Incumbent is a professional social worker assigned to the Domiciliary Residential Rehabilitation and Treatment Program (DRRTP). The incumbent must use a high level of skill in assessing and treating the complicated psychosocial problems of Veterans as they transition from the DRRTP to appropriate discharge arrangements. Care management responsibilities include the management, coordination, and provision of social work and supportive services to Veterans and/or their families. Basic Requirements: Applicants must meet the requirements of the position by the time the position closes. The basic requirements for employment as a VHA social worker are prescribed by statute in 38 U.S.C. § 7402(b)(9), as amended by section 205 of Public Law 106-419, enacted November 1, 2000. To qualify for appointment as a social worker in VHA, all applicants must meet the following: a. Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when itis not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g this part). b. Education. Have a masters 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 to http://www.cswe.org/Accreditation to verify that the social work degree meets the accreditation standards for a masters of social work. c. Licensure. Persons hired or reassigned to social worker positions in the GS-0185series in VHA must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice socialhttp://vaww.va.gov/OHRM/T38Hybrid/. (1) 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 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, masters level within one year of meeting the state prerequisites for licensure. Failure to Obtain License or Certification. In all cases, social workers must actively pursue meeting state prerequisites for licensure or certification starting from the date of their appointment. Failure to become licensed or certified within the prescribed amount of time will result in removal from the GS-0185 social worker series and may result in termination of employment. (3) 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. 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 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: Social Worker GS-9 (1) 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: (a) Ability to work with Veterans and family members from various socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other diversified backgrounds utilizing counseling skills.(b) 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.(c) 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.(d) Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients, staff, and representatives of community agencies.(e) 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. NOTE: For appointment licensure or certification at this level please refer to paragraph 3c. 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: (a) Knowledge of community resources, how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services, and ability to coordinate services. (b) 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. (c) 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. (d) 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. (e) 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 G-39. Social Work Qualification Standard GS-185, Veterans Health Administration. The full performance level of this vacancy is at the GS-11 level. 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: Work is sedentary but also demands standing, walking, bending, twisting, and carrying light items. ["The DRRTP Social Worker at the Bath VA Medical Center independently performs case finding functions and outreach, identifies and screens patients for psychosocial needs. Incumbent must possess the knowledge and ability to independently implement treatment modalities and provide counseling or psychotherapy for individuals, families and groups at the appropriate level of licensure and within current scope of practice. Independently conducts psychosocial assessments. Develops treatment plans in collaboration with the Veteran/family and with the interdisciplinary treatment team. Incumbent must possess the skills to offer psychosocial interventions and measure outcomes of interventions. Incumbent coordinates community-based services, including information and referral for additional services from other VA programs, other government programs and community agency programs. Incumbent does this in providing case management as part of discharge planning from the DRRTP Independently identifies high-risk patients and provides case management services. Incumbent provides crisis intervention services, addressing the cause as well as the presenting complaint. Coordinates family conferences and serves as liaison to family members. Has working knowledge and experience with common medications and their effects/side effects, medical terminology, medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities and treatment procedures to include acute, chronic and traumatic illnesses/injuries. Establishes and maintains effective therapeutic relationships with Veterans and their families. Incumbent works independently with patients and families experiencing a variety of psychiatric, medical and social problems utilizing individual, group and family counseling and therapy skills. Must actively participate as a member of the interdisciplinary treatment team and actively participate through collaboration with Veterans and family as well as interdisciplinary treatment team members in the development and implementation of a resident centered treatment plan. Must possess the skills and knowledge to provide case management services to Veterans and their families throughout the continuum of care. The incumbent will be able to appropriately utilize principles of human growth and development over the life span and will be able to assist Veterans in coping with the loss and grief experiences from disability and terminal illness. Independently provides consultation services to other staff members regarding the psychosocial needs of Veterans. Provides consultation on the impact of psychosocial problems on health care and adherence to treatment plans. Evaluates his/her own practice through professional peer review, case conferences and other organizational means. Communicates effectively, both orally and in writing, with people from varied backgrounds. Communicates effectively both orally and in writing with professional, administrative and technical staff at all levels. The incumbent functions as liaison between internal and external resources, including community agencies, courts, probation and parole officers, guardians, conservators and providers concerning appropriate notifications. Collaborates and shares information with medical/clinical treatment staff regarding potential improvement in patient care delivery through comparisons to community standards. Demonstrates effective communication skills and behavior that promote professional cooperation and team building with internal and external customers. The incumbent shares information to assure continuity and safety in area of assignment and collaborates with co-workers in completing workload. Works with members of an interdisciplinary team in responding to consults for admission. This requires familiarity with eligibility requirements. Possesses general knowledge of Veterans' benefits and services relating to special programs to include service connected compensation and non-service connected pension. Facilitates referrals based on Veterans' needs and eligibility. Has the ability to complete social work comp and pen industrial exams. Incumbent provides Social Work coverage within and across Care Lines as needed. Other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:30am - 4:00pm Telework: Not Authorized\nVirtual: This is not a virtual position.\nFunctional Statement #: Social Worker 21Y52-A, 24400-F\nRelocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required"]