Social Worker (PACT)

Full Job Description

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program.

You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment.

Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.

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.

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.

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.

(a) For appointments at the GS-9 grade level, 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.

(b) A social worker who does not yet have a license that allows independent practice must be supervised by a licensed independent practitioner of the same discipline who is a VA staff member and who has access to the electronic health record.

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

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 (1) 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 (2) 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.

(3) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities.

In addition to the experience above, candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:(a) Knowledge of community resources, how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services, and ability to coordinate services.

(b) 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.

(c) 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.

(d) 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.

(e) 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: Minimum 1 year of experience working with high-risk individuals is preferred.

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: Minimum 1 year of experience working with high-risk individuals is preferred. Major Duties:

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Major Duties: Incumbent is a Clinical Social Worker assigned to the Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT).

The incumbent must use a high level of skill in assessing and treating the complicated psychosocial problems of Veterans.

Social Work responsibilities include the assessment of psychosocial problems, often at a time when the Veteran is experiencing crisis and include the provision of short-term, solution-focused counseling with Veterans, their family members, and/or caregivers.

Referrals typically originate from members of the interdisciplinary team, from Veterans and/or their family members/significant others coming as walk-ins to seek assistance, and from community professionals.

The incumbent must complete thorough assessments to determine the presenting problem to determine in-home factors impacting the problem and to determine obstacles to treatment and/or follow through with recommended treatments.

Has primary knowledge of use of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities, and treatment procedures.

This includes acute, chronic, and traumatic illness, injuries, medical terminology, and common medications and their effects and side effects.

Independently identifies high-risk patients and provides case management services for chronic disease management in collaboration with the multidisciplinary team.

Complex cases are staffed regularly with the clinical supervisor.

Utilizes the Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) template assessments to synthesize information into a working document that provides direction in determining the level of care, level of case management and follow up.

Differentiates between episodic, supportive, progressive and intensive case management.

Independently provides crisis intervention services if needed, seeking to address cause, as well as the presenting complaint, coordinates family conferences, and serves as liaison to family members.

Formulates a plan with goals, objectives, barriers and needs based on PACT templates for ongoing follow up and case management.

Independently conducts psychosocial assessments as appropriate for treatment planning.

Assessment is to highlight the Veteran's strengths, limitations, internal and external supports, and service needs in order to optimize functional status.

Identifies the psychosocial complications that can be caused due to a sudden onset of an acute or chronic illness.

Provides treatment interventions in collaboration with the Veteran and family, interdisciplinary treatment team, and community members.

The incumbent possesses knowledge and ability to implement treatment modalities including motivational interviewing (MI) to provide supportive counseling and health coaching to individuals, families, and groups.

Incumbent has an understanding of the range of treatment and skills for all adult patients related to illness or chronic medical conditions, psychological needs, and age-associated conditions.

Incumbent possesses the skills to establish therapeutic relationships with Veterans and families, mediate difficulties, and measure outcomes of treatment interventions.

Provides pro-active case management to assist in eliminating barriers to health care interventions based on the level of case management indicated in the initial and follow up assessments.

Offers strategies to resolve underlying causal factors and build upon and promote strengths and abilities. Work Schedule: Monday- Friday 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact visn15edrp@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance.

Learn more 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)