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. 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. Learn more 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 degree from a school of social work accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) can be made by going to http://www.cswe.org/Accreditation. NOTE: You must provide a copy of your Official Transcripts showing degree earned and conferred date. 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/. NOTE: You must provide a copy of your current Social Worker License. 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: 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 are experts in their specialized area of practice. 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. Licensure/Certification. Senior social workers must be licensed or certified by a state at the advanced practice level which included 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) and they must be able to provide supervision for licensure. NOTE: You must provide a copy of your Advanced Practice level licensure. Senior Social Worker, GS-12 Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all the following KSAs: (a) Skill in a range of specialized interventions and treatment modalities used in specialty treatment programs or with special patient populations. This includes 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. References: VA Handbook 5005/120 Part II, Appendix G39 dated: September 10, 2019 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS12. Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting (15-44 lbs.), Moderate carrying (15-44 lbs.), Reaching above shoulders, Walking (6 hrs.), Ability to distinguish basic colors and shades of colors, Hearing (aid permitted). ["SUMMARY.\nThe Alaska VA Healthcare System (AVAHS) offers primary, specialty, and mental health outpatient care. Services are provided through a Joint Venture Sharing Agreement with the United States Air Force on nearby Elmendorf Air Force Base, as well as through purchased care arrangements with the community hospitals. The facility also features a comprehensive Homeless Veterans and Tricare beneficiaries Service, consisting of a Domiciliary Residential Rehabilitation Program, Veterans and Tricare beneficiaries and Tricare beneficiaries Industries, Compensated Work Therapy Transitional Residence Program, VA Supported Program, and Outreach. The duties of the Senior Social Worker include but are not limited to: Clinical Screening/Assessment - The social worker develops assessments of the Veterans and Tricare beneficiaries in crisis that involve care coordination and consultation with medical, nursing management, non-VA legal/State, and social work staff in other care areas to which Veterans and Tricare beneficiaries are referred, consulted, and/or also treated and/or co-managed.\nClinical Treatment Planning/Goal Setting - The social worker is responsible for contributing to the interdisciplinary treatment plan and independently develops a social work plan that includes setting achievable treatment goals with the Veterans and Tricare beneficiaries and/or family. Clinical Discharge Planning - The discharge plan may involve, but is not limited to, housing the homeless, engagement in recovery, increasing support system, symptom management, assisting with financial and disability resources, and locating treatment opportunities for Veterans and Tricare beneficiaries in areas such as PTSD and MST. The social worker also consults with legal representatives (county and court) and assists with guardianships as needed by educating patients and families about resources and procedures and by seeking funding assistance from county and state resources when no family is available. Clinical Crisis Intervention - The social worker in the acute psychiatric setting will make rapid assessments of a developing crisis that may involve danger to either staff or patients and are trained to take appropriate action in conjunction with other staff and Security Forces when necessary.\nReferral to Service Providers - The social worker will collaborate with other service providers in reassessing the Veterans and Tricare beneficiaries' needs. The social worker is responsible for educating the Veterans and Tricare beneficiaries and/or caregiver of the available services and assisting them in establishing the appropriate referrals based on the Veterans and Tricare beneficiaries' preference or that of the surrogate decision-maker.\nResource Usage/Development - The social worker is responsible for using the current social work resource file of VA, DoD and community social service programs and enhancing the content to the benefit of Veterans and Tricare beneficiaries. Clinical Advocacy - The social worker understands how to work with government and community agencies and will act as an advocate when it serves the best interest of the Veterans, Tricare beneficiaries and/or family. Clinical Education/Health Promotion and Prevention - The social worker provides education related to VA and community resources, entitlements, Advance Directives (both medical and psychiatric) and Living Will, and refers Veterans and Tricare beneficiaries and Tricare beneficiaries/families to the appropriate interdisciplinary team member for identified health education needs.\nClinical Coordination of Care of Institutional and Non-Institutional Services - The social worker will act as a liaison between the program and partners in a Veterans and Tricare beneficiaries' care. Supportive Counseling - The social worker will provide the Veterans and Tricare beneficiaries and their caregivers with ongoing supportive counseling. The purpose of such counseling is to deal with the psychosocial impact of coping with chronic/disabling illness(es), and/or onset of a catastrophic illness. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday: 8:00am to 4:30pm\nCompressed/Flexible: CWS is available\nTelework: Not Available\nVirtual: This is not a virtual position.\nFunctional Statement #: Senior Social Worker, GS-0185-12; Functional Statement: 00000\nRelocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be Authorized\nEDRP Authorized: Contact Stacy.Hermann@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance\nPermanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required"]