U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Social Worker – U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
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Posted 4 days ago, among the first 25 applicants.
Base Pay Range $67,261.00/yr – $105,788.00/yr
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
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:
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 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. 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.
Physical Requirements:
See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 – Employee Occupational Health Services. 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‑9 – Experience, education, and licensure: 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 exam.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
The applicant’s resume must demonstrate the following KSAs:
Ability to utilize a veteran‑centric approach when providing interventions and counseling for veterans, their family members, caregivers, and survivors.
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, requiring 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 – including acute, chronic, and traumatic illnesses/injuries, common medications and their effects/side‑effects, and medical terminology.
Social Worker – 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 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. NOTE: For appointment licensure or certification at this level please refer to paragraph 3c.
Alternative 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.
Additional KSAs (GS‑11 level):
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 socioeconomic, educational, and other 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.
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‑11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS‑9 to GS‑11.
Additional Physical Requirements:
Applicants will be asked to participate in a pre‑employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre‑employment process. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination. This position requires routine field work – in veterans’ homes and at agencies in the community. The incumbent must possess a valid driver's license at all times as the position requires use of a GSA government vehicle on a daily basis.
Duties
Total Rewards of an Allied Health Professional. Major duties include — but are not limited to: responsible for assessment, identification, facilitation and referral to appropriate medical and psychiatric services to veterans identified as appropriate for the HUD‑VASH program.
Evaluate the veteran’s situation, abilities, and capabilities and arrive at a reasonable conclusion, including an assessment of vulnerability and prioritization for admission.
Assess at‑risk factors and develop a preliminary plan involving the veteran and family or significant others; perform an insightful assessment of serious and complicated cases involving psychiatric illness, which may also include catastrophic medical condition, dementia, traumatic brain injuries, and other high‑risk diagnoses.
As part of a comprehensive psychosocial assessment – interview the veteran and their family members or significant others to establish facts about the veteran’s situation, presenting problems and their causes, and the impact of such problems on the veteran’s functioning and health.
Review all data – subjective and objective – and make a clinical assessment, identifying needs and strengths.
Based on the psychosocial assessment – use professional judgment and social work practice skills to make a psychosocial diagnosis.
Provide referral to VA medical and mental health inpatient and outpatient treatment and to other VA services, including VA benefits, as well as community‑based social services and other non‑VA entitlement programs.
If appropriate – provide referrals or consults for other VA programs, including community‑based residential treatment.
Use social work clinical training, insight, and experience to interpret data and to identify viable treatment options, including assessment for eligibility and clinical appropriateness of a HUD‑VASH program admissions or subsequent discharge.
Assess high‑risk factors, acuity, and need for services.
Make appropriate referrals to community‑based agencies – CBOCs and Central Iowa VA Health Care System based services.
Serve veterans who tend to have frequent and severe crises, lack family or an adequate community support network, are poor at self‑monitoring, or have significant deficits in coping skills and require continuing professional psychosocial support.
Work Schedule: Monday‑Friday – 7:30 am to 4:00 pm CST.
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: VHAVISN23EDRP@va.gov – the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance.
Learn more Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases.
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).
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: Ad Hoc as appropriate.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement # 000000. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.
Seniority Level Mid‑Senior level
Employment Type Full‑time
Job Function Other
Industries Government Administration
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Base Pay Range $67,261.00/yr – $105,788.00/yr
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
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:
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 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. 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.
Physical Requirements:
See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 – Employee Occupational Health Services. 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‑9 – Experience, education, and licensure: 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 exam.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
The applicant’s resume must demonstrate the following KSAs:
Ability to utilize a veteran‑centric approach when providing interventions and counseling for veterans, their family members, caregivers, and survivors.
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, requiring 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 – including acute, chronic, and traumatic illnesses/injuries, common medications and their effects/side‑effects, and medical terminology.
Social Worker – 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 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. NOTE: For appointment licensure or certification at this level please refer to paragraph 3c.
Alternative 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.
Additional KSAs (GS‑11 level):
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 socioeconomic, educational, and other 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.
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‑11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS‑9 to GS‑11.
Additional Physical Requirements:
Applicants will be asked to participate in a pre‑employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre‑employment process. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination. This position requires routine field work – in veterans’ homes and at agencies in the community. The incumbent must possess a valid driver's license at all times as the position requires use of a GSA government vehicle on a daily basis.
Duties
Total Rewards of an Allied Health Professional. Major duties include — but are not limited to: responsible for assessment, identification, facilitation and referral to appropriate medical and psychiatric services to veterans identified as appropriate for the HUD‑VASH program.
Evaluate the veteran’s situation, abilities, and capabilities and arrive at a reasonable conclusion, including an assessment of vulnerability and prioritization for admission.
Assess at‑risk factors and develop a preliminary plan involving the veteran and family or significant others; perform an insightful assessment of serious and complicated cases involving psychiatric illness, which may also include catastrophic medical condition, dementia, traumatic brain injuries, and other high‑risk diagnoses.
As part of a comprehensive psychosocial assessment – interview the veteran and their family members or significant others to establish facts about the veteran’s situation, presenting problems and their causes, and the impact of such problems on the veteran’s functioning and health.
Review all data – subjective and objective – and make a clinical assessment, identifying needs and strengths.
Based on the psychosocial assessment – use professional judgment and social work practice skills to make a psychosocial diagnosis.
Provide referral to VA medical and mental health inpatient and outpatient treatment and to other VA services, including VA benefits, as well as community‑based social services and other non‑VA entitlement programs.
If appropriate – provide referrals or consults for other VA programs, including community‑based residential treatment.
Use social work clinical training, insight, and experience to interpret data and to identify viable treatment options, including assessment for eligibility and clinical appropriateness of a HUD‑VASH program admissions or subsequent discharge.
Assess high‑risk factors, acuity, and need for services.
Make appropriate referrals to community‑based agencies – CBOCs and Central Iowa VA Health Care System based services.
Serve veterans who tend to have frequent and severe crises, lack family or an adequate community support network, are poor at self‑monitoring, or have significant deficits in coping skills and require continuing professional psychosocial support.
Work Schedule: Monday‑Friday – 7:30 am to 4:00 pm CST.
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: VHAVISN23EDRP@va.gov – the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance.
Learn more Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases.
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).
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: Ad Hoc as appropriate.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement # 000000. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.
Seniority Level Mid‑Senior level
Employment Type Full‑time
Job Function Other
Industries Government Administration
Referrals increase your chances of interviewing at U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs by 2x Sign in to set job alerts for “Social Worker” roles.
#J-18808-Ljbffr