Summary

The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this occupational series. For more information - refer to Required Documents below. North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health Care System's is searching for a Social Work-Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program with Mental Health Service at the Lake City location. Ideal applicants are those who want to contribute to the achievement of quality care standards - as well as the growth and development of a VA academic hospital program.

Qualifications

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. 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: Be a citizen of the United States
• Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
• English Language Proficiency: You must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f)
• Education: You must possess 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/
• GS-11 Social Worker 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
• While we no longer require essay-style responses to our Knowledge's Skills - Abilities - and Other Characteristics (KSAOs) - you must be able to demonstrate that you possess the (below) competencies which are necessary to perform the work of the position
• Please ensure your resume/CV/application contains sufficient information to support the level of experience/education/training
• otherwise - we will not be able to award you credit for the experience/education/training you claim
• These are the KSA's for this subject position:GS-9 Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities: Ability to utilize counseling skills when working with Veterans and family members
• 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 GS-11 Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities: 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 - educational - and other 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
• Preferred Experience: Experience working on a multi-disciplinary team with experience using evidence based treatment modalities
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.The 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: Able to meet the physical demands of the position - reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions
• They must have good manual dexterity
• Must be able to express or exchange ideas by means of spoken and written word
• Must be able to view and read information on computer screens.

Duties

• The social worker is assigned to the North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System Mental Health Clinic located at Lake City location
• The social worker's responsibilities include the assessment - diagnosis - and treatment planning of mental health and psychosocial problems - often at a time when the Veteran is experiencing crisis and include the provision of evidence based clinical/psychotherapeutic interventions
• Duties and responsibilities include - but are not limited to: Conducting psychosocial/mental health assessments of Veteran's independently and/or in collaboration with the interdisciplinary treatment team - the Veteran - family members - caregivers - and/or significant others
• Developing a patient centered treatment plan and developing achievable treatment goals with the Veteran - and when appropriate - the family members/caregiver and collaborating with all additional interdisciplinary team providers
• Educating the Veteran and family members/caregivers on the available services and assisting them in establishing the appropriate referrals based on the Veteran's preference or that of his/her surrogate decision-maker
• Developing - updating and using current social worker resources within VA and community social service programs to ensure that Veterans are receiving education - information and referrals to current and viable resources to best meet their psychosocial and mental health needs to enhancing the care/treatment provided
• Recognizing and understanding the intimidation of bureaucracy and will act as an advocate when needed to serve the best interest of the Veteran and family members/caregiver
• Providing education related to navigating the VA system - use of community resources - entitlements - Advance Directives/Living Will/Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care - and Goals of Care Conversations
• Providing psychoeducation to Veterans - family members/caregiver and referring them to appropriate interdisciplinary team members or services for identified health education needs
• Providing Veterans and their family members/caregiver with ongoing supportive counseling and psychosocial/psycho-education as appropriate in the individual - group and family setting
• Establishing and maintaining positive - professional working relationships with employees - volunteers - consumers and stakeholders within the VA - as well as - community agencies and all other internal and external stakeholders
• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Recruitment/Relocation Incentives: Not authorized
• Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not authorized
• Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases
• Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year)
• Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment - up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth - adoption - or foster care placement of a child
• Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment - full time employees with a total family income below $144 -000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66
• 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) Telework: Not available
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement # 55606F GS-9 Social Worker (MHC) & 50626F GS-11 Social Worker (MHC) Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 8:00 am - 4:30 pm(Note: Work schedules are determined and approved by the supervisor
• The incumbent may be required to work various shifts on a permanent or temporary basis based on facility/patient care needs).