This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until September 30, 2024. The first cut-off dates for referral of eligible applications will be 02/09/2024. All eligible applicants will be reviewed and referred to the hiring manager no later than 02/13/2024. Eligible applications received after 02/09/2024 date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis until positions are filled. 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: Citizenship: Be a citizen of the United States. English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). 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. 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. 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. Grandfathering Provision: The following is the standard grandfathering policy for all title 38 hybrid qualification standards. Please carefully review the qualification standard to determine the specific education and/or licensure/certification/registration requirements that apply to this occupation. (1) All persons employed in VHA (September 10, 2019) in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education and licensure or certification that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all of the basic requirements in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: (2) Such employees in an occupation that requires a licensure or certification, may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. (3) Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. (4) Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all of the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation. (5) If an employee who was retained in an occupation listed in 38 U.S.C. § 7401(3) under this provision leaves that occupation, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation. GRADE DETERMINATIONS: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. Social Worker GS-11: (1) 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. OR (2) 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. (3) 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, Appendix G39. Social Worker Qualification Standard GS-0185 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. Physical Requirements: The physical demands of this position involve primarily walking, talking, driving, use of the telephone, etc. Strenuous physical activity is not required although the incumbent is expected to withstand pressure and stress as part of their day-to-day activities. The incumbent observes normal safety precautions while working primarily in an office type environment. The environment also includes visits to community agencies, visits to care giving facilities in the community etc., depending on the incumbent's specific assignment. Most of the time the incumbent operates in an environment that is well lighted, clean, and does not pose a hazard to personal safety. There is ongoing exposure to individuals having psychiatric and physical illness and disabilities. These include acute infections, violent or aggressive behavior, and chronic psychiatric and medical problems. ["VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU The Clinical Social Worker provides services in Tuskegee VA Medical Center's Intensive Community Mental Health Recovery (ICMHR). The primary responsibility of this position is to provide intensive case management services, continuous quality improvement activities, evaluation/consultation, psychosocial assessments, patient groups, individual therapy, placement services, and referrals to various community agencies and hospital services to ICMHR program . ICMHR is established to develop, implement, and assess the benefit of a behaviorally oriented program and community-based treatment for chronic mentally ill Veterans. Specialized treatment services are provided in various community settings, including the Veteran participant's home, the psychosocial recovery and rehabilitation center, residential care homes, contract nursing homes, and various other community locations. ICMHR patients are Veterans with serious mentally illnesses with a high percentage of co morbid substance abuse issues who have been identified as high utilizers of psychiatric inpatient hospital resources. Work is done in the context of an interdisciplinary treatment team, and extensive liaison activities with other interdisciplinary teams are required to provide continuity of care for assigned Veterans in outpatient settings. The Social Worker is responsible for contributing to the development of the treatment plan and setting SMART treatment goals with the veteran, family members/caregiver and other indicated stakeholders within the medical center. The initial treatment planning/goal setting session and/or review/update plans will be completed as specified by the policy for the assigned work area. The Social Worker is experienced in making rapid assessments and developing crisis management plans, particularly for admission to mental health inpatient programs if indicated. The Social Worker has access to multiple resource directories in addition to previously developed resources designed to meet the demands of emergent crisis. In the event of a medical or psychiatric emergency, staff will follow the protocol of his/her respective mental health clinic and the Central Alabama VA Medical Center (CAVHCS). Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 52765F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]

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