Job Description
Summary 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.
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
- English Language Proficiency: Social workers must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005 - Part II - chapter 3 - section A - paragraph 3j - this part
- Education Requirement: Master of Social Work: Must possess a master's degree in social work from a school of social work fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education
- Note: 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
- COPY OF TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED
- Licensure Requirement: Appointment at the GS-11 Full Performance Level: Persons hired or reassigned to full performance 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
- OR Appointment at the GS-9 (Entry or Developmental Level): 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 appointments at the GS-9 grade level - VHA social workers who are not licensed or certified at the time of appointment must become licensed or certified at the independent - master's level within three years of their appointment as a social worker
- Grade Determinations: GS-9 None beyond the basic requirements
- For appointments at the GS-9 grade level - VHA social workers who are not licensed or certified at the time of appointment must become licensed or certified at the independent - master's level within three years of their appointment as a social worker
- Most states require two years of post-MSW experience as a prerequisite to taking the licensure/certification exam - and VHA gives social workers one additional year to pass the licensure/certification exam
- AND Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
- In addition to the experience above - the applicant's resume must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Ability to work with Veterans and family members from various socioeconomic - cultural - ethnic - educational - and other diversified backgrounds utilizing counseling skills
- 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
- 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
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients - staff - and representatives of community agencies
- 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
- GS-11 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 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
- AND Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities: In addition to the experience above - the applicant's resume must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Knowledge of community resources - how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services - and ability to coordinate services
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- References: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit
- Preferred Experience: MH Experience - Treatment of Substance Use Disorder Experience 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: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position
- Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.
Duties
- VA Careers - Social Work: Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional The Outpatient Mental Health Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Social Worker is assigned to the St
- Cloud VA Health Care System MH ICC position
- The incumbent is an integral part of the overall VHA health care program and as part of the health care service delivery to Veterans and their families
- CLINICIAL FUNCTIONS: A
- Conducting behavioral health and mental health biopsychosocial assessments
- B
- Making sound professional judgments regarding clinical impressions - treatment approaches - and treatment planning
- C
- Coordinating with internal and external professionals to ensure appropriate transitions of care and appropriate/ necessary treatment is provided/offered to Veterans
- D
- Establishing and maintaining knowledge of VA and Veteran's benefits and services - community resources - and process for making appropriate referrals to community and other governmental programs or agencies
- E
- Providing advocacy to overcome potential barriers to access care/services and when it is in the best interests of the Veteran
- F
- Provides goals of care discussions - as well as education and assist in the completion of Advance Directives
- Organ - Tissue - and Eye Donation release of information forms
- and Guardianship documentation
- G
- Assesses for signs and symptoms of abuse - neglect and exploitation
- H
- Conducts practice in accordance with the VA and discipline specific ethical requirements and practices within the limits of current licensure or certification
- I
- Completing on-call duties - as assigned and per policy - which may include transportation of a Veteran
- ADMINISTRATIVE FUNCTIONS A
- Possesses and demonstrates ability to communicate effectively - both orally and in writing with people from varied backgrounds
- B
- Possesses skills in using computer systems and the internet for Veterans who choose this modality to communicate
- C
- Serves on supervisor approved committees - work groups - and task forces at the local facility - VISN or national level
- Collaborates in performance improvement processes and complies with performance measures as required by the VA for specific population/program
- D
- Attends and participates in all required administrative and clinical meetings
- E
- Maintains accurate - timely - and complete clinical records in accordance with professional practice and VA administration guidelines
- F
- Maintains data and statistical compilations to comply with accreditation bodies such as CARF and Joint Commission - and VA health care systems policies and procedures
- G
- Participates in Social Work Professional Practice Evaluation processes
- H
- Performs other duties as assigned and can - at times - assist other incumbents or perform special assignments to meet the needs of the healthcare system
- ROLE-SPECIFIC TASKS A
- Providing comprehensive Mental Health Treatment Coordination (MHTC) services within a team of interdisciplinary providers
- B
- Coordinate and facilitate the Veteran's overall treatment - view the Veteran comprehensively and provide continuity among various services by linking VA and community resources into a continuum of care - incorporate both inpatient and outpatient care - unless treatment requires relocation to another facility - enhance the continuity of care in a recovery-focused - integrative - rational - proactive - and individualized manner - collaborative assessment of the Veteran's needs - strengths - and challenges - plan specific services to meet the Veteran's identified needs - link required services - monitor progress toward treatment goals - and advocate with the patient to ensure needs are met
- C
- Incorporating a Recovery Model of Care to provide the framework for a collaborative relationship between the Mental Health Treatment Coordinator and the Veteran: Recovery based goals enhance accessibility - accountability - and efficiency of services-guiding principles of the Mental Health Treatment Coordinator/Veteran relationship are self-direction and patient responsibility - the facilitation of strength - independence - and hope - and the empowerment of the Veteran in his/her personal health
- D
- Educating and training other professionals and students in evidence-based treatment modalities and facility service availability as related to SUD .E
- Engaging various care settings across the Health Care System to promote and integrate SUD services
- ???????F
- Creating and implementing Action Plans for achieving SUD service integration goals
- Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8am-4:30pm Evenings and weekends maybe required Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
- Contact VHA.ELRSProgramSupport@va.gov - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
- Learn more Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
- Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Job Tags
Permanent employment, Full time, Work experience placement, Work at office, Local area, Remote work, Relocation, Relocation package, Monday to Friday, Weekend work, Afternoon shift,