Summary

The VA Cheyenne Health Care System is hiring for one Social Worker for Inpatient Medicine/Hospice.

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:

• Citizenship: Be a citizen of the United States
• 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/
• 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 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
• In states such as California - Washington - and others where the prerequisites for licensure exceed two years - social workers must become licensed at the independent - master's level within one year of meeting the full state prerequisites for licensure
• Grandfathering Provision
• The following is the standard grandfathering policy for all title 38 hybrid qualification standards
• Please carefully review the qualification standard to determine the specific education and/or licensure/certification/registration requirements that apply to this occupation
• English Language Proficiency
• Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English
• Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment - the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates
• Social Worker - GS-9 Experience - Education - and Licensure
• None beyond the basic requirements
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate 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
• 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
• NOTE: For appointment licensure or certification at this level please refer to the paragraph above
• 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: 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 5005/120 PART II - APPENDIX G39 - Social Worker Qualification Standard The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-9 to GS-11
• Preferred Experience: Experience in Hospice/Palliative Care - Medical Social Work - Case Management - Care Coordination - Discharge Planning
• 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 such as papers - books - or small parts
• The incumbent 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 applicant or others
• This position also requires close visual acuity (near vision correctable at 13" to 16") to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures
• transcribing
• viewing a computer terminal
• extensive reading
• and repetitive motions of the wrists - hands - and/or fingers
• Use of fingers - both hands required - ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously - hearing (aid permitted) - and clear distinctive speech are all required.

Duties

• VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional The primary duties are to provide direct clinical care - including case management and care coordination - for Veterans admitted to the Cheyenne VA Medical Center who are followed by the Hospice and Palliative Care team
• Is an integral member of the interdisciplinary Palliative Care Consult Team - which provides palliative and supportive services for Veterans in the last phases of life - including education regarding decedent affairs and bereavement support
• The goal of Hospice and Palliative Care is to allow the Veteran to achieve the best possible quality of life through relief of suffering - control of symptoms - and restoration of functional capacity while remaining sensitive to personal - cultural - and religious values - beliefs - and practices
• Services will be provided in inpatient settings - to include the medical and surgical units - and CLC at the Cheyenne VAMC
• Services provided and coordinated by them include discharge planning for patients who are being followed by the Palliative Care Team - psychotherapy or counseling pertaining to end of life needs - advanced care planning - promoting coping with symptoms and loss of functioning - assisting families with adjusting to Veteran's end of life needs - and coordinating inpatient and community hospice/palliative care and other needed services
• They are responsible for the direct clinical care - including care coordination and discharge planning - for Veterans admitted to the Cheyenne VA Medical Center - especially those who will require nursing home - assisted living - or other community resources - to include Non-Institutionalized Care (NIC) services
• Discharge planning begins at or before the time hospital admission occurs and is driven by the Veteran's and caregiver's goals of care
• The provision of clinical social work services occurs within the collaborative context of the interdisciplinary treatment team(s).They're an integral member of the Interdisciplinary Treatment Team (IDTT) - working to ensure the Veteran transitions efficiently from an inpatient level of care to the appropriate level of care
• As an independent practitioner - they evaluate psychosocial needs and applies social work interventions with a high degree of autonomy - exercising independent judgement and initiative in carrying out social work functions and in the application of social work values and ethics to clinical situations
• Services provided and coordinated by them include counseling pertaining to Veteran care needs - advanced care planning - promoting coping with symptoms and loss of functioning - assisting families with adjusting to Veteran's health and care needs - and coordinating post-discharge care provided by VA and/or community providers and other needed services
• The incumbent is a subject matter expert (SME) in matters of health care decision making - including decision making capacity - Advance Care Planning - Advanced Directives - Durable Powers of Attorney for Health Care - State Authorized Portable Orders - Life-Sustaining Treatment Decisions - and Organ Donation
• They review existing Advanced Directives with the Veteran and family to ensure accuracy and concurrence with the Veteran's care wishes
• In matters where a Veteran lacks decision-making capacity - the work with the IDTT to identify a surrogate decision maker and facilitate Goals of Care Conversations
• Must be licensed by a state at the independent practice level
• Has experience in medical social work - knowledge of community resources - how to make appropriate referrals to community and other agencies for services - and ability to coordinate services
• Must have knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses - disabilities - and treatment procedures to formulate a treatment plan
• Work Schedule: Full-time - Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases
• 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: Not available
• Functional Statement #: PD565540