Summary

Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) Social Worker provides clinical psychosocial services to eligible Veterans assigned to Primary Care Patient Aligned Care Teams. As a member of interdisciplinary treatment team - the incumbent maintains knowledge of the PACT team approach and the role of each health and allied health care team member - as well as an understanding of the role of the social worker per local and/or national policy and directives.

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
• 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 http://www.cswe.org/Accreditation to verify that the social work degree meets the accreditation standards for a masters of 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
• Current state requirements may be found by going to http://vaww.va.gov/OHRM/T38Hybrid/
• English Language Proficiency
• Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f) 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 the 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.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)
• Social Worker - 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 - 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
• Preferred Experience: Experience with medical social work and case management
• knowledge of the Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) or medical home model
• References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/120 PART II APPENDIX G39 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS 11
• Physical Requirements: Must be in overall good health - able to sit at a desk working at a computer - engage in light to moderate physical activity including sitting - walking - bending - and carrying supplies
• The Social Worker must be able to perform primarily light and sedentary duties with occasionally moderate physical demands - exercise patience - and control emotions - with reasonable accommodation if necessary - without endangering the health and safety of the Social Worker or others.

Duties

• VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UUTotal-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf Social Work: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Social-Worker-Career-Flyer.pdfThe Social Worker possesses advance skills in collaborating with Veterans - their family/caregivers - and interdisciplinary teams to create patient-centered treatment goals or plans
• The Social Worker links the Veteran with services - resources - and opportunities - to maximize the Veterans independence - health - and wellbeing
• This includes but is not limited to - providing interventions to increase access to care - (transportation assistance & advanced directives) - economic assistance - (assistance with medical bills - financial aid services) - strategies to increase income and/or reduce expenses (employment - vocational rehabilitation - VA benefits - disability benefits - Medicaid linkage) - find appropriate housing for the patient's level of need (affordable independent housing - homeless shelters - group and family care homes - Veterans Homes - assisted living - nursing homes - respite care - hospice care) - provide support for caregiver burn out (linkage to resources) and serve as a liaison between Veterans and/or their families and VA and community resources in order to ensure thorough delivery of services
• Referrals typically originate from any member of the interdisciplinary team - from Veterans and/or their families who call or walk-in for assistance - and from community professionals
• Patients' health care and psychosocial problems and needs are often complex and include a wide range (medical - behavioral health - financial - legal - and psychosocial.) Functions or scope of assigned duties include but are not limited to: 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
• Ability to work with Veterans and family members from various socioeconomic - cultural - ethnic - educational - and other diversified backgrounds utilizing clinical skills
• Under supervision - implement treatment modalities in working with individuals - families - and groups who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric - medical - and social problems to achieve treatment goals
• This requires judgment and skill in utilizing supportive - problem solving or crisis intervention techniques
• Facilitate action for community placements through collaboration with Veterans and their families as well as interdisciplinary treatment team members to ensure that appropriate community placements are completed in a timely manner
• Community placements can involve but are not limited to referrals to group and family care homes - assisted living facilities - adult day health care programs - contract nursing homes - Community Living Centers - residential care homes - inpatient and outpatient hospice services
• Possess knowledge of caregiver stressors - ability to conduct caregiver assessment and provide appropriate caregiver specific interventions - under supervision
• Serve as a liaison between Veterans and/or their families and VA and community resources in order to ensure thorough delivery of services
• Provide consultation and education to Veterans and their families on role of social work and resources available
• Maintains knowledge of Veteran's benefits and services - community resources - and process for making appropriate referrals to community and other governmental programs or agencies
• Possess skills and knowledge to provide case management services to Veterans and their families throughout the continuum of care
• Knowledge of the signs and symptoms of abuse - neglect and exploitation
• Possess and demonstrate ability to communicate effectively - both orally and in writing with people from varied backgrounds
• Able to effectively serve on relevant committees - work groups - and task forces at the facility as deemed appropriate by the supervisor and Chief of Social Work Services
• Establish and maintain ongoing relationships with community agencies - students - and staff - to facilitate understanding of social work interventions specific to the Veteran/Military population
• Work Schedule: Monday- Friday - 8:00 a.m.-4:30p.m
• Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases Telework: Yes-as determined by the agency policy
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 1369FA Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required