CAREER CENTER

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. 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/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. 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: In addition to the basic requirements stated above, the following qualification criteria must be met for each grade. The candidate's qualifications must clearly demonstrate the level of competence required for the grade. Senior Social Worker GS-12 Experience: 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 and 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. 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. References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/120, PART II, APPENDIX G39 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for 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 for the incumbent to travel into the community where he/she conducts interviews with the veterans, their families, representatives of community health and welfare agencies and law enforcement agencies. The incumbent must possess current driver's license and drive a government vehicle in carrying out professional duties when deemed necessary. Work Environment: The work performed will be both within the medical center and within the community as needed. The environment involves everyday risks or discomforts which require normal safety precautions typical of offices, patient rooms, and in general, the medical center. It also involves normal risks associated with a medical center, including exposure to contagious diseases and disturbed patients. ["The HUD/VASH Senior Social Worker Case manager is responsible for lead for HUD-VASH in their catchment area and maintains an active HUD/VASH caseload of up to 30 Veterans, under the VA Maine Healthcare for Homeless Veterans Program. The incumbent is assigned to the Mental Health service and reports to the HUD/VASH Program Manager. Responsibilities include the management, coordination and provision of social work services to veteran and their families in inpatient, outpatient and community settings. The incumbent is responsible for providing case management for a caseload of veterans in the HUD-VASH program and for providing clinical supervision to social workers who hold a conditional license and for application of administrative processes of the HUD-VASH program. The incumbent is responsible for reviewing agreements between Section 8, landlords, Public Housing Authorities and the VA in establishing appropriate referral sites for HUD-VASH placements. Duties of this position include but are not limited to: a. The incumbent will conduct psychosocial assessments to determine needs of veterans and family members. b. The incumbent will utilize measurement base care for Veteran's input to demonstrate evidence base practice. c. The incumbent is an active participant in the treatment planning process with other disciplines. d. 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. e. The incumbent will provide individual, family and group counseling as appropriate. f. The incumbent will provide consultation/education to veterans and families on community resources, advance directives and VA benefits. g. The incumbent will act as a consultant to other team/staff members. h. The incumbent will act as liaison between VA and community resources, to include marketing and public relation duties as needed. i. The incumbent will provide case management to veterans and families, as needed, throughout the continuum of care. j. 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. k. The incumbent will address Advance Directives in accordance with the standards of their work area. l. The incumbent will provide wellness/prevention education and facilitate Patient/family support groups as appropriate. m. The incumbent will as appropriate, supervise the practice of social work students, or a less experienced social worker. n. The incumbent will coordinate treatment and communicate with the care lines to facilitate continuity of care for veterans. o. The incumbent will participate in committee assignments, as deemed necessary by the service manager. p. The incumbent will maintain data and statistical compilations to comply with JC, CARF, VA and medical center policy and procedures. q. The incumbent will assist patients and their significant others with coping and dealing with the loss and grief experiences in disability, terminal illness and death. r. The incumbent will document social work interventions and activities in patient's clinical record utilizing CPRS and ensure appropriate hand off when transferring of patient care. s. The incumbent will maintain familiarity and responsibility for all performance measures relating to the HUD-VASH Program. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; 0730-1600 Telework: Authorized for Telework Ad-Hoc work. Can be performed on an as needed basis anywhere other than a VA facility or using VA-leased space (example: home). This position is authorized for telework but has not been authorized as virtual or remote (i.e., the must be able to work at the location the position is being announced for). VA supports the use of telework to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. Telework eligibility may be discussed during the interview process. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: Senior Social Worker (HUD/VASH)/PD402-F05312 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Contact Amy.Haley@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required NOTIFICATIONS: This position is an AFGE Bargaining Unit position. This position is covered by locality-based comparability pay. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Selectee may be required to work at any VA Maine Healthcare System campus, as needed. May be required to attend conference at other facilities or other VA sites on occasion."]

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