Social Worker; Primary Care

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 determines the award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) after the EDRP application is fully reviewed by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office.

• 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‑185 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 on the OHRM website
• 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 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
• English Language Proficiency:
  Social workers must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005 – Part II – chapter 3 – section A – paragraph 3j
• 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)
• If social workers covered under the grandfathering provision of the 1991 Federal law regarding licensure or certification of VHA social workers leave the GS‑0185 social work series – they lose the grandfathering protection
• If they choose to return at a later date to the GS‑0185 series – they must be licensed or certified to qualify for employment as a social worker
• GS‑9:
  Experience – Education – and Licensure:
  None beyond the basic requirements
• GS‑9:
  Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities – Ability to utilize a Veteran‑centric approach when providing interventions and counseling for Veterans, their family members, caregivers, and survivors
• GS‑9:
  Ability to assess the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and their family members, formulate and implement a treatment plan, identifying Veterans’ problems, strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and assistance needed
• GS‑9:
  Ability to implement treatment modalities in working with individuals, families, and groups to achieve treatment goals, employing supportive, problem‑solving, or crisis intervention techniques
• GS‑9:
  Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients, staff, and representatives of community agencies
• GS‑9:
  Fundamental knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities, and treatment procedures, including acute, chronic, and traumatic illnesses/injuries, common medications and their effects/side effects, and medical terminology
• GS‑11:
  Experience and Licensure – A minimum of one year of post‑MSW experience equivalent to the GS‑9 grade level in a health‑care or other social work–related setting…