Social Worker- Transition Patient Advocate

Full Job Description

The Transition Patient Advocate will provide a variety of psychosocial assessments and education, advocacy, brief case management services, coordinating linkages with appropriate VA and community service providers, short-term solution focused psychotherapy and family services with individual Veterans and families who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric, medical, and social challenges, along with instructing social work students.

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.

Health Profession Trainees (HPT's) 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.

English Language Proficiency - You must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C.

7403(f) Education and/or Experience Combination -You 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).

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.

Note: A doctoral degree in Social Work may NOT be substituted for the master's degree in Social Work.

License or Certification - You must be licensed or certified 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.

Grandfather Provision.

A Social Worker employed in VHA on the effective date of the qualification standard (9/10/2019) who did not meet all the basic requirements in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed, the following provisions apply: Employees may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level or changed to lower grade within the occupation but may not be promoted beyond the journeyman level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions.

Employees in an occupation that requires a licensure/certification/ registration only at higher grade levels must meet the licensure/ certification/registration requirement before they can be promoted to those higher grade levels.

Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard.

Employees who are converted to title 38 hybrid status under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of re-entry to the occupation.

Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation.

Grade Determinations: GS-09 Social Worker -Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: In addition to meeting the basic requirements, to qualify for the GS-09, you must demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: 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 Licensure Requirement: You must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level.

Experience or Education Requirement: In addition to meeting the basic requirements, to qualify for the GS-11, you must possess 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.

Examples of specialized experience include but are not limited to: Working under close supervision in program areas that do not require specialized knowledge or experience.

Identifying behaviors or symptoms of abuse, neglect or exploitation; providing education on advance directives and advanced care planning; providing social work case management; acting as an patient/family member/caregiver advocate with community service providers/agencies; assessing the psychosocial functioning and needs of patients and their family members.

In collaboration with the patient, family, and interdisciplinary treatment teams, identifying strengths, weaknesses, coping skills and psychosocial acuity.

Maintaining a current network of internal and external resources to educate the patient and/or family members/caregivers and assist with appropriate referrals.

-OR- 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.

In addition to the experience above, you must demonstrate the 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, 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: Completing a comprehensive psychosocial assessment of various needs Connecting patients to essential services, providing information and referrals Working autonomously Medical Social Work and Mental Health experience Providing goal directed support Advocating for the services needed and collaborating with other disciplines Networking in the community Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-09 to GS-11 Major Duties:

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Duties include but are not limited to: Evaluates the situations of Veterans and family members/significant others and arrives at a reasoned conclusion.

Interprets and explains VA's treatment and benefit programs. Provides comprehensive case management services to OEF/OIF/OND Veterans referred to the program.

Determines eligibility for services, completes needs assessment, develops a comprehensive care plan, identifies resources and referrals, and coordination and monitoring of services.

Provides information and education to patients and families to help assure that ongoing medical, emotional, and social needs are met. Meets with patients in the Medical Center and community as needed.

Assist patients and families with identifying appropriate goals and medical care consistent with those goals.

Coordinates care with other healthcare professionals, including but not limited to physicians, psychiatrists, nurses, chaplains, pharmacists, and other social workers.

Identifies who are at high-risk and in need of acute mental health care and a further mental health evaluation.

Assist veterans in coping with acute illness, chronic illness, combat stress, residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI), community adjustment, addictions, and other health and mental health problems.

Reviews all data, subjective and objective, and makes a clinical assessment, identifying needs and strengths. Effectively uses professional skill, objectivity and insight.

Communicates effectively both orally and in writing with people from varied backgrounds.

The incumbent works with patients and families who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric, medical, and social problems utilizing therapy skills within the bounds of his/her licensure.

Participates in an interdisciplinary team and recommends a course of treatment. Adjusts the psychosocial treatment plans and interventions based on changing needs and responses to interventions.

Initiates and effects changes in methods and interventions to promote efficient practice and improve patient outcomes. Identifies high-risk patients and provides crisis intervention services.

Incumbent completes suicide risk screens C-SSRS and completes and documents assessments within the timelines and guidelines of the VANTHCS Suicide Prevention SOP as required.

Develops and maintains a resource file of VA and community social service programs. Identifies treatment options and coordinates referrals based on Veterans' needs and eligibility.

Acts as an advocate when it serves the best interest of the Veteran/family.

When appropriate and feasible, conducts education and encourages the Veteran/family to advocate on own behalf, thus fostering a sense of independence and empowerment.

Provides education on VA entitlements, eligibility, services, and programs, as well as community resources for medical and mental health needs.

Participates and assists in planning and executing outreach events for the purpose of providing education and expedited access to enrollment in VA health care.

The incumbent will be proficient regarding VA healthcare and benefits and will maintain relationships with military installation points of contact and community agencies providing services for Post 9/11 service member/Veteran and their families.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized 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 #: 55035-F (GS9), 55036-5 (GS11) Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized