Summary

The VA Portland Health Care System (VAPORHCS) is a Complexity Level 1a facility and provides extensive primary - secondary - tertiary - and quaternary care in outpatient - inpatient - residential - and community settings. VAPORHCS is a multi-site health care system that includes a major medical facility in Portland - Oregon; outpatient and residential facilities in Vancouver - Washington; and 10 Community Based Outpatient Clinics in central and western Oregon.

Qualifications

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
• Current state requirements may be found by going to http://vaww.va.gov/OHRM/T38Hybrid/
• 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
• At the time of appointment - the supervisor - chief social work or social work executive will provide the unlicensed/uncertified social worker with the written requirements for licensure or certification - including the time by which the license or certification must be obtained and the consequences for not becoming licensed or certified by the deadline.] 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
• In states such as California - Washington - and others where the prerequisites for licensure exceed two years - social workers must become licensed at the independent - master's level within one year of meeting the full state prerequisites for licensure
• 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
• 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-9 Experience - Education - and Licensure
• None beyond the basic requirements
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Ability to utilize a Veteran centric approach when providing interventions and counseling for Veterans - their family members - caregivers - and survivors
• (b) 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
• (c) 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
• (d) Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients - staff - and representatives of community agencies
• (e) 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 Social Worker - 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
• 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) SSkill in independently conducting psychosocial assessments and treatment interventions to a wide variety of individuals from various socio-economic - educational - and other 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: years Dialysis SW experience 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
• 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: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation and would generally not require a pre-placement examination
• Exceptions: A pre-placement examination is required for any occupation or assignment that requires the operation of a government-owned or -leased motor vehicle in order to properly carry out assigned duties
• Examinations may also be required for any occupation or assignment that requires a pre-placement examination by virtue of another policy - regulation - or statute

Duties

• VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU FUNCTIONS OR SCOPE OF ASSIGNED DUTIES Dialysis Clinic Assignment: As the Dialysis Social Worker - the incumbent will provide the following Dialysis roles: providing a range of psychosocial and behavioral interventions as a member of the multidisciplinary clinic
• serving as a point of contact for communications
• providing ongoing case management for Veterans who dialyze at the Portland VA Medical Center Dialysis Unit
• establishing rapport and encouraging long-term medical adherence
• collaborating with staff in medical - surgical - nursing - and other allied healthcare professions to address the medical - behavioral - and psychosocial health care needs of Veterans
• and providing individual and group counseling using a range of evidenced based treatments - such as motivational interviewing - cognitive-behavioral therapy - acceptance and commitment therapy - and chronic disease management group interventions
• These programs and services will include education and support for Veterans - family - and/or caregivers
• The social worker will provide the Veteran and family and/or caregivers with education about Dialysis and interventions - treatments - management - and self-care
• Psychosocial Screening and Assessment: The social worker conducts psychosocial screens and/or assessments of the Veteran in collaboration with the interdisciplinary treatment team - the Veteran - family members - and significant others
• The purpose of the assessment is to understand the Veteran's situation - presenting problems and their causes - and the impact of such problems on the Veteran's level of functioning and health as part of a comprehensive psychosocial assessment that highlights the Veteran's strengths - limitations - risk factors - acuity levels - and internal/external supports and service needs in order to optimize the Veteran's functional status
• The initial assessment will be completed as specified by the patient-care policy for the assigned work area - to include the Kidney Disease Quality of Life Instrument (KDQOL)
• Psychosocial and Psychotherapy Treatment and Intervention: The social worker uses knowledge and mastery of theories and modalities required for the treatment of complex medical - behavioral - and psychosocial health care needs of Veterans in the above assigned clinics and specialty care programs
• The incumbent works closely with Veterans to identify and support their preferences in care and personal treatment goals - and offers resources and support tailored to the uniquely expressed needs and desires of the Veteran
• The incumbent serves as the key link for education and psychosocial support for Veterans - families - and caregivers across the continuum of care
• Case Management and Care Coordination: The social worker uses knowledge and mastery of theories and modalities required for the complex medical - behavioral - and psychosocial health care case management and care coordination needs of needs of Veterans
• The incumbent provides intensive and comprehensive psychosocial case management and care coordination across episodes of care
• The incumbent provides specialized clinical case management and care coordination centered on diagnosis and disorder-specific education - treatment - care continuum - symptom management - and self-care
• The incumbent acts as a health coach by proactively supporting the Veteran to optimize treatment interventions and outcomes
• Health Education and Advanced Health Care Planning The social worker assists in identifying the health education needs of Veterans and their families or caregivers and works with the interdisciplinary team to develop a plan to address health education needs
• The incumbent provides specialized health and psychosocial education services to the Veteran - family - and/or caregivers
• Education services include - but are not limited to - disease education - diagnosis and treatment options - acute symptom management - chronic disease management - medication - health promotion and self-care interventions - VA and community resources - benefits and entitlements - and Advance Health Care Planning
• Interdisciplinary Collaboration - Coordination and Consultation The social worker collaborates with other disciplines involved in providing specialty care in order to ensure the best possible care services and outcomes
• The incumbent is a key member of the interdisciplinary treatment team - and regularly confers and consults with other team members on treatment issues and on provision of health care services
• The incumbent participates in case presentation and conceptualization
• The incumbent facilitates patient and caregiver conferences
• Work Schedule: Mon-Fri 0800-1630 or 0730-1600 Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized