Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration Hiring for Social Worker- Post 9/11 Military to VA (M2VA) at Portland, Oregon Full Time

Summary 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. Responsibilities VA Careers – Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU The duties of this position include but are not limited to the following: Incumbent is a professional social worker whose duties and responsibilities relate to the care management of severely ill and/or injured Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), and/or Operation New Dawn (OND) service members and Post 9/11 Veterans treated at the facility. The incumbent must use a high level of skill in assessing and treating the complicated psychosocial problems of OEF/OIF/OND service members and/or Post 9/11 Veterans as they transition to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) care. Care management responsibilities also include providing supportive services to families. In addition, the incumbent assists OEF/OIF/OND service members and/or Post 9/11 Veterans in coping with acute illness, chronic illness, combat stress, the residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI), community adjustment, addictions, and other health and mental health problems. The social worker addresses home care needs, homelessness, and transition across levels and sites of care. Social work practice, which includes psychosocial assessment, diagnosis, and treatment, is goal focused on helping OEF/OIF/OND service members and/or Post 9-11 Veterans and their families maximize rehabilitation and treatment potential and achieve more adequate, satisfying, and productive emotional and social functioning. The incumbent: (1) Uses the social work process (psychosocial assessment, diagnosis, and treatment) in collaboration with interdisciplinary team members to develop a care management plan and psychosocial interventions. (2) Evaluates the need for mental health services and makes appropriate referrals for individual, group, marital, and family treatment services. (3) Must be sensitive to the ethnic and cultural diversity and age-specific challenges of the OEF/OIF/OND service member and/or Post 9/11 Veteran population and adjusts intervention and treatment plans as appropriate. (4) As a member of the health care team, participates fully in developing, planning,implementing, and evaluating the interdisciplinary treatment plan, including provision of care management services. (5) Coordinates care with interdisciplinary team to promote continuity for OEF/OIF/OND service members, Post 9-11 Veterans, and their families. (6) Develops and uses appropriate community resources. (7) Serves as an advocate for OE/OIF/OND service members and/or Post 9-11 Veterans and their families, helping them access needed services at the facility, at other VA facilities, and/or in the community. (8) Assists OEF/OIF/OND service members and/or Post 9-11 Veterans and their families with advance directives, guardianships, and/or applications for home care and extended care services. (9) Performs other duties as assigned. The incumbent: (1) Is responsible for supporting the mission, policies, and procedures of VA, the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), the appropriate Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN), and the facility. (2) May serve on committees, work groups, and task forces at the facility, VISN, and/or VA Central Office levels. (3) Keeps supervisor apprised of problems and recommended solutions to problems encountered in the incumbent’s area of responsibility. (4) Is responsible for furthering own professional growth through education, appropriate to area of assignment, and providing coverage during social worker absences. Including licensure at the independent practice level within three years of appointment. (5) Must maintain a level of productivity and quality consistent with facility and Social Work standards and the complexity of the assignment. (6) Participates in interdisciplinary team meetings, appropriate facility meetings, and Social Work meetings. Shares knowledge and experiences gained from own clinical practice and education relevant to the field of social work. (7) Must comply with Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Program and safety policies and procedures. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 07:30am-4:00pm or 08:00am-04:30pm Telework: Ad-hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Contact [email protected] , the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. You may be required to serve a probationary period. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) – See “Additional Information” below for details. 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. Physical Requirements: Use of fingers; Hearing (aid may be permitted) . 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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html. Additional Information Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. This Position is on a Special Salary Rate. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.