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 The duties of this position include but are not limited to the following: Screening/Assessment-The social worker will develop an assessment of the Veteran independently and/or in collaboration with the interdisciplinary treatment team, the Veteran, family members, and significant others. The goal of the assessment is to highlight the Veteran's strengths, limitations, and internal/external supports and service needs in order to optimize the Veteran's functional status. The biopsychosocial assessment will include clinical interview, administration of psychiatric test instruments, and/or collateral information. Some programs will require the use of breathalyzers and drugs screens. Based on the biopsychosocial assessment, the mental health social worker uses professional judgment and advanced practice skills to make a diagnosis using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. The social worker provides treatment planning, evaluation, and intervention with serious and complicated, highly diverse cases involving substance abuse and psychiatric illness. He/she demonstrates an understanding of current and advanced techniques to the treatment of this Veteran population related to their physical limitations, psychological needs, psychiatric conditions, environmental needs and age associated illnesses and conditions. Treatment Planning/Goal Setting - The social worker independently develops the mental health treatment plan and sets achievable treatment goals with the Veteran. The social worker provides independent consultation and makes recommendations to the interdisciplinary team on course of treatment. Documentation/Productivity - The social worker will complete documentation in compliance with appropriate documentation standards. The social worker consistently maintains an acceptable level of productivity per guidelines which may include special assignments. Crisis Intervention - The social worker is experienced in making rapid assessments and developing crisis management plans for various types of crises including housing and financial emergencies, psychiatric relapse, potential suicide, and other high-risk behaviors/situations. The social worker will assess for suicidality and self- harm and provide appropriate intervention including but not limited to safety planning. The social worker will assist with admission to mental health inpatient programs as needed. The social worker has access to multiple resource directories in addition to previously developed resources to meet the demands of a crisis. In the event of a medical or psychiatric emergency, staff will follow the protocol of the Mental Health Division at the VA Portland Health Care System. Coordination of Care - The social worker will review the progress notes from the other providers to accurately determine the strengths, limitations and needs of each Veteran being referred for mental health services. He/she will establish and maintain regular liaison with care providers to Veterans in local community agencies and facilities (hospitals, clinic, etc) for the purpose of coordinated care, when indicated. The social worker will educate the Veteran, the family, and the team of all the options available to them and will collaborate with the Veteran and family on the preferred option. Psychotherapy -The social worker will provide Veterans with psychotherapy. The purpose is to treat psychiatric symptoms. The social worker has the ability to independently provide psychotherapy to individuals and families as well group therapy. The social worker performs as a highly developed professional, with knowledge and experience that is required in working with the full range of mental health disorders, including chronic and severe mental illness, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, personality disorders, substance use disorders and dual diagnosis. The Social Worker has knowledge and experience in providing at least one evidence-based therapy. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 08:00am-4:30pm Telework: Ad-hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Contact [email protected] 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. Education- Master's degree in social work (MSW) from a school of social work fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), or other master's in science in social work (MSSW), social service administration (MSSA), social service (MSS), social administration (MSA) or social welfare as accredited by the CSWE. Those without the required master's degree will be disqualified. Licensure - Must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level. 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. Experience GS-11 - Must have 1-year post-MSW experience, or possess a doctoral degree in social work that may be substituted for the required 1 year of professional social work experience in a clinical setting. You must meet the qualifications within 30 days of the closing date of this JOA. Grade Determinations:GS-9 Requirements: This is the entry level for social workers and is used for social workers with less than 1 year of post-MSW experience and for social workers who are not yet licensed or certified at the independent practice level. (If enough applicants apply at the GS-11 level, it is possible that applicants who are only eligible at the GS-09 level will NOT be referred for this specific vacancy, as GS-11 with independent license is highly preferred.) Knowledge, Skills, Abilities: (a) Ability to work with Veterans and family members from various socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other diversified backgrounds utilizing counseling skills. (b) 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. (c) 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. (d) Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients, staff, and representatives of community agencies. (e) 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 Requirements: This is the full performance level for social workers. GS-11 Social Workers are licensed or certified to independently practice social work. They are assigned to all program areas, including inpatient or outpatient medicine, surgery, mental health, neurology, rehabilitation medicine, and geriatrics. Employees provide professional, independent social work services in the assigned area. (This is the preferred level for this vacancy.) Knowledge, Skills, Abilities: (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. References: VHA 5005, Appendix G39, Social Worker Qualification Standard. 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-09 to GS-11. Environmental Requirements: Working closely with others. Failure to Obtain License or Certification. In all cases, 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.

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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Contacts

• Address VA Portland Health Care System 3710 Southwest US Veterans Hospital Road Portland, OR 97239 US
• Name: Scott Newburn
• Phone: 208-422-1000 X7576
• Email: [email protected]