Social Worker

Full Job Description

Serves as a coordinator for the Home Health Aide (HHA) and Home Respite Programs as well as providing support to other home health care programs.

Provides a full range of social work services for Veterans admitted into the program(s).

Services include provision of high-quality case management, clinical treatment, advocacy, and coordination of linkages to other appropriate VA or community service providers and/or agencies as needed by the patient.

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.

Master's degree in social work (MSW) 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 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 master's degree in social work. Licensure.

Must have license or certification by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level.

**Exception - For assignments at the GS-9 level, VHA may waive the licensure or certification requirement for persons who are otherwise qualified, pending completion of state prerequisites for licensure/certification examinations.

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.

Grade Determinations: GS-09 Experience: None beyond the basic requirements listed above.

Candidate must demonstrate the following 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.

GS-11 Experience/Education: Candidates must possess at least 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; or a Doctoral degree.

Additionally, candidates must demonstrate the following KSA's: 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.

Preferred Experience: Geriatrics and extended care, home care. The full performance level of this vacancy is SG-11.

The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-9 to GS-11.

Physical Requirements: Work is sedentary but also demands standing, walking, bending, twisting, and carrying light items. Major Duties:

Clinical Functions: Serves as a professional social worker assigned to the GEC Home Health Department within the Social Work Service.

Actively works as a member of the home health team to facilitate timely clinical review and authorization process for HHA and home respite referrals and renewals for Veterans from a large geographic area.

Works collaboratively with the Veteran, family members, significant others, PACT, mental health, and specialty services to convey the treatment.

Conducts clinical case management services to address the social determinants of health of the Veteran, often at a time when the Veteran is experiencing crisis.

Provides interventions such as brief counseling and patient centered solution focused counseling to Veterans and/or their families and caregivers.

Assess and provides interventions that overcome the obstacles to treatment and/or follow through with recommended treatments.

Case management occurs in tandem with other health professionals and programs both internal and external.

Participates in program planning, identifies program deficiencies, takes corrective action, and keeps the GEC Social Work Supervisor informed of all pertinent activities.

Establishes and maintains systematic and effective working relationships with personnel of the Medical Center and community agencies relative to areas of assignment to exchange information, arrange referral, resolve problems in service delivery or develop new resources.

Provide consultation, education, training, and technical assistance regarding the latest program developments and changes, to medical center staff and community-based service providers.

Monitor and coordinate authorizations for Veterans with ongoing care needs, utilizing a proactive approach to monitor reports in the Home Health Database, Consult Tracking Manager.

Administrative Functions: Administratively responsible for consult management, timely completion, and associated documentation per VA national policy.

The incumbent will identify existing barriers to Veterans accessing care and address through leadership channels to identify potential tests and steps of change to advocate for improvement of systems issues.

May attend community meetings, workgroups, trainings, and programs as indicated.

Complete appropriate documentation, review, and follow-up on Veteran or agency complaints regarding home health services. Serve on committees, work groups, and task forces at the facility.

Perform all work functions related to care coordination and community resources as it relates to Veterans and their families.

Complete a scope of practice prior to interacting with any patients without clinical supervision. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 08:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases.

When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade).

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 Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized