Senior Social Worker (HCHV Outreach) - Education Debt Reduction Program Approved
Direct Jobs, Big Spring, TX, United States
Summary
This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) – a student loan payment reimbursement program. The program provides a reimbursement up to $200,000 for up to five years after meeting specific eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy. The applicant must submit an EDRP application within four months of appointment. Award amount and eligibility period are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after a complete review of the EDRP application.
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 master 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/.
Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 – Employee Occupational Health Services 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 (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria). Please see the Additional Information Section of this announcement for details.
Grade Determinations: Senior Social Worker – GS‑12 Experience/Education. The candidate must have at least two years of experience post advanced practice clinical licensure and should be in a specialized area of social work practice of which one year must be equivalent to the GS‑11 grade level. Senior social workers have experience that demonstrates possession of advanced practice skills and judgment. Senior social workers may have certification or other post‑masters training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university that includes a defined curriculum/course of study and internship or equivalent supervised professional experience in a specialty.
Senior social workers must be licensed or certified by a state at the advanced practice level which includes an advanced generalist or clinical examination – unless they are grandfathered by the state in which they are licensed to practice at the advanced practice level (except for licenses issued in California – which administers its own clinical examination for advanced practice). They must be able to provide supervision for licensure.
Demonstrated Knowledge – Skills – and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Skill in a range of specialized interventions and treatment modalities used in specialty treatment programs or with special patient populations, including individual – group – and/or family counseling or psychotherapy and advanced level psychosocial and/or case management. (b) Ability to incorporate complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice. (c) Knowledge in developing and implementing methods for measuring effectiveness of social work practice and services in the specialty area – utilizing outcome evaluations to improve treatment services and to design system changes. (d) Ability to provide specialized consultation to colleagues and students on the psychosocial treatment of patients in the service delivery area – as well as role modeling effective social work practice skills. (e) Ability to expand clinical knowledge in the social work profession – and to write policies – procedures – and/or practice guidelines pertaining to the service delivery area.
Duties
Assess and document identified behaviors or symptoms of abuse, neglect, exploitation, and/or intimate partner violence.
Use clinical social work skills and knowledge to maintain Veteran privacy and confidentiality per policies, handbooks, or directives.
Act as an advocate with appropriate VA and community service providers and agencies when it serves the best interest of the Veteran and family member/caregiver.
Independently assess the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and their family members – identifying the Veteran’s strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and psychosocial acuity.
Facilitate the delivery of health care services in collaboration with the Veteran, family/caregiver, and interdisciplinary treatment team.
Identify family/caregiver stressors, conduct assessment, and provide specific interventions.
Provide case management and care coordination to facilitate appropriate delivery of health care services, incorporating complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment of Veterans – including making psychosocial and psychiatric diagnoses within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice.
Link the Veteran with services, resources, and opportunities to maximize independence, health, and well‑being.
Conduct timely assessment of at‑risk Veterans in crisis to identify immediate needs, evaluate risk, and initiate safety plan as appropriate.
Provide interventions independently with Veterans and their families/caregivers who are experiencing a wide range of complicated medical, behavioral health, financial, legal, and psychosocial problems.
Offer a range of interventions and treatment modalities which may include individual, group, and/or family counseling or psychotherapy.
Independently formulate and implement a treatment plan – including measurable, achievable goals identifying the veteran’s needs, strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and psychosocial acuity.
Serve on committees, work groups, and task forces at the facility and VISN level or in the community.
Provide subject matter consultation to colleagues and students on the psychosocial treatment of Veterans – offering professional opinions based on experience, expertise, and role modeling effective social work practice skills.
Establish and maintain ongoing education programs for Veterans, community agencies, students, and staff to facilitate understanding of social work interventions specific to the Veteran/Military population.
Oversee the oversight of the Wood Group – an emergency shelter placement located in Big Spring, TX – as the HCHV Outreach Senior Social Worker.
Assist in the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans (NCCHV) calls and CPRS consults that filter in.
Attend local Homeless Coalition meetings that serve the West Texas catchment area.
Other duties as assigned – as related to the needs of the program.
Work Schedule: Full‑time – Monday thru Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
EDRP Authorized: Contact vhaedrpprogramsupport@va.gov the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance.
Recruitment Incentive (Sign‑on Bonus): Not authorized. Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not authorized. Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. A higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade).
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 #: Senior Social Worker (HCHV Outreach). Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized.
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This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) – a student loan payment reimbursement program. The program provides a reimbursement up to $200,000 for up to five years after meeting specific eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy. The applicant must submit an EDRP application within four months of appointment. Award amount and eligibility period are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after a complete review of the EDRP application.
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 master 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/.
Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 – Employee Occupational Health Services 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 (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria). Please see the Additional Information Section of this announcement for details.
Grade Determinations: Senior Social Worker – GS‑12 Experience/Education. The candidate must have at least two years of experience post advanced practice clinical licensure and should be in a specialized area of social work practice of which one year must be equivalent to the GS‑11 grade level. Senior social workers have experience that demonstrates possession of advanced practice skills and judgment. Senior social workers may have certification or other post‑masters training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university that includes a defined curriculum/course of study and internship or equivalent supervised professional experience in a specialty.
Senior social workers must be licensed or certified by a state at the advanced practice level which includes an advanced generalist or clinical examination – unless they are grandfathered by the state in which they are licensed to practice at the advanced practice level (except for licenses issued in California – which administers its own clinical examination for advanced practice). They must be able to provide supervision for licensure.
Demonstrated Knowledge – Skills – and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Skill in a range of specialized interventions and treatment modalities used in specialty treatment programs or with special patient populations, including individual – group – and/or family counseling or psychotherapy and advanced level psychosocial and/or case management. (b) Ability to incorporate complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice. (c) Knowledge in developing and implementing methods for measuring effectiveness of social work practice and services in the specialty area – utilizing outcome evaluations to improve treatment services and to design system changes. (d) Ability to provide specialized consultation to colleagues and students on the psychosocial treatment of patients in the service delivery area – as well as role modeling effective social work practice skills. (e) Ability to expand clinical knowledge in the social work profession – and to write policies – procedures – and/or practice guidelines pertaining to the service delivery area.
Duties
Assess and document identified behaviors or symptoms of abuse, neglect, exploitation, and/or intimate partner violence.
Use clinical social work skills and knowledge to maintain Veteran privacy and confidentiality per policies, handbooks, or directives.
Act as an advocate with appropriate VA and community service providers and agencies when it serves the best interest of the Veteran and family member/caregiver.
Independently assess the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and their family members – identifying the Veteran’s strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and psychosocial acuity.
Facilitate the delivery of health care services in collaboration with the Veteran, family/caregiver, and interdisciplinary treatment team.
Identify family/caregiver stressors, conduct assessment, and provide specific interventions.
Provide case management and care coordination to facilitate appropriate delivery of health care services, incorporating complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment of Veterans – including making psychosocial and psychiatric diagnoses within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice.
Link the Veteran with services, resources, and opportunities to maximize independence, health, and well‑being.
Conduct timely assessment of at‑risk Veterans in crisis to identify immediate needs, evaluate risk, and initiate safety plan as appropriate.
Provide interventions independently with Veterans and their families/caregivers who are experiencing a wide range of complicated medical, behavioral health, financial, legal, and psychosocial problems.
Offer a range of interventions and treatment modalities which may include individual, group, and/or family counseling or psychotherapy.
Independently formulate and implement a treatment plan – including measurable, achievable goals identifying the veteran’s needs, strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and psychosocial acuity.
Serve on committees, work groups, and task forces at the facility and VISN level or in the community.
Provide subject matter consultation to colleagues and students on the psychosocial treatment of Veterans – offering professional opinions based on experience, expertise, and role modeling effective social work practice skills.
Establish and maintain ongoing education programs for Veterans, community agencies, students, and staff to facilitate understanding of social work interventions specific to the Veteran/Military population.
Oversee the oversight of the Wood Group – an emergency shelter placement located in Big Spring, TX – as the HCHV Outreach Senior Social Worker.
Assist in the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans (NCCHV) calls and CPRS consults that filter in.
Attend local Homeless Coalition meetings that serve the West Texas catchment area.
Other duties as assigned – as related to the needs of the program.
Work Schedule: Full‑time – Monday thru Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
EDRP Authorized: Contact vhaedrpprogramsupport@va.gov the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance.
Recruitment Incentive (Sign‑on Bonus): Not authorized. Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not authorized. Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. A higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade).
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 #: Senior Social Worker (HCHV Outreach). Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized.
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