with the client - evaluating progress towards goals - performing follow-up after referral or if the client misses a counseling session - and adjusts treatment plan if results are inadequate
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday
• 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact VISN22HREducationReimbursementTeam@va.gov - the EDRP Office for questions/assistance
• Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized