OIG: 38 U.S.C. § 7412 waives the requirement to apply Veterans' preference to external applicants for appointments made during the fiscal year to HT 38 occupations among those reported to have the largest shortages. Appointments to any other hybrid title 38 occupations not approved by the Secretary, as noted below in paragraph 7, remain subject to the application of Veterans' preference in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part I, Chapter 4, Preference to Veterans in Making HT 38 Appointments.

Duties

This Social Worker is assigned to the Caregiver Support Program with primary responsibilities to provide clinical evidenced based services and interventions with Veterans and their caregivers. The Social worker completes home visits and telephone/virtual contacts in order to ensure wellness contacts and annual assessments are completed timely. The Social worker will function in support of caregiver, Veterans, and family members throughout the Medical Center and in the community and support the development and implementation of caregiver services. Some duties include, but are not limited to: Clinical Functions: * Assists in the day to day operations of the Caregiver Support Program. * Completing Veteran and caregiver assessments in support of the program application process. * Participates in direct caregiver and Veteran contact to identify and assess caregiver stress/burden and develop treatment intervention strategies. * Creates educational tools focused on caregiver needs/issues. * Provides education and training on caregiver stress and support to VA employees, Veterans, families and caregivers. * Works as a part of an interdisciplinary team. Work Schedule: 8am to 4:30pm M-F Compressed/Flexible Schedule: Not Authorized Telework schedules: Authorized after initial training Virtual work schedules: Not authorized FLSA: non Exempt BU Status: BU Recruitment Incentives: NOT authorized Relocation Expenses: NOT authorized Financial Disclosure Report: NOT required Permanent Change of Duty Station (PCS) Expenses: will not be paid PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not authorized Pay: Competitive salary, annual performance bonus, regular salary increases. 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). For More Information on Benefits: https://www.vacareers.va.gov/Benefits/EmploymentBenefits Competitive Federal benefits:

Requirements

Qualifications

Basic Requirements: U.S. citizenship. Non-citizens may 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 the CSWE website to verify if that social work degree meets the accreditation standards for a master of social work. Licensure. Must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level. 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. Grade Determinations: GS-11 Social Worker: 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 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. In addition to meeting the GS-11 requirements, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:1. Knowledge of community resources, how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services, and ability to coordinate services.2. 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.3. 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.4. 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.5. 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 HANDBOOK 5005/120 PART II APPENDIX G39The full performance level of this vacancy is GS 11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS 11. Physical Requirements: The physical demands of this position involve active listening, reading, observing and evaluating verbal and nonverbal behavior, walking, speaking, bending, carrying light items such as paper, books, small parts, writing reports, writing clinical notes, using office equipment such as computers, telephones, fax machines, photocopy machines, and possibly driving an automobile. Some work is performed in a clinical setting that exposes the incumbent to the communicable disease common of the homeless population. Strenuous physical activity is not required. Work Environment: The position may at times involve exposure to a work environment that may include intermittent excessive noise, dust, slippery or uneven walking surfaces, working around moving objects or vehicles. The incumbent may also be exposed to infective patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations or operative invasive procedures. The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders; Emotional and Mental Stability: The incumbent must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on patient needs. Must complete annual Employee Health requirements, such as annual TB screening or testing, as a condition of employment.

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 Huntington VA Medical Center 1540 Spring Valley Drive Huntington, WV 25704 US
• Name: Ronald Richardson
• Phone: 410-422-6292
• Email: [email protected]