This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) a student loan reimbursement program. To participate in the program you must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA Policy 1021 and submit your application within 4 months of appointment. The final award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility periods is determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services office. The VISN 20 EDRP Coordinator can be reached at V20- EDRPGroup@va.gov 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- Master's degree in social work (MSW) from a school of social work fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), or other master's in science in social work (MSSW), social service administration (MSSA), social service (MSS), social administration (MSA) or social welfare as accredited by the CSWE. Those without the required master's degree will be disqualified. Licensure - Must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level. 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. Experience GS-11 - Must have 1-year post-MSW experience, or possess a doctoral degree in social work that may be substituted for the required 1 year of professional social work experience in a clinical setting. You must meet the qualifications within 30 days of the closing date of this JOA. Grade Determinations: GS-9 Requirements: This is the entry level for social workers and is used for social workers with less than 1 year of post-MSW experience and for social workers who are not yet licensed or certified at the independent practice level. (If enough applicants apply at the GS-11 level, it is possible that applicants who are only eligible at the GS-09 level will NOT be referred for this specific vacancy, as GS-11 with independent license is highly preferred.)Knowledge, Skills, Abilities: (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. GS-11 Requirements: This is the full performance level for social workers. GS-11 Social Workers are licensed or certified to independently practice social work. They are assigned to all program areas, including inpatient or outpatient medicine, surgery, mental health, neurology, rehabilitation medicine, and geriatrics. Employees provide professional, independent social work services in the assigned area. (This is the preferred level for this vacancy.) Knowledge, Skills, Abilities: (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: VHA 5005, Appendix G39, Social Worker Qualification Standard. 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-09 to GS-11. Physical Requirements: Use of fingers; Hearing (aid may be permitted) . Environmental Requirements: Working closely with others. 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. ["VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU The duties of this position include but are not limited to the following: The VA Portland Health Care System (VAPORHCS) is a Complexity Level la facility and provides extensive primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary care in outpatient, inpatient, residential, and community settings. VAPORHCS is a multi-site health care system that includes a major medical facility in Portland, Oregon; outpatient and residential facilities in Vancouver, Washington; and 10 Community Based Outpatient Clinics in central and western Oregon. VAPORHCS is an academic health care system with significant teaching and research programs. Outpatient Specialty Social Workers are assigned to one or more specialty clinics and/or specialty programs in departments such as Hospital and Specialty Medicine, Neurology, Operative Care, and/or Social Work. Services include primary and secondary health care services, to include, but not limited to, psychosocial screening and assessment; psychosocial treatment and intervention; case management and care coordination; discharge and/or after-care planning; health education and advanced health care planning; supportive counseling and caregiver support; and interdisciplinary collaboration, coordination, and consultation. Outpatient Specialty Social Workers work closely with other members of the assigned specialty care interdisciplinary teams to which they are assigned. This Social Worker is assigned to the Advanced Care Planning via Group Visit (ACP-GV) Program. The Advanced Care Planning via Group Visit (ACP-GV} Social Worker provides Advanced Care Planning via Group Visit programming and services, and ensures compliance and collaboration with local facility and VA Central Office Advanced Care Planning via Group Visit Program initiatives, to include guidance from VHA Handbook 1004.02 Advance Care Planning and Management of Advance Directives, VHA Social Work ACP-GV National Implementation Team, and National Social Work Program Office. Advance Care Planning by Group Visits (ACP-GV) uses a group setting to help Veterans and their trusted others dialogue about their future treatment preferences. ACP-GV encourages self-reflection, communication, and documentation of values in the form of an Advance Directive. Veteran participants are encouraged to set Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-related (SMART) goals to address the next step in their advance care planning goals. ACP-GV was identified as a Diffusion of Excellence Gold Status Practice in 2016 and has been successfully replicated at facilities across VHA. ACP-GV is an official Whole Health intervention as recognized by the Office of Patient Center Care and Cultural Transformation. The ACP-GV Social Worker practices at the independent level; has knowledge in the field of advanced care planning; participates in a facility-wide program; provides training, consultation, and guidance to colleagues; and participates in developing and delivering innovations in clinical practice interventions. The ACP-GV Social Worker provides clinical evidence-based services including assessments and interventions; Veteran, family, caregiver, and staff education; community outreach; resource development; continuous quality improvement activities; and consultation. The incumbent partners with local, state, and federal agencies as well as non-governmental organizations. The incumbent delivers ACP-GV programming and services across all sites of care within the health care system and ensures compliance and collaboration with VHA Social Work ACP-GV National Implementation Team and National Social Work Program Office. The incumbent also establishes partnerships with facility departments, programs, committees, and workgroups such as Life Sustaining Treatment, Goals of Care, Health Promotion & Disease Prevention, Whole Health, and Integrated Ethics, which are associated with the practice area of advanced care planning. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; 8am to 4:30pm or 07:30 to 4:00pm Telework: Ad-hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Contact V20- EDRPGroup@va.gov , the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]

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