Career Center

Summary

The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this occupational series. For more information - refer to Required Documents below. This position works as a case manager whose duties and responsibilities relate to the care management of severely ill and/or injured Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and/or Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) service members and Veterans treated at the facility.

Qualifications

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:

• Citizenship
• Be a citizen of the United States
• (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3 - section A - paragraph 3g this part)
• English Language Proficiency
• Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f)
• 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
• (COPY OF TRANSCRIPTS W/ CONFER DATE REQUIRED) 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/
• (COPY OF LICENSE REQUIRED FOR GS-11) 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
• 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
• In states such as CA - WA - and others where the prerequisites for licensure exceed two years - social workers must become licensed at the independent - master's level within one year of meeting the full state prerequisites for licensure
• A social worker who does not yet have a license that allows independent practice must be supervised by a licensed independent practitioner of the same discipline who is a VA staff member and who has access to the electronic health record
• Failure to Obtain License or Certification
• In all cases - social workers must actively pursue meeting state prerequisites for licensure or certification starting from the date of their appointment
• Failure to become licensed or certified within the prescribed amount of time will result in removal from the GS-0185 social worker series and may result in termination of employment
• Loss of Licensure or Certification
• Once licensed or certified - social workers must maintain a full - valid - and unrestricted independent license or certification to remain qualified for employment
• Loss of licensure or certification will result in removal from the GS-0185 social worker series and may result in termination of employment
• 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: Social Worker - GS-9 Experience - Education - and Licensure: None beyond the basic requirements
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of 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
• 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 traumaticillnesses/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 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
• (COPY OF TRANSCRIPTS W/ CONFER DATE REQUIRED) Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the experience above - candidates 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 - 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
• Preferred Experience: VA Experience - DOD Experience - Case Management Experience - Multi-disciplinary Team Experience
• 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
• Physical Requirements: light lifting (under 15 lbs) - use of fingers - operation of motor vehicle - ability to see computer screen - hearing (aid may be permitted)
• Environmental factors include working closely with others and working alone.

Duties

• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Functions or scope of assigned duties vary based on grade
• At the GS-11 grade level of this assignment - responsibilities include: Must have a high level of skill and expertise to work with Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and/or Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) service members and/or Post 9/11 Veterans and families who are experiencing a wide range of complicated mental - emotional - behavioral - physical - psychosocial - and environmental problems
• Independently uses the social work process (psychosocial assessment - diagnosis - and treatment) in collaboration with interdisciplinary team members to develop a care management plan and psychosocial interventions
• Independently evaluates the need for mental health services and makes appropriate referrals for individual - group - marital and family treatment services
• Independently 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
• Must be sensitive to the ethnic and cultural diversity and age-specific challenges of the OEF/OIF population and adjusts intervention and treatment plans as appropriate
• As a member of the health care team - participates fully in developing - planning - implementing and evaluating the interdisciplinary treatment plan - including provision of care management services
• Coordinates care with interdisciplinary team to promote continuity for OEF/OIF service- members and/or Post 9/11 Veterans and their families
• Develops and uses appropriate community resources
• Serves as an advocate for OEF/OIF service members and/or Post 9/11 Veterans and their families - helping them access needed services at the facility - at other VA facilities - and in the community
• Assists OEF/OIF service members and/or Veterans and their families with advance directives - guardianships - and applications for home care and extended care services
• Travels - as may be required - as part of providing social work care management services to OEF/OIF service members and/or Post 9/11 Veterans and their families
• Such travel requires the incumbent to function without immediate supervision or consultation
• Incumbent will operate such vehicles as sedans - station wagons - 4X4 utility - pick-up trucks and stake bed trucks weighing less than 22 -000 pounds
• Incumbent may drive Veterans to and from such places as clinically indicated
• such as hospitals - doctor's offices - meetings and activities relevant to Veteran's Treatment Plan
• May need to assist Veterans requiring special help into and out of vehicles and ensuring their safety and comfort while in the vehicle
• Ability to evaluate incumbents own practice through professional peer review - case conferences and other organizational means
• Incumbent is able to communicate effectively - both orally and in writing - with people from varied backgrounds
• Participates in the orientation - training - and teaching/supervising of social work graduate students and trainees and other staff
• Conducts and/or participates in research and/or program evaluation as appropriate
• Performs other duties as assigned
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday - 8am-4:30pm Recruitment/Relocation Incentive: Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases
• When setting pay - a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade)
• 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).Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on prior [work experience] or military service experience
• 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: Available - Ad-hoc Only Virtual: This is not a virtual position Functional Statement #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized