Senior Social Worker- Pain

Full Job Description

The Pain Clinic Senior Social Worker is assigned to the St. Cloud VA Health Care System PSM ICC.

The incumbent is an integral part of the overall VHA health care program and as part of the health care service delivery to Veterans and their families.

Social work services provide case management, resource linkage, clinical and crisis interventions to Veterans and their families in resolving the psychosocial, emotional, and economic problems associated with the stresses of illness.

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/ Preferred Experience: Pain Experience 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:

VA Careers - Social Work: https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional CLINICIAL FUNCTIONS: A.

Conducting behavioral health and mental health biopsychosocial assessments. B. Making sound professional judgments regarding clinical impressions, treatment approaches, and treatment planning. C.

Coordinating with internal and external professionals to ensure appropriate transitions of care and appropriate/necessary treatment is provided/offered to Veterans. D.

Establishing and maintaining knowledge of VA and Veteran's benefits and services, community resources, and process for making appropriate referrals. E.

Providing advocacy to overcome potential barriers to access care/services and when it is in the best interests of the Veteran. F.

Provides goals of care discussions, as well as education and assist in the completion of Advance Directives; Organ, Tissue, and Eye Donation release of information forms; and Guardianship documentation.

G. Assesses for signs and symptoms of abuse, neglect and exploitation. H.

Conducts practice in accordance with the VA and discipline specific ethical requirements and practices within the limits of current licensure or certification. I.

Completing on-call duties, as assigned and per policy. J. Conducts Virtual Visits in modalities preferred by patients and utilizes Consult Toolbox functions. K.

Provides clinical supervision to entry level social workers as needed by the facility determined by the Social Work Executive ADMINISTRATIVE FUNCTIONS A.

Possesses and demonstrates ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing with people from varied backgrounds. B.

Possesses skills in using computer systems and the internet for Veterans who choose this modality to communicate. C.

Serves on supervisor approved committees, work groups, and task forces at the local facility, VISN or national level. D. Attends and participates in all required administrative and clinical meetings.

E. Maintains accurate, timely, and complete clinical records in accordance with professional practice and VA administration guidelines. F.

Maintains data and statistical compilations to comply with accreditation bodies such as CARF and Joint Commission, and VA health care systems policies and procedures. G.

Participates in Social Work Professional Practice Evaluation processes. H.

The incumbent may be assigned to other areas of need in the health care system, as determined necessary by the direct supervisor and/or the ICC Director in consultation with the Social Work Executive.

ROLE-SPECIFIC TASKS A.

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

B.

Is trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Chronic Pain and/or has documented competency of evidence based practice skills and supportive therapy in the range of specialized interventions and treatment modalities used in the pain clinic specialty treatment program or with this special patient populations.

C. Ability to incorporate complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment within approved scope of practice. D.

Serving as subject matter expert and a consultant to other medical center staff and trainees and assist in their understanding of psychological factors and formulation of appropriate treatment expectations regarding patients with chronic pain.

E. Maintains current knowledge of procedures, policies, directives, pertinent to social work practice within the health care system and clinics. F.

Assist with the execution of ongoing program evaluation and data-driven quality improvement projects to monitor the effectiveness of the clinical program. G.

Facilitates liaisons with other health care programs in order to effectively coordinate services. H.

Complies with national and local performance measures, including timely health care screening and completion of clinical reminders for all patients. I.

Actively participates in Health Care System wide committees, investigations, or special projects as assigned by management.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8am-4:30pm 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) 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: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized