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. Program 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: 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 4 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/. 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.] (a) 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. (b) 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. (c) Different states have different levels of licensure or certification, making it difficult for VHA staff to determine the independent practice level. Each state, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia completed surveys identifying the level of licensure or certification allowing independent practice. Copies of the surveys are on file in the VHA Office of Care Management and Social Work Services, and a summary spreadsheet of the levels of licensure or certification is available to social work professional standards board members for purposes of determining whether the social worker's level of licensure or certification meets the VHA qualification standards. All states except California use a series of licensure exams administered by the ASWB. Information can be found at https://www.aswb.org/. The ASWB is the association of boards that regulates social work. ASWB develops and maintains the social work licensing examination used across the country and is a central resource for information on the legal regulation of social work. The ASWB offers three examinations. The master's examination is generally used by states for the independent practice level of licensure or certification, while the advanced generalist and the clinical examinations are used for the advanced practice level of licensure or certification. Differences between the master's and the 5 advanced exams demonstrate the expectation that advanced practice social workers will have a more sophisticated knowledge of practice theory and its application. 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: Experience/Education. One year of experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level. Experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment, demonstrating progressively more professional competency. Candidates may have certification or other post-master's degree training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university that includes a defined curriculum/course of study and internship, or equivalent supervised professional experience. Licensure/Certification. Individuals assigned as social worker program coordinator must be licensed or certified at the advanced practice level, and 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: Skill in coordinating and implementing one or more specialty program(s), across the facility. Skill in local policy and practice development, procedures, and/or practice guidelines for the program as prescribed by the program handbook or national directive. Skill in organizing work, setting priorities, meeting multiple deadlines, and evaluating assigned program area(s). Ability to collaborate with internal and external partners to further program goals and enhance patient centered care. Ability to provide the full range of supervisory duties including assignment of work to be performed; performance evaluations; and selection of staff, training, and recommendation of awards, advancements, and when appropriate, disciplinary action. Ability to oversee the fiscal matters of the functions supervised (including fund controls, contracts, and equipment expenditures), forecast resource and equipment needs, and administer the allocated budget. Knowledge of organizational structure and impact on program operations Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. This vacancy is listed as above full-performance grade level at GS-13. Physical Requirements: According to VA Directive and handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Services.
VA Careers - Licensed Clinical Social Worker: https://youtube.com/embed/U_xC25QsN0w Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf Social Work: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Social-Worker-Career-Flyer.pdf Major Duties and other listed responsibilities: HUD-Veteran Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD/VASH) Program Coordinator develops and implements programming for interdisciplinary staff. HUD/VASH Coordinator is responsible for the development of policy and procedures, overseeing program budget and daily operations, ensuring staffing coverage and ensuring essential clinical functions are provided. This includes psychosocial assessment, screening, treatment planning, discharge planning, coordination, case management, referrals, crisis intervention, consultation, patient, and family education and individual, family and group psychotherapy/counseling. Conducts and chairs monthly treatment team provide clinical input and guidance, ensures that decisions are documented in CPRS. Prepares reports for homeless staff meetings, VISN and national use. Completes local, VISN and VACO action items. Supervises all HUD/VASH staff and can provide clinical supervision for students/unlicensed staff. Provides ongoing clinical consultation for all program staff as well as overseeing their professional practice. Initiates and conducts program or service audits including productivity. Develops performance standards, competency assessments, completes performance appraisals, hears and resolves employee complaints and mediates professional and inter/intra-service line conflicts regarding program roles, continuity of care and quality of care, including referral of veterans across service or care lines during episodes of care. Must possess and maintain a currant unrestricted valid state driver's license. Reviews and approves or disapproves leave requests, makes recommendations regarding serious disciplinary actions involving subordinates and interfaces with Human Resources and AFGE when appropriate. Reviews productivity and labor mapping to ensure staff are appropriately assigned and may serve on various Social Work and Hospital committees. Participates in recruiting, interviewing and assists with selection of interdisciplinary staff within the program as well. Incumbent then tracks education requirements and other requirements employees must meet to deliver appropriate care. Ensures unlicensed social workers have access to clinical supervision for licensure from a licensed clinical social worker. Ensures social work preceptors provide students with adequate oversight and that mental health services are delivered in a safe, conscientious manner. Communicates and monitors workload, plans for optimal coverage in program areas, reviews and resolves complaints about staff and their practice, determines space requirements of assigned staff, validates and consults regarding DSS labor mapping, CDR reports and RVUs and disseminates information pertinent to HUD/VASH. Responsible for ensuring compliance with JCAHO, CARF or other standards as applicable. Responsible for key project activities related to the planning, programming, development, and implementation of the HUD/ VASH program. Reviews and evaluates clinical guidelines and regulations to establish appropriate utilization of services. Establishes and maintains effective therapeutic relationships with veterans and their families. Provides other clinical services such as psychosocial assessments, crisis intervention and individual and group psychotherapy. Performs other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Mon-Fri; 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact vhaedrpprogramsupport@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more 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 Telework: Ad Hoc Functional Statement #: 54423O