Social Worker

Summary The Eastern Colorado Health Care System VA Hospital is currently recruiting for one GS-9 target 11 Social Worker to work for the HUDVASH program. Learn more about this agency 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. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. 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 educational or certification/licensure requirements completion may be referred & tentatively selected but can't be hired until all requirements are met Basic Requirements: US Citizenship Non-citizens may only be appointed when you can't recruit qualified citizens English Language Proficiency Must be able to speak & write English Education. Have a master's degree in social work from social work school fully accredited by Council on Social Work Education, CSWE Graduates of social work schools in candidacy status don't meet requirement until social work school is fully accredited Doctoral degrees in social work may not be substituted for master's degree in social work Degree verification can be made by going to http://www.cswe.org/Accreditation to verify the social work degree meets accreditation standards for masters of social work Licensure. Persons hired/reassigned to social worker positions in GS-0185 series in VHA must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at master's degree level. Current state requirements may be found by going to http://vaww.va.gov/OHRM/T38Hybrid/. Exception. VHA may waive licensure or certification requirement for persons who are otherwise qualified, pending completion of state prerequisites for licensure/certification examinations. Exception only applies for GS-9 grade levels; GS-11 grade levels & above must be licensed or certified. At the time of appointment, supervisor, chief social work or social work executive provides unlicensed/uncertified social worker w/ written requirements for licensure or certification, including time by which the license or certification must be obtained & consequences for not becoming licensed or certified by the deadline For GS-9 appointments: VHA social workers who aren't licensed or certified at time of appointment must become licensed or certified at independent, master's level w/in 3 years of their appointment as social worker Most states require 2 years post-MSW experience as a prerequisite to taking licensure/certification exam & VHA gives social workers 1 additional year to pass licensure/certification exam In states such as California, Washington & others where prerequisites for licensure exceed 2 years, social workers must become licensed at independent, master's level w/in 1 year of meeting full state prerequisites for licensure Social workers who don't have a license to allow independent practice must be supervised by a licensed independent practitioner of same discipline who's a VA staff member & who has access to electronic health records Failure to Obtain License or Certification. In all cases, social workers must actively pursue meeting state prerequisites for licensure or certification starting from appointment date Failure to become licensed or certified w/in prescribed deadlines results in removal from GS-0185 social worker series & may result in employment termination. 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. Grade Determinations: The following criteria must be met when determining candidate's grade in addition to basic requirements for employment GS-9 Experience, Education, and Licensure. None beyond basic requirements Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills & Abilities, KSAs Candidates must demonstrate all the following KSAs in addition to experience above: 1) Ability to work w/ Veterans/family members from various socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, educational & other diversified backgrounds using counseling skills 2) Ability to assess psychosocial functioning needs of Veterans/family members & create/implement treatment plans, identifying Veterans' issues, strengths, weaknesses, coping skills & needed assistance 3) Ability to implement treatment modalities working w/ individuals, families & groups to achieve treatment goals; requires judgment & skill using supportive, problem solving or crisis intervention techniques 4) Ability to establish/maintain effective working relationships & communicate w/ clients, staff & community agencies representatives 5) Fundamental knowledge of medical/mental health diagnoses, disabilities & treatment procedures; includes acute, chronic & traumatic illnesses/injuries; common medications & their effects/side effects & medical terminology GS-11 Experience and Licensure. Appointment to GS-11 grade requires completion of minimum of 1 year post-MSW experience equivalent to GS-9 grade level in health care field or other social work-related settings, VA or nonVA experience & state licensure or certification at independent practice level OR Education. Doctoral degree in social work from social work school may be substituted for required 1 year professional social work experience in a clinical setting in addition to meeting basic requirements Demonstrated KSAs Candidates must demonstrate all following KSAs in addition to experience above: 1) Knowledge of community resources, how to make appropriate referrals to community & other governmental agencies for services & ability to coordinate services 2) Skill in independently conducting psychosocial assessments & treatment interventions to a diverse individuals from various socio-economic, cultural, ethnic, educational backgrounds 3) Knowledge of medical & mental health diagnoses, disabilities & treatment procedures, i.e. acute, chronic & traumatic illnesses/injuries, common medications & their effects/side effects & medical terminology to formulate treatment plans 4) Skill in independently applying various treatment modalities working w/ individuals, families & groups who're having variety of psychiatric, medical & social problems to reach treatment goals 5) Ability to provide consultation services to new social workers, social work graduate students & staff about psychosocial client needs & psychosocial problems impact on health care & adherence to treatment Preferred Experience: LCSW license, HUDVASH &/or working w/ homeless pop exp, clinical case management exp; discharge planning in hospital or adult or child protective services exp & complete resource lifecycle exp Reference: Please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/ for more information on qualification standard Vacancy full performance level is a GS-11 Applicants may be selected as either GS-9 or GS-11 for this vacancy Physical Requirements: Must be able to exercise patience, control emotions & manage stressful situations Must be able to prepare, transcribe & analyze data & figures Often lift/carry <15 lbs; papers, books, laptop or small items Frequent: reading, wrist, hands & fingers use, computer, mouse & keyboard use, sit, walk, stand, climb/descend stairs & bend Simultaneous rapid mental/muscular coordination Must be able to pass & maintain BLS certification Must possess & maintain valid state driver's license For complete physical standards see VA Handbook 5019 Education IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Transcripts must include your name, the school's entire name, can be unofficial transcripts, must have the name of the course, date course taken, grade received for the course, amount of credits earned for the course, date degree conferred, name of degree received. 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/. 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. During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. 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. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act. Read more Benefits A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new window Learn more about federal benefits. Review our benefits Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.