Social Worker

Full Job Description

The Inpatient Medical Social Worker assigned to the Emergency Room provides social work, care coordination and discharge planning services to Veterans being evaluated and treated in the Emergency Room at the Richard L.

Roudebush VAMC.

In collaboration with the interdisciplinary treatment team, the Inpatient Medical Social Worker works to ensure that Veterans transition efficiently to the appropriate discharge level of care.

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.

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.

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.

Indiana requires Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) 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.

GS-9 Social Worker must obtain independent practice licensure within three years of initial appointment.

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).

Grade Determinations: Social Worker, GS-9 Experience, Education, and Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate, in their resume, all of the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs): Ability to utilize a Veteran centric approach when providing interventions and counseling for Veterans, their family members, caregivers, and survivors.

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, the candidate must demonstrate, in their resume, all of the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (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, 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: None 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.

Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met.

Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level.

Physical Requirements: The physical demands of the position involve standard office requirements such as using the telephone, utilizing the electronic medical record, and working shared office space.

Work is intermittently performed sitting at a desk and using a computer. However, the position requires periods of walking, standing, sitting and bending. Major Duties:

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Duties included but not limited to: Screening/Assessment - The incumbent screens and assesses the Veteran's psychosocial needs and barriers in order to facilitate their discharge from the hospital through collaborative relationships with the Veteran, their family/caregiver and other VA programs and VA staff.

Treatment Planning/Goal Setting -The incumbent determines realistic discharge goals that consider such factors as a) the appropriate level of discharge care, b) the setting conducive to providing such care, c) the need for post-discharge interventions to enhance caregiver support to allow for the least restrictive level of care, d) transportation options/barriers and e) the steps to obtaining resources (VA or community) that make the transition from the inpatient setting successful.

Referral to service providers - Throughout the course of treatment the incumbent is the subject matter expert on VA and/or community resources.

The inpatient Social Worker will collaborate with other service providers in reassessing the Veteran's needs.

Advocacy- The incumbent understands the intimidation of bureaucracy and will act as an advocate when it serves the best interest of the Veteran/family.

When appropriate and feasible, the inpatient Social Worker will educate and encourage the Veteran/family to advocate on own behalf, thus fostering a sense of independence and empowerment.

Crisis Intervention- The incumbent will assess and intervene in any medical or psychiatric crises presented by the Veteran and participate in developing crisis management and safety plans to minimize the event of future crises.

Education/Health promotion and prevention - The incumbent provides education related to VA and community resources, entitlements, Advance Directives/Living Will and will refer Veterans/families to the appropriate interdisciplinary team member for identified health education needs.

Supportive counseling-The incumbent will provide hospitalized Veterans and their caregivers with supportive counseling.

With the intent of assisting the Veteran and their caregivers in coping with the psychosocial impact of chronic and disabling illnesses, the onset of catastrophic illness, bereavement issues, domestic violence and organ donation, the Inpatient Medical Social Worker will evaluate the need for more specialized mental health care and refer to appropriate VA or community resources.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 0730 - 1600 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)Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience.

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: Not eligible for Telework Functional Statement #: 91594-A, 91595-A