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. 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 the CSWE website to verify if that social work degree meets the accreditation standards for a master 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/. English Language Proficiency Requirement - Social workers must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j. GS 12 Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates 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. One year of experience equivalent to the GS- 11- Social workers at this level are licensed or certified to independently practice social work. Incumbents are assigned to all program areas, including but not limited to: inpatient or outpatient medicine, surgery, mental health, neurology, rehabilitation medicine, and geriatrics. Employees provide professional, independent social work services in the assigned area. Duties include but are not limited to: assessing and documenting identified behaviors or symptoms of abuse, neglect, exploitation and/or intimate partner violence; use of clinical social work skills and knowledge to maintain Veteran privacy and confidentiality per policies, handbooks or directives; and acts as an advocate with appropriate VA and community service providers and agencies when it serves the best interest of the Veteran and family members/caregiver. Incumbent independently assesses the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and their family members, identifying the Veteran's strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and psychosocial acuity. In collaboration with the Veteran, family/caregiver, and interdisciplinary treatment team, the social worker facilitates the delivery of health care services. The social worker identifies family/caregiver stressors, conducts assessment and provides specific interventions. The incumbent provides case management and care coordination to facilitate appropriate delivery of health care services, incorporates complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment of Veterans, including making psychosocial and psychiatric diagnoses within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice. The social worker links the Veteran with services, resources, and opportunities, in order to maximize the Veteran's independence, health, and well-being. The social worker conducts timely assessment of at-risk Veterans in crisis to identify immediate needs, evaluate risk, and initiate safety plan as appropriate. The social worker provides interventions independently with Veterans and their families/caregivers who are experiencing a wide range of complicated medical, behavioral health, financial, legal, and psychosocial problems. 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. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: 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. Ability to incorporate complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice. 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. 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. 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 Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005/120, Part II, Appendix G39 Social Worker Qualification Standard. The full performance level of this vacancy is a GS-12. Physical Requirements: This will be the primary object which the incumbent will need to carry, if required. However, the incumbent may need to assist Veterans in carrying their belongings. Physically being able to lift and carry objects up to 40 pounds. Conducting home and field visits in the community in the extreme heat of Houston, Texas. Walking a moderate to high distance to obtain and operate GSA Vehicle and to contact Veterans for face-to-face visits. Ability to climb and descend several flights of stairs and to maintain an individual level of "self-preservation" in the community. ["VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU The Michael E DeBakey VA Medical Center (MEDVAMC) is seeking a Senior Social Worker - HCHV Outreach. This position will be located in Houston, TX. Current permanent VA employees and Federal employees from other federal agency should apply under CBST-12112443-23-LG The incumbent is assigned an area of coverage to outreach to veterans in need of housing and case management that will include the immediate Houston area, MEDVAMC catchment area and surrounding rural areas (Galveston Co., Northwest Harris & Montgomery Co's, Jefferson County, etc.) The incumbent independently performs, manages and tracks outreach efforts for the HCHV outreach team. The incumbent provides HMIS, Coordinated Access, HOMES and psychosocial assessment and case management services to eligible veterans and their family members to meet biological, psychological, social, and environmental needs. The health care and psychosocial problems and needs are complex and require clinical oversight, coordination and creative problem-solving. The GS-12 HCHV Outreach Sr. Social Worker must understand all HCHV programs (GPD, Coordinated Access, Domiciliary, HCRV, VJO and HUD-VASH) and may provide coverage as needed due to leave or vacancies. Independently performs case finding functions and outreach, identifying and screening patients for psychosocial needs, HMIS and National Homeless program data entry and management are also a necessity. Incumbent must possess the knowledge and ability to independently implement treatment modalities, crisis management, screening for suicidal/homicidal ideations and coordinate warm handoffs from community partners to VA entry point and services. Incumbent must also have knowledge and skills to provide evidenced based counseling or psychotherapy techniques for individuals, families and groups - this includes motivational interviewing, cognitive/dialectal behavioral therapy and harm reduction. Independently conducts homelessness assessments, crises related assessments and psychosocial assessments. Develops treatment plans in collaboration with the veteran/family and with the interdisciplinary treatment team. Incumbent possesses the skills to offer psychosocial interventions and measures outcomes to interventions. Collects, analyze and prepares this information for presentation and education to internal and external stakeholders. Administers information and analytical systems to evaluate and enhance the quality of service provided to patients. Develops and implements information systems to track service activities including visits, referrals, outreach events, inpatient day, patient demographics, equipment utilization and patient satisfaction. Work Schedule: Monday- Friday; 8:00 am - 4:30 pm Telework: Available AFTER 90 DAYS AND FULLY SUCCESSFUL PERFORMANCE Virtual: This is not virtual position. Functional Statement #: 580-00983-F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Contact Demetrius.Roberts@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]

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