Duties

Summary

The Hampton VA Medical Center is looking for two Social Workers. One Social Worker position will be assigned to the Domiciliary Residential Rehabilitation and Treatment Program (DRRTP), and the other Social Worker position is located in Mental Health located at the Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) and will be a member of the Behavioral health interdisciplinary team providing high quality case management and mental health services.
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Responsibilities

*Primary duties of the Social Worker in the Domiciliary Residential Rehabilitation and Treatment Program (DRRTP) will include but not limited to:

• Screening/Assessment - In conjunction with the interdisciplinary DRRTP staff, the SWES conducts a vocationally-oriented psychosocial assessment with the Veteran in order to facilitate his or her access to the appropriate VA and community vocational rehabilitation and employment resources.
• Treatment Planning/Goal Setting - determines realistic vocational goals and objectives with the Veteran, including such factors as a) the appropriate type of vocational intervention, b) work readiness and motivation (expectations), c) supportive services d) transportation options/barriers
• Facilitate discharge-planning through collaboration with Veterans and their families as well as interdisciplinary treatment team members. Collaborate with active duty service members and their command;
• Referral to service providers to optimize the Veteran's access to the right level of vocational service at the right time, the SWES coordinates with various resources to locate services and employment opportunities in the community.

*Primary duties of the Social Worker in Mental Health will include, but are not limited to:

• Provides clinical assessment, psychosocial evaluations, counseling, case management and psychotherapy to veterans diagnosed with Serious Mental Health Illnesses, Substance Use Disorders, and other mental disorders;
• Actively participates as a member of the interdisciplinary treatment team and collaborates with veterans and family as well as interdisciplinary treatment team members in the development and implementation of a client centered treatment plan;
• Serves as a liaison between Veterans and/or their families and VA and community resources in order to ensure thorough delivery of services, coordinating veteran and family involvement in the development of treatment plans and aftercare; and
• Provides consultation as needed to other treatment team and staff members regarding psychosocial needs of veterans and/or their families and the impact of the identified psychosocial problems on the veteran's health care planning, compliance with treatment, and discharge planning.

Work Schedule: Position is categorized as an administrative work week, Monday through Friday 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Occasional overtime, weekends, and holidays may be required as needed.

Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required

Travel Required

Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
11

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Designated and/or random drug testing may be required
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• You may be required to serve a probationary period
• Subject to a background/security investigation
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process

Qualifications

Basic Requirements: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:

• 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 the CSWE website to verify if the degree meets the accreditation standards for a master of social work.
• Licensure: Social Workers at the GS-11 Level must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice Social Work, and have completed a minimum of one year of post-MSW degree experience in field of health care social work experience in a clinical setting OR In addition to meeting basic requirements, have completed Doctoral Degree in Social Work from a school of social work may be substituted for required 1 year of professional social work experience in a clinical setting.
• English Language Proficiency: Social workers must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j, Appendix G39.

Grade Determinations:

GS-9: Is the entry level grade for the GS-185 Social Work series and is used for Social Workers with less than one year of post-MSW experience and for social workers who are not yet licensed or certified at the independent practice level. Social Workers at the GS-9 level are working toward completion of prerequisites for licensure or certification.

GS-11: Social Workers at the GS-11 Level must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work. And have completed a minimum of one (1)year of post-MSW degree experience in field of health care social work experience in a clinical setting. OR In addition to meeting basic requirements, have completed Doctoral Degree in Social Work from a school of social work may be substituted for required 1 year of professional social work experience in a clinical setting.

The candidate's resume will be reviewed and must demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA's):

GS-9 Entry Level KSA's:

Ability to provide psychosocial treatment to a wide variety of individuals from various socio-economic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other diversified backgrounds. This requires knowledge of human development and behavior (physical and psychological), and the differential influences of the environment, society, and culture.

Ability to work with patients and families who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric, medical, and social problems utilizing individual, group, and family counseling skills. Work with more complex problems is done under close supervision with guidance from the social work supervisor, ability to assess the psychosocial functioning and needs of patients and their family members, and to formulate and implement a treatment plan, identifying the patient's problems, strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and assistance needed.

Basic knowledge of psychosocial treatment modalities and, under supervision, 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 with clients, staff, and representatives of community agencies. Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with people from varied backgrounds.

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.

Basic skill in the use of computer software applications for drafting documents, data management, and tracking. Ability to learn and utilize software programs in use by VHA.

GS-11 Full Performance Level KSA's:

Knowledge of community resources, how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services, and ability to coordinate services.

Ability to independently assess the psychosocial functioning and needs of patients and their family members and to formulate and implement a treatment plan, identifying the patient's problems, strengths, weaknesses, coping skills and assistance needed, in collaboration with the patient, family and interdisciplinary treatment team.

Ability to independently conduct psychosocial assessments and provide psychosocial treatment to a wide variety of individuals from various socio-economic, cultural, ethnic, educational and other diversified backgrounds. This requires knowledge of human development and behavior (physical and psychological) and the differential influences of the environment, society and culture.

Knowledge and experience in the use 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.

Knowledge of psychosocial treatment and ability to independently implement treatment modalities in working with individuals, families and groups who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric, medical and social problems to achieve treatment goals. This requires independent judgment and skill in utilizing supportive, problem solving or crisis intervention techniques.

Ability to independently provide counseling and/or psychotherapy services to individuals, groups and families. Social Workers must practice within the bounds of their license or certification. For example, some states may require social workers providing psychotherapy to have a clinical level of licensure.

References: VA Handbook 5005/50, Part II Appendix G39 VA Social Worker Qualification Standards dated 2012.

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: A pre-placement physical examination to determine the physical, cognitive and emotional fitness of candidates for appointment in VA is required, and shall be completed prior to appointment, for all full-time individuals appointed under 38 U.S.C. 7401(3) for title 38 hybrid positions.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/ . If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html .

Additional information

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

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

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

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.

If you are unable to apply online view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application .

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.

NOTE: The Professional Standards Board (a peer-review group) will review the selected candidate's education and experience and recommend the grade and salary at which the candidate will be placed. For internal selectees eligible for promotion, the board will determine grade and HR will determine step in accordance with policy.

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.

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Other

Drug test required
No

Required Documents

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

• 10-2580c Application for Associated Health Occupations
• Resume
• Transcript

The Application form is a required document. VA Form 10-2850c Application for Associated Health Occupations can be found at: http://www.va.gov/vaforms/search_action.asp?FormNo=2850&tkey=&Action=Search .

If a current, permanent (or reinstatement eligible) applicant, your latest non-award SF-50 is also required.

The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please use this checklist to ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's, documentation to support Veterans Preference or ICTAP/CTAP documentation (for displaced Federal employees).

• Cover Letter
• DD-214/ Statement of Service
• OF-306
• 10-2580c Application for Associated Health Occupations
• Other (2)
• Resume
• SF-15
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

Veterans' Preference: When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire. You must provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.). If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and dates of impending separation. Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference" with required proof as stated on the form. Documentation is required to award preference. For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit http://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/vetpref/index.aspx .

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education .

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.