Social Worker - Primary Care (PACT)

Summary The VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System is recruiting for a Social Worker. The Social Worker will function in the Primary Care clinic and will support the Women's Health Program. Qualifications The basic requirements for employment as a VHA social worker are prescribed by statute in 38 U.S.C. 7402(b)(9) - as amended by section 205 of Public Law 106-419 - enacted November 1, 2000 Citizenship: Be a citizen of the United States. Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3‑section A‑paragraph 3g of this part. 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. Verification of the degree can be made by going to to verify that the social work degree meets the three accreditation standards for a master 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 English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f). 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 will provide the unlicensed/uncertified social worker with 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. Failure to obtain license or certification: In all cases – social workers must actively pursue meeting state prerequisites for licensure or certification starting from the date of their appointment. Failure to become licensed or certified within the prescribed amount of time will result in removal from the GS‑0185 social worker series and may result in termination of employment. Grade Determinations: GS‑9 Experience – Education – and Licensure: None beyond the basic requirements. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Ability to work with Veterans and family members from diverse socioeconomic‑cultural‑ethnic‑educational 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; Ability to implement treatment modalities in working with individuals, families, and groups; 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, including acute‑chronic‑traumatic illnesses and common medications and their 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 and licensure or certification in a state at the independent practice level. Alternatively, a doctoral degree in 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, candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Knowledge of community resources and ability to make referrals and coordinate services; Skill in independently conducting psychosocial assessments and treatment interventions; Knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses and treatment procedures; Skill in implementing different treatment modalities; Ability to provide consultation services to new social workers, graduate students, and other staff. References: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit 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‑09 to GS‑11. Physical Requirements: Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination; correctable vision as required for a driver's license; hearing with or without aid; depth perception; ability to distinguish basic colors; basic emotional and mental stability. Use of fingers – both hands required; use of both legs required (including one prosthetic). Must be able to perform walking (up to 4 hours), standing (up to 4 hours) and negotiate multiple flights of steps. Responsibilities Completes an assessment of the veteran in collaboration with the interdisciplinary treatment team – the veteran and family members. Contributes to the development of the treatment plan and sets achievable goals with the veteran and family members. Provides the veterans and their family members with ongoing supportive counseling – as needed. Coordinates VA community‑based services and additional services from other VA programs, government programs, and community agencies. Educates the veteran and their family members on all available options and completes necessary referrals. Establishes and maintains positive working relationships with employees, volunteers, consumers and stakeholders within the VA and community agencies. Develops rapid assessments and crisis management plans. Provides education and assists veterans with the completion of VA Advance Directives. Attends all appropriate staff meetings (interdisciplinary treatment team meetings, social work staff meetings, social work supervision, and other committees and workgroups) and performs other duties as required. Collaborates in performance improvement processes and complies with performance measures as required by the VA for their specific population and/or program. Benefits Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00 am‑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. Paid Time Off: 37‑50 days of annual paid time off 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 (maximum $416.66 per month). Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401(k) with up to 5 % VA contributions. Insurance: Federal health, vision, dental, term life, long‑term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement). Telework: Not Authorized. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 92547‑A (GS‑9), 92546‑A (GS‑11). Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized. #J-18808-Ljbffr U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs