Senior Social Worker (HBPC)

Full Job Description

The Greater Los Angeles Veterans Health Administration is recruiting a compassionate and skilled Social Worker to join our Home-Based Primary Care (HBPC) team.

This role focuses on providing comprehensive psychosocial support to Veterans with complex, chronic, and disabling conditions who receive care in their homes.

The HBPC Social Worker plays a vital role in improving quality of life, reducing hospitalizations, and supporting patients and caregivers through individualized care planning.

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. English Language Proficiency.

In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English.

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.

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.

Licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the advanced practice level which included an advanced generalist or clinical examination, unless they are grandfathered by the state in which they are licensed to practice at the advanced practice level (except for licenses issued in California, which administers its own clinical examination for advanced practice) and they must be able to provide supervision for licensure.

Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements stated above, the following qualification criteria must be met for each grade.

The candidate's qualifications must clearly demonstrate the level of competence required for the grade.

Experience: 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 and 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.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities.

In addition to the experience above, candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: 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.

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

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.

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.

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.

Performance Level: The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12 Physical Requirements: Light lifting (under 15 pounds); light carrying (under 15 pounds); reaching above shoulder; use of fingers; both hands required; walking; standing; hearing (aid permitted).

Traveling throughout the medical center and the community is required.

Preferred Experience Experience working in a geriatric setting and collaborating with internal/external partners is highly preferred.

Knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities, and treatment planning. Field based work experience.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Major Duties:

Duties include, but are not limited to: Independently perform detailed psychosocial assessments to identify Veterans' needs, including medical, mental health, social, and environmental factors.

Collaborate with Veterans, families, and multidisciplinary teams to create individualized treatment plans and ensure timely implementation.

Deliver a full range of case management services, including assistance with benefits, housing, transportation, and linkage to community resources.

Provide individual, group, and family psychotherapy; grief and bereavement counseling; crisis intervention; and advanced-level treatment for complex physical and mental health conditions.

Complete mandated reporting for suspected abuse, assess need for conservatorship or fiduciary services, and coordinate with legal counsel as appropriate.

Assist Veterans and caregivers with applications for benefits and services; educate on available resources and coping strategies.

Participate in interdisciplinary treatment planning; offer consultation and mentorship to colleagues and students; provide clinical supervision to unlicensed social workers.

Develop and implement outcome measures to assess effectiveness of interventions and make improvements based on findings.

Accurately document all patient care activities, complete required consults and reminders, and adhere to VA policies and standards.

Attend meetings, serve on committees, participate in continuing education, and contribute to program improvement initiatives.

Provide services at multiple HBPC sites, including Community-Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) and other ambulatory care centers. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Telework: Ad hoc telework per supervisor discretion in accordance with agency policy.

Virtual: This is not a virtual position Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not Authorized