Career Center

Summary

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. Program 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.

Qualifications

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
• English Language Proficiency: Must be proficient in both spoken and written English in accordance with VA policy
• Education: Must 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-185 series in VHA must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level
• Individuals assigned as supervisory social workers must be licensed or certified at the advanced practice level - and must be able to provide supervision for licensure
• English Language Proficiency
• Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f)
• Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment - the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates: Supervisory Social Worker - GS-13 Experience and Education
• One year of experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level
• Experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment - demonstrating progressively more professional competency
• Candidates may have certification or other post-master's degree training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university that includes a defined curriculum/course of study and internship - or equivalent supervised professional experience
• Licensure/Certification
• Individuals assigned as social worker program coordinator must be licensed or certified at the advanced practice level - and must be able to provide supervision for licensure.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)
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above - candidates must demonstrate all of the following Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSAs): Ability to independently organize work - set priorities - and meet multiple deadlines
• Skill in a range of supervisory duties which includes clinical supervision - consultation - negotiation with other departments and quality improvement
• Ability to ensure provision of clinical social work services by supervised social workers
• Ability to delegate authority - manage priorities - coordinate work - and follow up on pending issues to complete duties in an accurate and timely fashion Ability to analyze organizational and operational problems - develop and implement solutions that result in efficient operations - and use data effectively to manage workload - quality - performance - and productivity within the service
• Ability to provide staff training and development
• Reference: VA Handbook 5005/50 Part II - Appendix G39 - Social Worker Qualification Standard.The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13
• Physical Requirements: The work does not inherently include physical requirements essential for successful job performance that could not otherwise be performed with a workplace accommodation
• NOTE: Readjustment Counselors are multi-disciplinary and can be filled by: Social Worker - Psychologist - Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor - and Marriage & Family Therapist
• Each discipline is announced separately - and applicants must apply to the announcement for which they are qualified.

Duties

• This position is multidisciplinary and maybe filled as a Psychologist - Social Worker - Marriage and Family Therapist - or a Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor - at the Program Manager/Coordinator level
• Serves as a Supervisory Social Worker RCS Vet Center Director (VCD) and is responsible for the professional and administrative supervision and oversight of all readjustment counseling - outreach - referrals and follow-up care coordination services provided to eligible individuals within the designated Vet Center Service Area (VSA)
• The VCD supervises both professional and nonprofessional staff including a multi-disciplinary team of social work and other mental health professionals of various performance levels who work in multiple locations (Vet Centers - Vet Center Outstations and Community Access Points) and in communities distance from the Vet Center through planned outreach - often in conjunction with a Mobile Vet Center VCD is responsible for Administrative & outreach staff service functions - ensuring that the needs of individuals in their VSA are met The Supervisory Social Worker oversees the fiscal - contractual and operational obligations of the community-based Vet Center VCD leads with coordination and briefing during meetings with Congressional representatives and their staff Leads in Planning - establishing and implementing Vet Center policies and procedures - developing staff goals and objectives - monitoring - coordinating and evaluating the work of all Vet Center Staff - including Social Workers - other Hybrid Title 38 Mental Health Professionals - Title 5 Readjustment Counselors - outreach workers and Program Support Assistants Provides direct readjustment counseling services within and outside of the Vet Center to include in-person and virtual services Perform other duties as assigned Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Social Work: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Social-Worker-Career-Flyer.pdf Work Schedule: Monday-Friday
• 8:00am - 4:30pm
• Some nights and weekends may be required
• work schedule is subject to change based on the needs of the Vet Center
• Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact VHA.ELRSProgramSupport@va.gov - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
• Learn more Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases
• When setting pay - a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade)
• Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year)
• Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on prior [work experience] or military service experience
• Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment - up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth - adoption - or foster care placement of a child
• Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment - full time employees with a total family income below $144 -000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: PD64523A Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized