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

VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU Duties include, but not limited to the following: This position will be housed at Indiana with remote coverage to Johnstown. Screening and Assessment: The incumbent independently conducts psychosocial assessments, within program prescribed timeframes, to include the Veteran's strengths, limitations, internal/external supports, and service needs in order to optimize the Veteran's functional status and safely maintain the Veteran in their preferred living situation. Develops and implements realistic and achievable psychosocial treatment plans and goals as part of the PACT treatment plans reflecting effective utilization of a broad range of treatment modalities and interventions. Further possesses the skills to measure outcomes of provided psychosocial interventions. The incumbent applies a working knowledge and experience in use of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities and treatment procedures for acute, chronic, and traumatic illness/injuries, common medications including their effects and side effects, non-pharmacological pain interventions, stress management, and, medical terminology. Applies knowledge of social determinants of health to the assessment of need and risk. Treatment Planning: The incumbent develops achievable Veteran centric care/treatment plans and discharge plans (when indicated) in collaboration with the interdisciplinary treatment team, the Veteran, and family members/significant others. Addresses the unique needs of the Veteran including, homebound, frail, disabling/chronic conditions, end of life needs, and food insecurity. The incumbent is responsible for educating the Veteran and/or caregiver of the availability of services and assist them in accessing appropriate/preferred resources. Ongoing assessments and updating of treatment plans will occur at prescribed intervals or as clinically indicated. Resource/Referral Development: The incumbent serves as the subject matter expert on VA and community resources, collaborating with other services providers. Applies their general knowledge of Veterans' benefits and services related to special programs, service connection compensation, and non-service connected pension to assist with application processes and referrals. The incumbent develops a resource file of VA and community resources and collaborates with other VA social workers to keep the file comprehensive and current. Crisis Intervention: The incumbent provides crisis intervention services, seeking to address causation as well as presenting complaints. Makes rapid assessments and develop crisis management plans to return Veterans to a state of homeostasis including maintaining Veteran in the home, admission to acute, psychiatric, or short term/long term placements. The incumbent establishes and maintains effective therapeutic relationships with Veterans and their families. Education/Health Promotion and Prevention: The incumbent provides education related to VA and community resources, entitlements, and care/end of life planning. Counsels Veterans regarding advance directives/living wills. The incumbent participates in facility outreach activities in order to disseminate needed information to Veterans, VA staff, and community agencies to strengthen service linkages. Advocacy: The incumbent delivers service from a Veteran-centric perspective. Acts as an advocate on behalf of the Veteran when it serves the best interest of the Veteran/family. When appropriate and feasible, the incumbent educates and encourages the Veteran/family to advocate on their own behalf in order to promote a sense of independence and empowerment. Administrative Duties: The incumbent aspires to follow and promote the VA Core Values of Integrity, Commitment, Advocacy, Respect, and Excellence (I CARE). Responsible for planning and carrying out the assignment, resolving most conflicts that arise, coordinating and communicating with others as necessary and interpreting policies to accomplish their work. The incumbent independently organizes work, sets priorities, meets multiple deadlines and evaluates assigned program areas. Knowledge of PACT programs and the ability to compose standard operating procedures and practice guidelines. The incumbent correctly utilizes the computerized patient electronic record (CPRS) to capture care activities and productivity workload. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8 am - 4:30 pm Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

BASIC REQUIREMENTS. The basic requirements for employment as a VHA social worker are prescribed by statute in 38 U.S.C. § 7402(b)(9), as amended by section 205 of Public Law 106-419, enacted November 1, 2000. To qualify for appointment as a social worker in VHA, all applicants must meet the following: 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). 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/. English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). GRADE DETERMINATIONS. In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. Social Worker,GS-9 Experience, Education, and Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements. Social Workers at the GS-9 level are working toward completion of prerequisites for licensure or certification. VHA Social Workers who are not licensed or certified at the independent level at the time of their appointment must become licensed or certified at the independent level within three year of their appointment as a social worker. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:(a) 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. Social Worker, GS-11 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 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. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA's): 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, 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. 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-1085 social work series and may result in termination of employment. References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/120, PART II, APPENDIX G39 September 10, 2019 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.); Light Carrying (under 15 lbs.); Reaching above shoulder; Use of fingers; Both hands required; Walking (up to 4 hours); Standing (up to 4 hours); Near vision correctable at 13" to 16"; Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other; Both eyes required; Hearing (aid permitted); Mental and emotional stability.

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 James E Van Zandt VA Medical Center 2907 Pleasant Valley Boulevard Altoona, PA 16602 US
• Name: Tianna Miller
• Phone: 404-680-6127
• Email: [email protected]