Senior Social Worker

Full Job Description

The Caregiver Support Program (CSP) is one of the Veterans Health Administration's (VHA) most rapidly growing service areas, as a result of infrastructure modernization, programming innovation, and expansion of population-served by the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) under the MISSION Act.

CSP expansion puts the VHA out front of the health care industry as a health care system pioneer-caring for the Caregiver.

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: 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).

Licensure: 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 written and spoken English to be appointed.

Grade Determinations: Senior Social Worker GS-0185-12 Experience/Education: The candidate must have at least two years of experience post advanced practice clinical licensure and should be in a specialized area of social work practice of which, one year must be equivalent to the GS-11 grade level.

Senior social workers have experience that demonstrates possession of advanced practice skills and judgment. Senior social workers are experts in their specialized area of practice.

Senior social workers may have certification or other post-masters training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university that includes a defined curriculum/course of study and internship or equivalent supervised professional experience in a specialty.

Licensure/Certification: Applicants must meet the requirements for providing supervision in the state where they are licensed at the advanced practice level and should list these qualifications within the assessment narrative and their resume.

Documentation is required if part of your state's requirements for providing supervision for licensure is beyond your licensure only (example: certification of continuing education credits).

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a)Skill in a range of specialized interventions and treatment modalities used in specialty treatment programs or with special patient populations.

This includes individual, group, and/or family counseling or psychotherapy and advanced level psychosocial and/or case management.

(b)Ability to incorporate complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice.

(c)Knowledge in developing and implementing methods for measuring effectiveness of social work practice and services in the specialty area, utilizing outcome evaluations to improve treatment services and to design system changes.

(d)Ability to provide specialized consultation to colleagues and students on the psychosocial treatment of patients in the service delivery area, as well as role modeling effective social work practice skills.

(e)Ability to expand clinical knowledge in the social work profession, and to write policies, procedures, and/or practice guidelines pertaining to the service delivery area.

References: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://department.va.gov/employees/va-qualifications-standards/ Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position.

Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination. Major Duties:

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program.

You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment.

Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application.

Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.

VA Careers - Social Work: https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU Major duties include, but are not limited to: The CSP Senior Social Worker assists in the day-to-day operations of the Caregiver Support Program and ensures compliance and collaboration with local facility and VA Central Office Caregiver Support Program initiatives.

The incumbent collaborates with the other members of the CSP team in the provision of comprehensive health care services to Veterans, ensuring equity of access, service, and benefits to this population, and ensures the care provided is of the highest quality.

The incumbent provides leadership, direction, orientation, coaching, in-service training, staff development, and continuing education programs as assigned.

They serve on committees, work groups, and task forces at the facility, VISN, and national level or in the community as deemed appropriate by the supervisor, Social Work Executive, or Chief of Social Work Services.

The incumbent develops and facilitates Caregiver support groups and educational programs and distributes educational materials provided by VA, local, state, and national Caregiver organizations.

The incumbent participates in direct Caregiver and Veteran contacts to assess Caregiver stress/burden and the development/application of directed clinical treatment interventions.

The incumbent provides Caregiver and family clinical interventions to facilitate the treatment of Caregiver stress, psychiatric illness, emotional distress, and social needs.

Professional judgment, including the knowledge of normal and abnormal behavior, is an inherent competency applied in daily interactions with Caregivers and the Veterans to whom they are providing care.

The incumbent is responsible for conducting regular home visits to Veterans and Caregivers participating in the PCAFC, responds to calls from the National Caregiver Support Hotline, responds to other phone calls and general inquiries regarding the CSP, and assists with general tasks associated with the program.

The incumbent demonstrates skill in communication and can develop positive, effective relationships with all CSP stakeholders including Veterans, Caregivers, local, state, and federal agencies, as well as non-governmental organizations.

They provide referrals 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, they provide referrals or consults, and in some cases facilitate 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 the Community Nursing Home Program.

They are responsible for serving as a consultant for navigating the complex processes Caregivers, Veterans, and their families encounter when interacting with government and community agencies.

The incumbent stays informed regarding current federal and state legislation directed at assisting Caregivers to continue to provide caregiving in an environment that is safe for both themselves and the Veteran.

The incumbent must possess a valid driver's license and will operate gas powered/electric passenger vehicles in order to provide Veteran care in the community.

Will drive in all types of weather and may be subjected to driving in all types of traffic. Must possess the ability to operate and perform preventive maintenance.

Be able to respond to emergency situations when on the road (traffic accident, damage to property, damage to equipment, injury to self or someone else, vehicle breakdown).

They must perform operator level maintenance of vehicles that includes, but is not limited to, getting gas, monitoring fluid levels, washing the vehicle, checking tire pressure, interior and exterior lights, and documenting any damage or unusual wear on the vehicle or its components.

Work Schedule: Monday through Friday; 08:00 to 16:30 Telework: Ad-Hoc only. Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: 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