Social Worker (Emergency Department and ComPACT Clinic)

Full Job Description

The Social Worker is assigned to provide and/or arrange services include the Emergency Department, ComPACT clinic, Veterans unassigned to primary clinics, John Cochran Social Work Service Same Day Access Point, John Cochran Inpatient Medical Care (weekends/evenings/holidays); additional duties may include assisting Veterans who present to the John Cochran Social Work office in need of various services/referrals.

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.

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.

English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).

Loss of Licensure or Certification: Once licensed or certified, social workers must maintain a full, valid, and unrestricted independent license or certification to remain qualified for employment.

Loss of licensure or certification will result in removal from the GS-0185 social worker series and may result in termination of employment.

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-11 (Full Performance Level) 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.

Current state requirements may be found by going to http://vaww.va.gov/OHRM/T38Hybrid/. 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, candidates must demonstrate all of the following 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, 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: Emergency Department, Mental Health Evaluations, Veterans Healthcare, LCSW 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.

Physical Requirements: This position requires the Social Worker to be mobile throughout the hospital as needed, involving, standing, walking, bending, pushing, and lifting.

The position requires prolonged standing/walking and be physically capable of pushing equipment, and wheelchairs.

Although the work is primarily sedentary the stress involved in dealing continually with persons in emotional distress and who may be uncooperative and occasionally violent makes this work notably more demanding than most sedentary jobs.

Major Duties:

VA Careers - Social Work: https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU VA Careers - Licensed Clinical Social Worker: https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/U_xC25QsN0w Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional The Emergency Department is the primary duty area of this position where the social worker operates independently using his/her educational training, clinical experience, VA policies, and Joint Commission standards to administer direct services to Veterans referred to or presenting for care in the Emergency Department.

This professional Social Worker is responsible to provide a variety of services including psychosocial assessments, treatment planning, short term, solution focused counseling with individuals and families who may be in crisis, education and referral for resources and benefits, case management and post-intervention follow-up.

During weekends/holidays/evenings, the Social Worker is the only social worker on-site to provide assistance to both divisions of the medical center.

The assigned areas involve special Veteran populations with highly complex mental health, medical health, and social conditions.

Duties include, but not limited to: Provide crisis intervention services, seeking to address the presenting complaint and coordinate care and service recommendations.

Identify and screen patients for psychosocial needs.

Conduct thorough suicide assessments, completing the Comprehensive Suicide Risk Evaluation (CSRE) and Suicide Prevention the Emergency Department (SPED) safety plans as indicated, evaluates for needed follow-up services, and provides psychosocial consultation to providers as appropriate Incorporate complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment of veteran patients, including making psychosocial and psychiatric diagnoses within approved scope of practice.

Ability to provide brief, solution focused individual and family counseling with advanced level case management interventions used in the treatment of veterans with specialized problems such as traumatic brain injuries, post-traumatic stress disorder, addictions, and other serious disorders within their scope of practice.

Act as an advocate in the best interest of the Veteran and/or family.

When appropriate, the Social Worker will educate and encourage the Veteran/family to advocate for themselves, thus fostering a sense of independence and empowerment.

Provide education related to VA and community resources, entitlements, Advance Directive/Living Will, and will refer Veterans and their family members to the appropriate providers for identified health needs.

Provide veterans and their caregivers with supportive counseling.

Independently provide consultation services to other staff regarding the psychosocial needs of veterans and the impact of psychosocial problems on health care and adherence to treatment plan, rendering professional opinions based on experience and expertise and role modeling effective social work practice skills.

Develop and implements methods for measuring effectiveness of social work practice and services in specialty areas, utilizing outcome evaluations to improve treatment services.

Perform other related duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Wednesday - Saturday, 5:30am - 4:00pm Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Telework: Ad-Hoc - This position is authorized for telework but has not been authorized as virtual or remote (i.e., the must be able to work at the location the position is being announced for).

VA supports the use of telework to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies.

Telework eligibility may be discussed during the interview process. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized