Clarification from the agency

This vacancy is open to the public and special hiring authorities

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This vacancy is a solicitation for a Hiring Fair Event, which will be on an invite only basis once the position qualifications have been met. If you receive an invitation, you will be required to attend in person on:

• Date: August 27 2022
• Time: 8:00AM. - 3:00PM.
• Location: Prescott VA Healthcare System - (Address and map of hiring fair location will be provided to candidates who have met minimum qualifications for invitation)

You will be notified on 8/18/2022 if you meet the minimum qualifications. If identified as a candidate, you will receive an invitation and MUST RSVP No Later Than 8/22/2022. Please be available to complete the fingerprints and immunizations process. This is a requirement for the pre-employment process. Please make sure to bring your immunization records and 2 forms of ID for fingerprinting to the event.

The GS-09 social worker utilizes a variety of clinical skills adapted to both inpatient and outpatient clinic settings and may include community visits and outreach; incorporates the VA ICARE values within the position functions assigned and use clinical skills for a specialized Veteran population where care is provided; including understanding of cultural diversity of the patient population, including the lesbian, bi, gay and transgendered Veteran. The GS-09 social worker provides high--risk triage psychosocial assessment, psychosocial assessment, psychosocial counseling, psychosocial education, resource information and referrals; participate as a member of a multi--disciplinary team in discharge planning for Veterans hospitalized; care coordination for post-hospitalization follow-up and/or upon referral to outpatient team for assessment of care or case management. Based on the Social Worker's state licensure, may also lead or co-lead short-term inpatient or outpatient psychosocial educational support groups or evidenced based practice techniques specific to an already identified clinical mental health or psychosocial diagnosis. High-risk triage assessment is utilized for unscheduled visits and consults. Initial, reassessment, annual or referral psychosocial assessment is, completed as needed or required within the unit program.

The GS-11 social worker provides services to the Veteran population enrolled for extended care treatment, rehabilitation, geriatric outpatient services, and/or residing at the VA Long Beach Community Living Center. Services include provision of high-quality case management, clinical treatment, advocacy, and coordination of linkages to other appropriate VA or community service providers and/or agencies as needed by the client. This is accomplished in collaboration with other members of the interdisciplinary treatment team. The social worker position functions include, but are not limited to: Screening/Assessment, Treatment Planning/Goal Setting, Referral to service providers, Resource Usage/Development, Advocacy, Crisis Intervention, Education/Health promotion and prevention, Coordination of non-institutional and institutional services, Supportive counseling, and a variety of Administrative responsibilities.

Various positions are available in multiple service. This is an example of the duties for Acute Care:

The incumbent will provide an open access to Veterans seeking these services and timely response to individuals in psychosocial crisis in Acute Care and the ED, and supporting the behavioral health needs of those in crisis. The major duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:

• Conducts psychosocial assessments to determine needs of veterans and family members.
• Participates actively in the treatment planning process with other disciplines.
• Participates in discharge planning with other disciplines and will be responsible for ensuring that discharge plans are executed in a manner that is timely and appropriate.
• Provides individual, family, and group counseling as appropriate.
• Provides consultation/education to veterans and families on community resources, advance directives, and VA benefits.
• Provides a full range of social work services within commonly accepted standards of social work practice which includes case work, individual, family and group counseling, discharge planning, case management and other services as appropriate.
• Addresses Advance Directives and Organ Donation in accordance with the standards of their work area.
• Assists patients and their significant others with coping and dealing with the loss and grief experiences in disability, terminal illness, and death.
• Documents social work interventions and activities in patient's clinical record utilizing CPRS and ensure appropriate hand off when transferring of patient care.
• Participates in a rotation of on-call social workers, including modification of tour of duty to accommodate patient care needs on weekends.

Conditions of employment

Work Schedule: Monday thru Friday, 7:00am to 3:30pm
Compressed/Flexible: Not Available
Telework: May be available, after completing at least 90 days of continuous service
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Title/Functional Statement #:Social Worker (Acute Care)/PD000000
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

• 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.
• Training-Service Agreement and Mobility Agreement required.
• 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. 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. [Transcripts must be submitted at time of application. Conferral of degree(s) must be stated on transcript(s). Unofficial transcripts(s) are acceptable].
• 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/. [A copy of current licensure/certification showing date of issuance, must be submitted with application]

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.]

1. For appointments at the GS-9 grade level, VHA social workers who are not licensed or certified at the time of appointment must become licensed or certified at the independent, master's level within three years of their appointment as a social worker. Most states require two years of post-MSW experience as a prerequisite to taking the licensure/certification exam, and VHA gives social workers one additional year to pass the licensure/certification exam. In states such as California, Washington, and others where the prerequisites for licensure exceed two years, social workers must become licensed at the independent, master's level within one year of meeting the full state prerequisites for licensure.
2. A social worker who does not yet have a license that allows independent practice must be supervised by a licensed independent practitioner of the same discipline who is a VA staff member and who has access to the electronic health record.

Grandfathering Provision: 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).

NOTE: If social workers covered under the grandfathering provision of the 1991 Federal law regarding licensure or certification of VHA social workers leave the GS-0185 social work series, they lose the grandfathering protection. If they choose to return at a later date to the GS-0185 series, they must be licensed or certified to qualify for employment as a social worker.

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-09

Experience, Education, and Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

• Ability to work with Veterans and family members from various socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other diversified backgrounds utilizing counseling skills.
• 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.

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:

• 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, cultural, ethnic, educational and other diversified 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.

References: VA Handbook 5005/120, Part II, Appendix G39, Social Work Qualification Standard, GS-0185, Veterans Health Administration.

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: Involve active listening, reading, observing and evaluating verbal and nonverbal behavior; walking, speaking, writing reports, writing policies and procedures, writing clinical notes; using office equipment such as computers, telephones, fax machines, and photocopy machines. ???????

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, résumé, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.