The incumbent provides support to the Patient-Aligned Care Team (PACT) for challenging patient-care situations. The Social Worker's role is to address the Veteran's bio-psychosocial needs, eliminate barriers to healthcare interventions, coordinate care across specialty areas and care settings, provide Veteran/caregiver and family education and support, and coordinate resources to assure comprehensiveness and avoid duplication. 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: 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). 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 Master 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. 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. 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. 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). Physical Requirements. Walking/standing up to 8 hours; ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other; ability to distinguish basic colors; hearing (aid permitted); clear speech; inside/outside intermittent excessive noise; work closely with others. 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: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. Social Worker, GS-09 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. 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 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. ["Independently performs case finding functions and outreach, identifying and screening patients for psychosocial needs. Identifies high-risk cohorts through collaboration with interdisciplinary team for early intervention to prevent inpatient stays. Collaborates with inpatient social worker when high-risk patients are admitted and in discharge planning of Veteran to provide seamless continuity of care. Establishes and maintains effective therapeutic relationships with Veterans and their families who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric, medical, emotional, behavioral and social problems utilizing individual, group and family counseling skills. Develops treatment plans in collaboration with the Veteran/family and with the interdisciplinary treatment team. Possesses the skills to independently offer psychosocial interventions and implement therapeutic interventions as needed. Provides consultation and education to Veterans and their families regarding community resources, VA benefits, specialty programs, and advance directives. Follows process for accessing and/or coordinating community-based services, including information and referral for additional services from other VA programs, other government programs, and community agencies. Requires working knowledge and experience in use of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities, and treatment procedures, including acute, chronic and traumatic illnesses, common medications and their effects/side effects, and medical terminology. Advocates on behalf of Veterans and their families with removing barriers to ensure that services and benefits are obtained in a timely manner and in keeping with the VA's goal for excellence in customer service. Facilitates referrals and assists with application/intake processes based upon Veteran's needs and eligibility. For example, assists with applying for Medicaid benefits, SSDI, establishing a fiduciary, Aid & Attendance, and completing a 1010-EC when appropriate. Actively participates as a member of interdisciplinary teams and provides consultation to inter-disciplinary/professional treatment teams and staff members regarding psychosocial needs of Veterans and/or their families and the impact of the identified psychosocial problems on the Veteran's health care planning, compliance with treatment, and discharge planning. May participate in treatment groups that support health promotion such as smoking cessation, MOVE, shared medical appointments. Uses motivational interviewing skills encouraging Veterans to incorporate healthy behaviors into their lives. Provides case management services to Veterans and their families throughout the continuum of care. Appropriately utilizes principles of human growth and development over the life span and will also assist Veterans in coping with the loss and grief experiences from disability and terminal illness. Performs social work interventions in the community to assist Veterans/caregivers in obtaining their treatment goals or improving access to care (i.e., home visit, VA mobile outreach clinic, community events). Has knowledge and ability to coordinate admission referrals from acute care settings, hospice agencies and community nursing facilities to the VA's Community Living Center. Pre-screens referrals, conferences with referring providers regarding eligibility bed status, and submits referrals to the screening committee to review. Documents all patient encounters/event captures in the electronic medical record utilizing appropriate codes and according to the standards of social work practice, The Joint Commission, or other relevant accrediting body. Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with people from varied backgrounds. May be designated as the point of contact for specialized areas of treatment such as intimate partner violence, outpatient dialysis, hospice care, spinal cord injury, etc. Serves on committees, work groups, and task forces at the facility as deemed appropriate by the supervisor and/or Chief of Care Management & Social Work Services. Has working knowledge and skill in the use of word-processing, data management and other computer systems, especially those programs in use by VHA. Follows local standard operating procedures for different hospital areas/units as well as VHA handbooks that provide specific steps, timeframes and guidelines for social work practice/role in a given setting. Provides back-up coverage for other WVAMC social work staff within their scope of practice to ensure patient care is addressed as needed. May participate in a rotation of on-call social workers, if appropriately licensed, covering off-tour social work needs for Veterans on a 24-hour, 7 day a week basis. Work Schedule: Monday thru Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position Functional Statement #: Social Worker/PD000000 Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]
Providing Health Care for Veterans: The Veterans Health Administration is America’s largest integrated health care system, providing care at 1,255 health care facilities, including 170 medical centers and 1,074 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics), serving 9 million enrolled Veterans each year.
