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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. Learn more 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. 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). Grade Determinations: Senior Social Worker, GS-12 Experience/Education. The candidate 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. Senior social workers have experience that demonstrates possession of advanced practice skills and judgment. Senior social workers are experts in their specialized area of practice. Senior social workers may have certification or other post-masters training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university that includes a defined curriculum/course of study and internship or equivalent supervised professional experience in a specialty. Licensure/Certification. 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 they must be able to provide supervision for licensure. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. 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. Preferred Experience: Experience in treating both mental health and substance use disorders. References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II appendix G39, Social Worker Qualification Standards, GS-185, Veterans Health Administration. 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, and standing, bending and carrying such items as books, papers, and files. In carrying out responsibilities, it may be necessary to travel into the community where he/she conducts interviews with the Veterans, their families, representative of community health and welfare agencies and law enforcement agencies. Must possess current driver's license and be able to drive a government vehicle in carrying out professional duties when deemed necessary. ["VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU The candidate is a professional social worker assigned to a Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) team at the SAVAHCS main campus or a Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC). The incumbent is responsible for providing biopsychosocial assessment, case management, walk-in/crisis services, and other clinical tasks as needed for a caseload of Veterans receiving services in BHIP. Case management includes tracking and monitoring all activities to provide appropriate treatment planning. ***Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized*** Duties include, but are not limited to: The incumbent is assigned to the Mental Health Service (MHS) and reports to the BHIP Team Supervisor on the case manager's respective BHIP Team. The BHIP Program Coordinator provides programmatic oversight to the BHIP. The Mental Health Outpatient Section Chief is the direct supervisor of the BHIP Program Coordinator and works under the Chief of MHS. MHS ultimately reports through the Chief of Staff Office. The incumbent is assigned to the SAVAHCS catchment area and provides comprehensive social work services to Veterans and their families. Responsibilities include management, coordination and provision of social work services to Veterans and their families in inpatient, outpatient and community settings. In the provision of care in patients from the adult (less than 65 years of age) to the geriatric (greater than 65 years of age), the employee recognizes the age-related needs and demonstrates knowledge and care appropriate to that age group. In the performance of official duties, the incumbent has regular access to the printed and electronic files containing sensitive data which mµst be protected under provision of the Privacy Act of 1974 and other applicable laws, Federal Regulations, and VA statutes and policy. Incumbent is responsible for protecting data from unauthorized release of access codes, etc., as stated in the computer access agreement which the incumbent signs. The incumbent coordinates care including serving as an advocate on behalf of the veterans to ensure comprehensive service. The incumbent is responsible for following local policy and SOPs for the MHS. This includes following policies and documentation requirements as required for CARF and The Joint Commission accreditation. The incumbent actively participates in program planning and development, advising the supervisor of shifting trends with caseloads and identifying the need for making recommendations on program procedures and/or policy changes based upon work experiences. The incumbent takes responsibility for improving professional skills, participating in planning and executing specific staff development projects, attending seminars and institutes, and participating in training programs of other disciplines as requested. The incumbent will conduct biopsychosocial assessments to determine needs of Veterans. The incumbent is an active participant in the treatment planning process with other disciplines. The incumbent will participate in discharge planning with other disciplines and will be responsible for ensuring that discharge plans are executed in a manner that is timely and appropriate. The incumbent may provide individual, family and group counseling as appropriate. The incumbent will provide consultation/education to Veterans and families on community resources, Advance Directives and VA benefits. The incumbent will act as a consultant to other team/staff members. The incumbent will act as liaison between VA and community resources, to include marketing and public relation duties as needed. The incumbent will provide case management to Veterans and families, as needed, throughout the continuum of care. The incumbent will provide a full range of social work services within commonly accepted standards of social work practice which includes case work, individual, family and group counseling, discharge planning, case management and other services as appropriate. The incumbent will address Advance Directives and Organ Donation in accordance with the standards of their work area. The incumbent will perform other BHIP Social Worker related duties as directed by the Supervisor, such as, but not limited to: electronic chart reviews, train/mentor & oversight of new staff & those not yet clinically licensed, and prepare for and train staff on CARF & The Joint Commission standards and accreditation process. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. work schedule, but work schedule may be adjusted to meet the needs of the service.\nTelework: Not Available\nVirtual: This is not a virtual position.\nFunctional Statement #: 000000\nRelocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized\nEDRP Authorized: Contact Jeffry.Rogers@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance\nPermanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required"]