Summary

The Caregiver Support Program Coordinator for the Program of Comprehensive Assistance to Family Caregivers (PCAFC) is a Social Work Program Coordinator whose primary responsibilities are to provide clinical evidence-based services and interventions; program development; caregiver - Veteran and staff education on caregiver issues; community outreach; resource development; continuous quality-improvement activities and evaluation/consultation related to the PCAFC.

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
• 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
• English Language Proficiency
• Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f)
• Grade Determinations: Social Worker - GS-12 Level Experience and Licensure: Appointment to the GS-12 grade level requires completion of a minimum of one year of post-MSW experience equivalent to the GS-11 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: 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 G-39The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-12
• Physical Requirements: The work requires sitting - bending - stooping and walking consistent with the delivery of services in the office - hospital and community
• The position may entail lifting of no more than 25 pounds on an occasional basis
• Whenever possible - carts and dollies will be utilized as an alternative to lifting
• In carrying out responsibilities - operation of a motor vehicle with a valid driver's license is required
• The social worker must meet the requirements to use a government vehicle in accordance with VHA directive 2008-020
• It will be necessary for the social worker to travel throughout the Altoona VAMC catchment area where they conduct interviews with Veterans - family members - representatives of community health - welfare and law enforcement agencies.

Duties

• The Caregiver Support Program Coordinator develops and implements the PCAFC specific to his/her area of assignment and insures compliance and collaboration with local facility and the VA Central Office Caregiver Support Program initiatives in concert with the facility CSP Program Manager
• Administers information and analytical systems to evaluate and enhance the quality of service provided to caregivers - families and Veterans
• Develops and implements information systems to track service activities including visits - referrals - caregiver demographics - equipment utilization and caregiver and Veteran satisfaction
• Develops implements and evaluates clinical guidelines and protocols to establish appropriate utilization of services
• Participates in direct caregiver and Veteran communication to identify and assess caregiver stress/burden and the development and application of directed clinical treatment interventions
• Advises and collaborates with interdisciplinary teams throughout the medical center on caregiver issues
• Creates educational tools - develops programs and implements training focused on specific caregiver needs/issues
• Provides education and in-service training to VAMC employees - Veterans - families and caregivers
• Provides ongoing consultation and support to colleagues regarding caregiver support
• Develops and facilitates caregiver support groups (face-to-face or VANTS telephone line) and educational programs
• Distributes educational materials provided by VA - local - state and national caregiver organizations
• Conducts caregiver and family clinical interventions to facilitate the identification of caregiver stress - psychiatric illness - emotional distress and social needs as treatment issues
• Professional judgment - including the knowledge of normal and abnormal behavior - is an inherent competency applied in daily interactions with caregivers and the Veterans they care for
• Coordinates with other disciplines within the medical center to maintain the Veteran Assessment Clinic - for the purpose of providing a comprehensive assessment for the veterans and caregivers in the PCAFC and seeking assistance from the program
• Provides referral to VA medical and mental health treatment and to other VA services including VA benefits - as well as community-based social services and other non-VA entitlement programs
• If appropriate - the Coordinator provides referrals or consults - or in some cases direct admission of a Veteran to other VA programs including but not limited to the Community Residential Care Program - Respite Program - Community Health Care Coordination Program - Hospice - Home Based Primary Care - Telehealth and Community Nursing Home Program
• Serves as the major consultant for information on negotiating the complex processes caregivers - Veterans and families encounter when interacting with government and community agencies
• The incumbent stays abreast of current federal and state legislation directed at assisting caregivers to continue providing caregiving in an environment that is safe for both themselves and the Veteran
• The incumbent will maintain a knowledge base of current theory and treatment modalities by reading professional journals - attending conferences - clinic seminars and teleconferences - and materials distributed through VA and private sector sources
• Will collaborate with the VA Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) - mental health and geriatric primary care clinicians to provide Veteran and staff education on caregiver issues
• Coordination will include hands-on support group work involvement - and training of patient aligned care team clinical social work staff in the development and facilitation of such groups
• Will develop a library of caregiver support information materials for distribution through the various inpatient/outpatient and specialty clinic settings
• Educational materials must be specific to the age group serviced in the clinic - i.e
• Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson disease in the general and geriatric settings and PTSD and TBI information in the general - OEF/OIF - post-deployment and Polytrauma Center settings
• Serves as a liaison between the VA and community agencies
• Participates in caregiver support activities in the local community and state to promote and recognize the role of the caregiver
• Participates on state and local caregiver support committees
• Invites state and community caregiver related agencies to participate on the local VA Caregiver Support Advisory Board
• Provides outreach presentations to community social service agencies - military Guard and Reserve units - Veteran Service organizations and other groups on VA caregiver benefits - programs and services
• Work Schedule: 8:00 am to 4:30 pm - Monday thru Friday Telework: Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required