This position may be 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

This a Temporary Position Not-To-Exceed 9/30/2024 The Social Worker is responsible for providing clinical services as part of special programs in the Mental Health Research and Program Development Unit and War-Related Illness and Injury Study Center (WRIISC) at VA New Jersey Health Care System. These services focus on assessment and psychotherapy for two projects serving Rural Veterans via telehealth (Mental Health Research and Program Development), as well as mental health education (WRIISC). Mental Health Research and Program Development and WRIISC both share the mission of conducting research and developing new and innovative programs within VANJHCS. Within Mental Health Research and Program Development, the primary function of the MH R&D Social Worker is to provide psychosocial assessments and provide therapy as part of two recently funded programs to address depression and prevent suicide among Rural Veterans. One program will focus on Rural Veterans with Parkinson's disease, while the other will focus on Veterans at risk for suicide. The position requires the independent provision of psychotherapy and psychosocial assessments in the areas of depression, anxiety, mental health diagnosis, and functional abilities. In addition, this project is responsive to Veteran's emergent clinical needs, such as a psychological crisis or a psychosocial stressor requiring linkage to needed resources. The incumbent will contribute to the WRIISC educational mission and facilitate mental health-related educational programs that benefit Veterans and staff. The Social Worker independently identifies, through psychosocial assessment, the social, emotional, interpersonal, and environmental needs of the Veteran that may interfere with his/her mental health. The Social Worker can exercise independent judgment and decision-making when formulating a diagnosis. The Social Worker provides ongoing assessment of the patient's progress and treatment. The Social Worker must also have extensive skills in utilizing VA and community resources. The incumbent acts as a liaison with medical personnel (in this case neurologists) and psychologists as well as with the PTSD, Mental Hygiene and MST gatekeepers, to facilitate linkage to care for needs that arise during Veterans' participation in this program. Psychosocial Assessments-The Social Worker independently interviews the Veteran and/or significant other to establish facts about the Veteran's current situation. In collaboration with the Veteran and/or significant others, the Social Worker, completes an accurate psychosocial assessment. The assessment reflects the Veteran's strengths as well as primary concerns and/or challenges. In addition, the assessment outlines any hindrances for the Veteran obtaining optimal health as well as internal/external supports and needs for Veteran to achieve success. These assessments contribute to the treatment in the following ways: 1) establishing psychosocial diagnosis; 2) evaluating changes in symptoms; 3) evaluating for appropriateness to receive the treatment. Provision of clinical services-the Social Worker independently provides psychotherapy to improve depression, anxiety, and other functional impairments among Veterans with Parkinson's disease. During treatment, the Social Worker identifies emergent clinical issues and serves as a liaison, advocate and/or consultant for the Veteran to address the emergent issue. Referrals-The Social Worker has knowledge of the VA and community's service systems and how to access them. With this knowledge, as well as the Social Worker's clinical training, insight, experience, ability to interpret data and identify viable treatment options, Veterans can be assisted in choosing from an array of services with appropriate intensity and flexibility. Services are matched with the Veteran's needs and goals. Referrals to those services are made in a timely manner. Evaluation of Treatment-The Social Worker independently establishes and maintains a continuing relationship with the Veteran, family member and/or significant other, evaluating progress and independently adjusting the psychotherapy as appropriate. The Social Worker monitors Veteran's progress, maintains comprehensive documentation, and displays independent clinical competence through the psychosocial diagnosis and psychotherapy decisions. Documentation-The Social Worker independently documents all visits with the Veteran, family member and/or significant other electronically through the Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS) and completes encounter forms for each visit. Additional Duties as assigned Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 49375F EDRP Authorized: Contact [email protected], the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

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: 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/. 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. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Services. 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). Creditable Experience. The candidate must have knowledge of current professional social work practices. To be creditable, the experience must have required the use of knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics associated with current professional social work practice. The experience or education must be post-Master of Social Work (MSW) degree. Experience and education satisfying this requirement must be active professional practice, which is paid/non-paid employment as a professional social worker, as defined by the appropriate state licensing board. Quality of Experience. Experience is only creditable if it is obtained following graduation with a master's degree in social work and if it includes work as a professional social worker directly related to the position to be filled. Qualifying experience must also be at a level comparable to social work experience at the next lower level. Part-Time Experience. Part-time experience is creditable according to its relationship to the full-time work week. For example, one week of full-time credit is equivalent to two weeks of part-time work. Fellowships or Post-Graduate Training. Fellowship and post-graduate training programs are typically in a specialized area of clinical practice, i.e., group or family practice. Training as a fellow or post-graduate may be substituted for creditable experience on a year-for-year basis. Practicum in a VA Setting. A VHA practicum experience may not be substituted for experience, as the practicum (field placement) is completed prior to graduation with a master's degree in social work. 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-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. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of community resources, how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services, and ability to coordinate services. (b) 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. (c) 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. (d) 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. (e) 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: An applicant with psychotherapy and research/grants experience is preferred References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/120 PART II APPENDIX G39 September 10, 2019 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11, which is the actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy.

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 VA New Jersey Health Care System 385 Tremont Avenue East Orange, NJ 07018 US
• Name: Kelli Bencic
• Phone: 716-458-6982
• Email: [email protected]