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
• 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 tohttp://vaww.va.gov/OHRM/T38Hybrid/
• (1) Exception
• 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 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.] Grade Determinations: GS 11 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 - educational - and other 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
• Preferred Experience: 2 years of case management/discharge planning experience
• 2 years of experience conducting psychosocial assessments
• Experience working with an interdisciplinary team
• Experience making referrals for community resources such a - but not limited to nursing facilities group homes - assisted livings - substance abuse treatment - and hospice services
• Experience providing crisis intervention - goal directed supportive counseling - and grief/bereavement counseling Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS 11
• Physical Requirements: Light lifting - under 15 pounds
• Straight pulling - 1 hour
• Pushing - 2 hours
• Walking and Standing - 3 hours
• Repeated bending - 1 hour
• Climbing - use of legs and arms
• Operation of crane - truck - tractor - or motor vehicle
• Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously
• Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other
• Both eyes required
• Depth perception
• Ability to distinguish shades of colors
• Hearing (aid permitted)
• Frequent computer keyboarding.

Duties

• VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional The primary purpose of the Inpatient Social Worker as a part of the Medicine team which delivers inpatient care to Veteran patients in the inpatient setting - is to function as a discharge planner and coordinates care with a multidisciplinary team to ensure that discharge planning needs are in place prior to the Veterans discharge from the inpatient setting.Screening/Assessment/Treatment Planning/Goal Setting: Assessment of psychosocial problems that cause distress - often impacting the health condition and creating barriers to care
• These stressors can include adjustment to the current medical condition - mental health or substance abuse condition - economic instability - legal problems - and inadequate housing and transportation
• Supportive Counseling/Crisis Intervention: Provide individual and group counseling services - including short-term solution focused psychotherapy and family services - based on licensure and scope of practice
• Provides support and interventions regarding the psychosocial impact of coping with chronic illness - stress related to the response or an acceptance of diagnosis - treatments recommended - need for additional VA services or community-based services
• Resources and Referrals: Collaborate with other service providers in reassessing the Veteran's needs
• The social worker is responsible for educating the Veteran and/or caregiver of the available services and assisting them in establishing the appropriate referrals based on the Veteran's preference or that of his surrogate decision-maker
• Receives and completes consults requesting services from interdisciplinary team members and from other social workers on complex - difficult cases
• Advocacy: The incumbent understands the intimidation of bureaucracy and will act as an advocate when it serves the best interest of the Veteran/family
• When appropriate and feasible - the social worker will educate and encourage the Veteran/family to advocate for themselves - thus fostering a sense of independence and empowerment
• Patient Education: Provide psychoeducation and interventions regarding a variety of mental health - medical and psychosocial problems
• Incumbent also provides education related to the Veteran's VA entitlements - eligibility - services - and programs - as well as community resources for medical and mental health needs
• Educates and refers the Veteran and as appropriate Veteran's family - caregiver and significant other to the appropriate program interdisciplinary team members - VA services or programs - or external programs for identified education needs
• Identifies the health education needs of Veterans
• and works with interdisciplinary team members on a plan to address those needs
• Coordination of Non-Institutional and Institutional Services: Coordinates referrals/consults for non-institutional services such as HBPC - ADHC/CNH - hospice - transitional and supportive housing - and skilled and non-skilled homecare services in collaboration with the interdisciplinary team members
• Administrative Responsibilities: The incumbent is responsible for ensuring that services provided are compliant with all regulations - policies - and procedures relevant to the population served and monitors medical center performance related to population served
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 8:00 am - 4:30 pm 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 Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time off per year (13-26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year) 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 #: 54305-F
• 54306-F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized