Summary

The incumbent social worker will be assigned to provide social work services to Veterans and their families receiving Primary & Specialty Medicine care at the Montevideo CBOC. The Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) model is a comprehensive team which delivers primary care to Veteran patients in a longitudinal rather than episodic fashion and which has as its focus: prevention; health promotion - coordination and chronic disease management.

Qualifications

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: Social workers must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005 - Part II - chapter 3 - section A - paragraph 3j - this part
• Education Requirement: Master of Social Work: Must possess a master's degree in social work from a school of social work fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education
• Note: 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
• COPY OF TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED
• Licensure Requirement: Appointment at the GS-11 Full Performance Level: Persons hired or reassigned to full performance 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
• OR Appointment at the GS-9 (Entry or Developmental Level): 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 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
• Grade Determinations: GS-9 None beyond the basic requirements
• 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
• Most states require two years of post-MSW experience as a prerequisite to taking the licensure/certification exam - and VHA gives social workers one additional year to pass the licensure/certification exam
• AND Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above - the applicant's resume must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Ability to work with Veterans and family members from various socioeconomic - cultural - ethnic - educational - and other diversified backgrounds utilizing counseling skills
• 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 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
• AND Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities: In addition to the experience above - the applicant's resume 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
• References: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• 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: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position
• Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.

Duties

• VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional A
• Conducting behavioral health and mental health biopsychosocial and comprehensive assessments of Veterans and caregivers
• B
• Making sound professional judgments regarding clinical impressions - treatment approaches - and treatment planning
• C
• Coordinating with internal and external and ancillary professionals to ensure appropriate transitions of care and appropriate/ necessary treatment is provided/offered to Veterans
• D
• Establish and maintain knowledge of VA and Veteran's benefits and services - community resources - and process for making appropriate referrals to community and other governmental programs or agencies
• E
• Provide advocacy to overcome potential barriers to access care/services and when it is in the best interests of the Veteran F
• Provide goals of care discussions - as well as - education and assist in the completion of Advance Directives
• Organ - Tissue - and Eye Donation release of information forms
• and Guardianship documentation
• G
• Assessing for signs and symptoms of abuse - neglect and exploitation
• H
• Completing on-call duties - as assigned and per policy - which may include transportation of a Veteran
• I
• Conducting practice in accordance with the VA and discipline specific ethical requirements
• J
• Administrative Responsibilities: - Possess and demonstrate ability to communicate effectively - both orally and in writing with people from varied backgrounds
• - Possess skills in using computer systems - especially the internet for Veterans who choose this modality to communicate with the team
• - Serves on committees - work groups - and task forces at the local facility - VISN or national level
• Collaborating in performance improvement processes and comply with performance measures as required by the VA for specific population/program
• - Attends and participates in all required administrative and clinical meetings
• - Maintain accurate - timely - and complete clinical records in accordance with professional practice and VA administration guidelines
• Document all Veteran contacts in the electronic record using appropriate formats and templates
• This information will be entered in a confidential - professional - and maintaining Veteran privacy and confidentiality per policies - handbooks - or directives
• - Maintain data and statistical compilations to comply with CARF - Joint Commission - VA - and health care systems policy and procedures
• - Collaborate in the performance improvement processes and comply with performance measures as required by the VA for their specific population and/or program
• The Social Worker will participate in activities that obtain feedback from clients and work to enhance services as needed
• - The incumbent performs other duties as assigned and can - at times - assist other incumbents or perform special assignments to meet the needs of the healthcare system
• The incumbent may be detailed to other areas of need to meet the needs of the health care system - will be determined by the direct supervisor and/or the ICC Director and typically will not exceed 25% of the total hours per week
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8am-4:30pm Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized 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) 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
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized