Summary

Works as an inpatient social worker with primary assignment to the medical unit & is a member of that treatment team responsible for discharge planning. Responsible for working &understanding work on all inpatient units as needed. Provides support to Hospice & Palliative Care Team for veterans on the medical unit. "The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this occupational series. For more information - refer to Required Documents below."

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 - You must be a citizen of the United States English Language Proficiency - You must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f) Education and/or Experience Combination - You must possess 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
• Note: A doctoral degree in Social Work may NOT be substituted for the master's degree in Social Work
• License or Certification- You must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level
• Exception - For assignments at the GS-9 level - VHA may waive the licensure or certification requirement for persons who are otherwise qualified - pending completion of state prerequisites for licensure/certification examinations
• 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: Social Worker GS-0185-9 GS-09 Social Worker -Knowledge - Skills and Abilities: In addition to meeting the basic requirements - to qualify for the GS-09 - you must demonstrate the following Knowledge - Skills and Abilities: Ability to utilize counseling skills when working with Veterans and family members
• 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-0185-11 GS-11 Licensure Requirement: You must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level
• GS-11 Experience or Education Requirement: In addition to meeting the basic requirements - to qualify for the GS-11 - you must possess 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
• Examples of specialized experience include but are not limited to: Working under close supervision in program areas that do not require specialized knowledge or experience
• Identifying behaviors or symptoms of abuse - neglect or exploitation
• providing education on advance directives and advanced care planning
• providing social work case management
• acting as an patient/family member/caregiver advocate with community service providers/agencies
• assessing the psychosocial functioning and needs of patients and their family members
• In collaboration with the patient - family - and interdisciplinary treatment teams - identifying strengths - weaknesses - coping skills and psychosocial acuity
• Maintaining a current network of internal and external resources to educate the patient and/or family members/caregivers and assist with appropriate referrals.-OR-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
• GS-11 Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities In addition to the experience above - you must demonstrate the following Knowledge - Skills and Abilities: 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: Preferred experience working with geriatric populations - working in rural healthcare - in multi-disciplinary teams - and in hospital settings
• 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
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-9 to GS-11
• Physical Requirements: This position provides direct services to patients and their families through casework
• Incumbents must be physically and mentally able to efficiently perform the essential functions of the position without hazard to themselves or others
• Normal work of the position requires visual acuity (with the ability to read typewritten characters without strain - corrective lenses permitted) - keen hearing - clear distinctive speech - and manual dexterity
• This position requires potentially moderate levels of lifting and carrying (15-44 pounds)
• The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium - dementia - or psychiatric disorders
• The incumbent must be a mature - flexible - sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations - able to shift priorities based on patient needs
• Must complete annual Employee Health requirements - such as annual TB screening or testing - as a condition of employment.

Duties

• VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Interview veterans and their family members/significant others to establish facts about the veteran's situation - presenting problems and their causes - and the impact of such issues on the veteran's functioning and health as part of a psychosocial assessment
• Uses subjective and objective data in clinical assessment of the veteran's needs
• Effectively uses professional skill - objectivity - and insight
• Serves veterans as inpatients or outpatients who often have severe crises - lack family or community support - frequently fail to comply with instructions and treatment - or have significant deficits in coping skills and require continuing professional psychological support
• Independently evaluates the client's situation - including the veteran's reaction and ability to deal with it - and arrives at a reasoned conclusion
• Assesses at-risk factors and develops a preliminary disposition plan involving the veteran - family - or significant others
• Assesses severe and complicated cases involving psychiatric illness - catastrophic medical conditions - dementia - and other high-risk diagnoses
• Makes independent professional decisions and recommendations for treatment
• Finds a suitable means of treatment on an inpatient/outpatient basis to help veterans and/or significant others cope with stressful situations Develops psychosocial treatment plans in coordination with interdisciplinary team members - including goals for treatment
• Provides independent consultation and recommendations for the treatment of the interdisciplinary team
• Completes CSSRS and CSRE suicide risk assessments and works with Veterans to complete Safety Plans as required by Local and National Policy
• Independently concludes the appropriate action - even in instances where actions can seriously impact the veteran's life Evaluates his or her practice as a Social Worker on an ongoing basis through participation in professional peer review - case conferences - or other organized means
• Provides clinical services to veterans and family members/significant others supporting the veteran's treatment
• Provides individual and group counseling services - including psychotherapy in some settings
• Assists and encourages veterans and significant others in facing problems - thinking them through - evaluating the situation realistically - alternative courses of action - and arriving at plans for using resources to resolve issues
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 7:30 am to 4 pm Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not authorized 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) 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: This position is authorized for telework - situational (ad hoc) and has NOT been authorized as virtual or remote
• Location negotiable may be discussed during the interview process to meet the Return To Office requirement
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 61038-A - 61039-A Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not available