Social Worker (PACT) – EDUCATION DEBT REDUCTION PROGRAM

San Angelo, Texas, Texas, 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. 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. This vacancy will remain open until filled. The first cut-off date is 10/24/2022. Additional applications will be referred as needed. 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/. Exception. 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 the GS-11 grade level and above, the candidate must be licensed or certified. At the time of appointment, the supervisor, chief social work or social work executive will provide the unlicensed/uncertified social worker with the written requirements for licensure or certification, including the time by which the license or certification must be obtained and the consequences for not becoming licensed or certified by the deadline.] Physical Standards. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. English Language Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). Preferred Experience: Ability to engage and perform in basic level of General Direct Case Management and Crisis Intervention. Ability to Engage, Advocate, Collaborate, Practice and Coordinate with Interdisciplinary teams and other services and disciplines within the VHA or in the Community and assist with discharges of Veterans from community inpatient facilities to close the gap of services for Veterans. Ability to discuss and complete Advance Directives and engage in further discussions with Veterans and families around Patient Care Priorities, Advanced Care Planning, End of Life Discussions, etc. Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met.
GS-9 Social Worker.
Experience, Education, and Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements.
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.
GS-11 Social Worker. 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.
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. Assignments. This is the full performance level. Social workers at this level are licensed or certified to independently practice social work. Incumbents are assigned to all program areas, including but not limited to: inpatient or outpatient medicine, surgery, mental health, neurology, rehabilitation medicine, and geriatrics. Employees provide professional, independent social work services in the assigned area. Duties 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 and knowledge to maintain Veteran privacy and confidentiality per policies, handbooks or directives; and acts as an advocate with appropriate VA and community service providers and agencies when it serves the best interest of the Veteran and family members/caregiver. Incumbent independently assesses the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and their family members, identifying the Veteran’s strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and psychosocial acuity. References: VA Handbook 5005 Part II Appendix G39 Social Worker Qualification Standard dated September 10, 2019. 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-9 to GS-11. Physical Requirements: Moderate Lifting/Carrying (15-44 pounds); Reaching above shoulder; Use of fingers; Walking/Standing (4 hours); Near vision correctable at 13″ to 16″ to Jaeger 1 to 4; Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other; Hearing (aid permitted); Mental and Emotional Stability. [“Screening/Assessment:nCompletes an assessment of the Veteran in collaboration with the interdisciplinary treatment team, the Veteran, family members and significant others. Understands the problems of advancing age and have respect for the diverse needs 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. It is the responsibility of the Social Worker, working within the interdisciplinary treatment team, to share in the development of a treatment plan with the Veteran based on this assessment. Treatment Planning/Goal Setting:nResponsible for contributing to the development of the treatment plan and setting achievable treatment goals with the Veteran and family members/caregiver. Referral to service providers:nThroughout the course of treatment, the Social Worker is the subject matter expert on VA and/or community resources. Collaborates with other service providers in reassessing the Veteran’s needs. 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 surrogate decision-maker. Resource Usage/Development:nResponsible for using the current Social Work resource file of VA and community social service programs and enhancing the content to the benefit of Veterans. Refers the Veteran to needed services. Advocacy:nUnderstands the difficulty of bureaucracy and will act as an advocate when it serves the best interest of the Veteran and family members/caregiver. Educates and encourages the Veteran to advocate on his/her own behalf, thus fostering a sense of independence and empowerment. Crisis Intervention:nExperienced in making rapid assessments and developing crisis management plans. Accesses multiple resource directories in addition to previously developed resources to meet the demands of a crisis. In the event of a medical or psychiatric emergency, follows the protocol of his/her respective clinic and the facility at the WTVAHCS. Provides crisis intervention services, seeking to address the cause as well as the presenting complaint, coordinates family conferences and serves as liaison to family members. Incumbent maintains knowledge of Suicide Prevention policy and procedure, recognizes warning signs for suicide ideation or recent self-directed violence, and utilizes the identified screening tools to assess suicide risk. Education/Health promotion and prevention:nProvides education related to VA and community resources, entitlements, Advance Directives/Living Will and will refer Veterans and family members/caregiver to the appropriate interdisciplinary team member for identified health education needs. Coordination of non-institutional and institutional services:nReviews the progress notes from the other providers to accurately determine the strengths and limitations of each Veteran. Educates the Veteran, their family members/caregiver and the team of all the options available to them and collaborates with the Veteran and family members/caregiver on the preferred option. Responsible for the monitoring of, and discharge planning for, Veterans assigned to the PACT Team while Veterans are hospitalized in any number of local medical facilities. This includes on-site review and assessment at local facilities when deemed appropriate and necessary. Supportive counseling:nProvides the Veterans and their family members/caregiver with ongoing supportive counseling to deal with the psychosocial impact of coping with chronic/disabling illness(es), onset of a catastrophic illness mental illness(es), etc. Administrative responsibilities:nEnters all Veteran/family contacts in the electronic record using appropriate formats and templates. The information is reviewed with the patient on a regular basis. Establishes and maintains positive working relationships with employees, volunteers, consumers and stakeholders within the VA and outside community agencies. Attends all appropriate Social Work and interdisciplinary staff meetings. Collaborates in the performance improvement process and comply with performance measures as required by the VA for their specific population and/or program. Participate in activities that obtain feedback from clients and work to enhance services as needed.nParticipates in “on call” coverage for Social Work Service. Performs other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday – Friday, 8:00am – 4:30pmnTelework: Not AvailablenVirtual: This is not a virtual position.nFunctional Statement #: 000000nRelocation/Recruitment Incentives: not AuthorizednEDRP Authorized: Contact the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn morenPermanent Change of Station (PCS): Not AuthorizednFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required”]

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