Social Worker
NACSW – North American Association of Christians in Social Work, Des Moines, IA, United States
Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration
Location:
Des Moines, Iowa
Posted:
22-Apr-26
Summary
This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval - award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.
Qualifications
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
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/
English Language Proficiency
Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f)
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 and meet the criteria)
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-9 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 utilize a Veteran centric approach when providing interventions and counseling for Veterans - their family members - caregivers - and survivors
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
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
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 in the range of GS-9 to GS-11
Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position
Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.
Duties
VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU Duties of this position are - but not limited to: Conduct psychosocial assessments to determine needs of veterans and family members
Conduct intake substance use disorder assessments for patients to determine appropriate VA program needs
Active participant in the treatment planning process with other disciplines
Participate in transition/discharge planning with other disciplines and will be responsible for ensuring that transitions plans are executed in a manner that is timely and appropriate
Provide individual - family and group counseling as appropriate
Individual and group services will be focused on substance use disorder treatment
Provide consultation/education to veterans and families on community resources - advance directives and VA benefits
Act as a consultant to other team/staff members
Provide consultation/education to students of all disciplines on clinical practice and VA policy and procedure
Provide case management to veterans and families - as needed - throughout the continuum of care
Provide a full range of social services within commonly accepted standards of their profession - which includes case work - individual - family and group counseling - discharge planning - case management and other services as appropriate
Provide wellness/prevention education and facilitate patient/family support groups as appropriate
Coordinate treatment and communicate with the care lines to facilitate continuity of care for veterans
Other duties as assigned Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm
one evening a week 10:00am-6:30pm Telework: Ad-hoc may be available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
Contact vhavisn23edrp@va.gov - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
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Location:
Des Moines, Iowa
Posted:
22-Apr-26
Summary
This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval - award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.
Qualifications
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
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/
English Language Proficiency
Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f)
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 and meet the criteria)
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-9 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 utilize a Veteran centric approach when providing interventions and counseling for Veterans - their family members - caregivers - and survivors
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
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
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 in the range of GS-9 to GS-11
Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position
Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.
Duties
VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU Duties of this position are - but not limited to: Conduct psychosocial assessments to determine needs of veterans and family members
Conduct intake substance use disorder assessments for patients to determine appropriate VA program needs
Active participant in the treatment planning process with other disciplines
Participate in transition/discharge planning with other disciplines and will be responsible for ensuring that transitions plans are executed in a manner that is timely and appropriate
Provide individual - family and group counseling as appropriate
Individual and group services will be focused on substance use disorder treatment
Provide consultation/education to veterans and families on community resources - advance directives and VA benefits
Act as a consultant to other team/staff members
Provide consultation/education to students of all disciplines on clinical practice and VA policy and procedure
Provide case management to veterans and families - as needed - throughout the continuum of care
Provide a full range of social services within commonly accepted standards of their profession - which includes case work - individual - family and group counseling - discharge planning - case management and other services as appropriate
Provide wellness/prevention education and facilitate patient/family support groups as appropriate
Coordinate treatment and communicate with the care lines to facilitate continuity of care for veterans
Other duties as assigned Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm
one evening a week 10:00am-6:30pm Telework: Ad-hoc may be available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
Contact vhavisn23edrp@va.gov - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
#J-18808-Ljbffr