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Job Announcement DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS Vacancy Announcement No. E-07-68 MEDICAL CENTER BECKLEY, WEST VIRGINIA CLOSING DATE: September 28, 2007 POSITION: Social Worker, GS-0185-11, PD# 2361A LOCATION: Primary Care Service Line AREA OF CONSIDERATION: VAMC, Beckley, WV, Veterans Outreach Centers in Beckley and Princeton, WV and Nationwide NUMBER OF VACANCIES: One, Full-Time Permanent SALARY: $52,912 - $68,787 per annum DUTIES: The incumbent will provide social work services to veterans, family members, and/or significant others. The focus of duties will include evaluation, treatment planning, direct services, education, and support of the administrative policies/procedures at the Beckley Department of Veterans Affair Medical Center. As a clinical social worker, the incumbent will work cooperatively with other medical center staff in determining the need for social services of veterans, their families, and/or significant others. The incumbent utilizes individual casework techniques to assist the veteran, family members, or significant others achieve optimum personal and social functioning. The clinical social worker will develop and utilize community resources to assist patients in functioning at their maximum level of health and well being in the community or extended care area. The incumbent will demonstrate sound professional judgments and use a wide range of social work skill in completing the duties of direct services to patients. It is necessary that the clinical social worker have a broad knowledge of the social and psychological components of illness, agency resources, and community resources. The incumbent will participate in necessary training and professional self-development to function as a competent and knowledgeable treatment team leader. The incumbent will provide field instruction and ongoing supervision to graduate and undergraduate students of social work. The incumbent will provide coverage in the admission triage and outpatient clinic areas as needed. Incumbent is required to prepare reports to include, but not restricted to, assigned duties, such as social work summaries, clinical progress notes, AMIS reports, peer reviews, reports to other divisions or agencies, and other reports of work activities as necessary. Performs other duties as assigned by the Primary Care Service Line Chief or designee. Rating Factors: Applicants MUST respond to the following rating factors. 1. Knowledge of Social Work theory and practice. 2. Skill and ability to interact with multi-disciplinary health care teams and those in other areas. 3. Ability to set goals and adjust to changing demands. 4. Knowledge of personality development, human behavior, and community organization. 5. Knowledge regarding each phase of the life continuum. Ability to apply this knowledge in appraising the individual patient's potential in relation to his social functioning under stress or trauma of illness or physical disability. 6. Skill in employing an array of social work treatment techniques as clinically appropriate with individuals, family members, or groups. QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS Per VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix F7 dated April 15, 2002. Basic Requirements: Applicants must have a Master's degree in Social Work from a school of social work accredited by the Council on Social Work education. Applicants must also be licensed or certified at the Master's level to independently practice social work in a state. Exception: VA may waive the licensure and/or certification requirement for persons who are otherwise qualified, pending completion of state prerequisites for examination. VA social workers who are not licensed at the time of appointment must be licensed or certified at the master's level, within 3 years of their appointment as a social worker OR 1 year from the day they meet the full requirements of the state for licensure or certification, whichever is longer. Those who fail to obtain state licensure or certification within the required time frames must be removed from the General Schedule (GS)-0185 social worker series. This may result in termination of employment. Education and experience requirements: GS-11 level - In addition to meeting all basic requirements, 1 year of professional social work experience, equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-09) under qualified social work supervision. This experience must have been in a clinical setting and must have demonstrated the potential to perform advanced assignments independently. NON-QUALIFYING EXPERIENCE: Clinical social work experience obtained prior to completion of the requirements for a Master's Degree in Social Work does not satisfy this requirement. Note: A clinical setting is a medical center, clinic, (medical or psychiatric), a residential treatment center, or any other type of facility where social work participates in collaborative treatment and is identified with the medical profession, OR Educational substitution at the GS-11 level: In addition to meeting basic requirements, a doctoral degree in social work from a school of social work. A doctoral degree in social work from a school of social work may be substituted for the required 1 year of professional social work experience in a clinical setting. HOW TO APPLY: Outside applicants must submit VA Form 10-2850c "Application for Associated Health Occupations" or a resume that clearly identifies the announcement number, title and grade of the job. Applicants must also submit official transcript of grades, and a copy of their current license or certification at the Master's level to independently practice social work in a state. If you are or have been a Federal employee, please submit a copy of your last SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action" and your most recent or last performance appraisal. Applicants MUST submit a narrative statement on a separate page(s) with specific responses to the rating factors (KSAO's) identified above to receive consideration. Applications and supporting documentation indicated above, must be received by Human Resources by the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration (September 28, 2007). Failure to provide all required documentation by the designated timeframe, will disqualify the applicant. Applications and supporting documentation can be sent to Brian D. Edens, Human Resources Specialist at VA Medical Center, 200 Veterans Avenue, Beckley, WV 25801. Internal applicants must submit VA Form 5-4078 (Application for Promotion or Reassignment) to Human Resources by the close of business September 28, 2007. All internal applicants must address the KSAO's utilizing the Supplemental Qualification Statement, VA Form 5-4676a or a blank sheet of paper, and submit Supervisory Appraisal VAF-466b to Human Resources by the close of business October 5, 2007. Failure to respond to the rating factors will disqualify the applicant. NOTICE: Applications will be accepted from individuals eligible for appointment under special authorities (handicapped, 30% or more service-connected disabled veterans, veterans recruitment appointments, etc.) Applications must include evidence of eligibility for appointment under special authority. The promotion certificate resulting from this announcement may remain in effect for a period of 3 months and may be used for Merit Promotion referrals having the same qualification requirements occurring during the 3 month period if sufficient candidates are available. DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE: All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with the VA. The agency provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the agency. The decision on granting a reasonable accommodation will be on a case-by-case basis. Internal candidates should assure that all education and experience data is current and in their OPF by the closing date of this announcement. The Performance Based Interviewing (PBI) process will be used when filling this vacancy. For further information regarding PBI, refer to the following website: http://www.va.gov/pbi Brian D. Edens Human Resources Specialist