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.

Duties

Duties may include, but are not limited to: The social worker will independently complete psychosocial/mental health assessments of Veterans in collaboration with the interdisciplinary treatment team, the Veteran, family members, caregivers, and significant others. The goal of the assessment is to identify needs and formulate a plan to meet those needs. The social worker must be knowledgeable of the problems of mental health and respect for the diversification of the mental health Veteran population, being sensitive to human growth and development, age-appropriate needs and concerns of the mental health Veteran. The social worker will provide current and advanced techniques to the treatment of this Veteran population appropriate to level of licensure and under appropriate supervision, as applicable. 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. With the treatment team, the social worker will assess and determine needs for high risk suicide protocol to be implemented. The social worker is responsible for developing the discharge plan through collaboration with the Veteran, family members/caregiver, and the interdisciplinary team. The social worker establishes plans, goals and evaluates outcomes of interventions for a wide variety of individuals from various socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other diversified backgrounds. The social worker will independently assess the psychosocial and mental health functioning and needs of patients and their family members, to formulate and implement a discharge plan, identifying the patient's problems, strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and assistance needed. The social worker is responsible for assisting in the development of the treatment plan and developing achievable treatment goals with the Veteran and family members/caregiver and collaborating with all additional providers. The treatment plan will be documented in approved VA treatment planning software and in the electronic health record. The social worker is responsible for planning and organizing work, coordinating with clinical interdisciplinary staff, other professional and clinical staff, and management personnel. This social worker is responsible for reviewing and coordinating all phases of the continuing care for Veterans served. Throughout the course of treatment, the social worker is the subject matter expert on VA and/or community resources. The social worker continually reassesses the Veteran's needs, with input from interdisciplinary team members, as appropriate and ensures goal oriented treatment plans and the progress of meeting treatment goals is well documented in the electronic health record. The social worker is responsible for educating the Veteran and family members/significant others/caregivers of the available services and assisting them in establishing the appropriate referrals based on the Veteran's preference or that of his/her surrogate decision-maker. The social worker will ensure discussion on resources and referrals are documented in the electronic health record. The social worker is responsible for developing, updating and using current social worker resources within VA and community social service programs to ensure that the Veteran is receiving education, information and referrals to current and viable resources to best meet their needs and enhancing the content to the benefit of Veterans. The social worker understands the complexities of the medical system, recognizes and understands the intimidation of bureaucracy and acts as an advocate when needed to serve the best interest of the Veteran and family members/caregiver. Additionally, the social worker will educate and encourage the Veteran to advocate on his/her own behalf, thus fostering a sense of independence and empowerment. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30 AM - 4:00 PM Compressed/Flexible:Not Available Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position EDRP Authorized: Contact Geraldin Louis at [email protected] and/or Lajuanta Mitchell at [email protected], the NF/SG EDRP Coordinators for questions/assistance. Learn more Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

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: 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: 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. 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.] 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 California, Washington, 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. 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 meeting the basic requirements stated above, the following qualifications criteria must be met in determining the appropriate grade assignment of candidates. GS-09 Social Worker candidates must have the following: Experience, Education, and Licensure: None beyond the basic requirements. GS-11 Social Worker candidates must have the following: Experience and Licensure: Appointment to the GS-11 grade level requires completion of a minimum of one (1) 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 (1) year of professional social work experience in a clinical setting. While we no longer require essay-style responses to our Knowledge's Skills, Abilities, and Other Characteristics (KSAOs), you must be able to demonstrate that you possess the (below) competencies which are necessary to perform the work of the position. Please ensure your resume/CV/application contains sufficient information to support the level of experience/education/training; otherwise, we will not be able to award you credit for the experience/education/training you claim. These are the KSA's for this subject position: GS-09 Ability to work with Veterans and family members from various socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other diversified backgrounds utilizing counseling skills. 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 traumatic illnesses/injuries; common medications and their effects/side effects; and medical terminology. GS-11 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, cultural, ethnic, educational and other diversified 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. References: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005/120, Part II, Appendix G39, Social Worker Qualification Standard. Physical Requirements: The physical demands of the work requires use of fingers; moderate walking and standing; near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; far vision correctable in on eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other; hearing aid permitted; clear speech; emotional stability; moderate duty.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address Malcom Randall Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center 1601 Southwest Archer Road Gainesville, FL 32608 US
• Name: Payton Hendrix
• Phone: 813-970-3541
• Email: [email protected]