Social Worker

Summary

Social workers assigned to the CLC are responsible for direct patient care as a member of a multidisciplinary treatment team. The CLC includes a variety of patients needing a broad range of services including geriatric care - rehabilitative services - hospice and palliative care services - discharge planning and individual and family counseling. Individual clinical duties are assigned to CLC which is in the Rehabilitation & Extended Care Integrated Care Community (REC ICC).

Qualifications

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: Social workers must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005 - Part II - chapter 3 - section A - paragraph 3j - this part
• Education Requirement: Master of Social Work: Must possess a master's degree in social work from a school of social work fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education
• Note: 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
• COPY OF TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED
• Licensure Requirement: Appointment at the GS-11 Full Performance Level: Persons hired or reassigned to full performance 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
• OR Appointment at the GS-9 (Entry or Developmental Level): 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 appointments at the GS-9 grade level - VHA social workers who are not licensed or certified at the time of appointment must become licensed or certified at the independent - master's level within three years of their appointment as a social worker
• Grade Determinations: GS-9 None beyond the basic requirements
• For appointments at the GS-9 grade level - VHA social workers who are not licensed or certified at the time of appointment must become licensed or certified at the independent - master's level within three years of their appointment as a social worker
• Most states require two years of post-MSW experience as a prerequisite to taking the licensure/certification exam - and VHA gives social workers one additional year to pass the licensure/certification exam
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above - the applicant's resume must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Ability to work with Veterans and family members from various socioeconomic - cultural - ethnic - educational - and other diversified backgrounds utilizing counseling skills
• Ability to assess the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and their family members - and to formulate and implement a treatment plan - identifying the Veterans problems - strengths - weaknesses - coping skills - and assistance needed
• Ability to implement treatment modalities in working with individuals - families - and groups to achieve treatment goals
• This requires judgment and skill in utilizing supportive - problem solving - or crisis intervention techniques
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients - staff - and representatives of community agencies
• Fundamental knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses - disabilities - and treatment procedures
• This includes acute - chronic - and traumatic illnesses/injuries
• common medications and their effects/side effects
• and medical terminology
• GS-11 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 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
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities: In addition to the experience above - the applicant's resume must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Knowledge of community resources - how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services - and ability to coordinate services
• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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 Part II - Appendix G39 Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position
• Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.
  
  

Duties

• VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Major duties include - but are not limited to: The incumbent will independently perform case finding functions through identifying and screening patients for psychosocial needs
• The incumbent must possess the knowledge and ability to independently implement treatment modalities - provide counseling or psychotherapy for individuals - families and groups
• They will be skilled in working in complex systems - orchestrating discharge planning services and accessing VA and community resources
• The incumbent will independently conduct psychosocial assessments
• They will develop treatment plans in collaboration with the Veteran/family and with the interdisciplinary treatment team
• The incumbent will participate in MDS completion as required for every CLC patient
• The incumbent will possess the skills to offer psychosocial interventions and measures outcomes to interventions
• Incumbent will be able to coordinate community-based services - including information and referral for additional services from other VA programs - other government programs and community agency programs
• The incumbent will independently identify high-risk patients and provide case management services when appropriate
• They will provide crisis intervention services - coordinate family conferences and serves as liaison to patients and family members
• They will have working knowledge and experience in use of medical and mental health diagnoses - disabilities and treatment procedures
• They will have medical social work knowledge including - but not limited to - acute - chronic and traumatic illnesses/injuries - common medications and their effects/side effects - and medical terminology
• The incumbent will establish and maintain effective therapeutic relationships with Veterans and their families
• They will function as a critical member of an interdisciplinary team serving patients and families who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric - medical and social problems utilizing individual - group and family counseling and therapy skills
• The incumbent will independently evaluate their own practice through professional peer review - case conferences and other organizational means
• The incumbent will be able to communicate effectively - both orally and in writing - with people from varied backgrounds
• General knowledge of Veterans' benefits and services relating to special programs - service-connected compensation and non-service connected pension
• Facilitates referrals based upon Veterans' needs and eligibility
• The incumbent will be able to meet the needs of customers while supporting VA missions
• They will consistently communicate and treat customers (Veterans - their representatives - visitors - and all VA staff) in a courteous - tactful - and respectful manner
• They will be able to provide the customer with consistent information according to established policies and procedures
• They will handle conflict and problems in dealing with the consumer constructively and appropriately
• They will have working knowledge and skill in the use of word-processing - data management and other computer systems - especially those programs in use by VHA
• They will perform other duties as assigned
• Work Schedule: 08:00 to 16:30
• Monday through Friday Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized 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: Ad-Hoc only
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position.