Social Worker

Summary This social worker is assigned to the Community Living Center (CLC) at the Nebraska Western Iowa VA Health Care System (NWI). The social worker is responsible for providing social work services to the Veteran residents of this area. The social worker is a member of an interdisciplinary team and is primarily responsible for completing biopsychosocial history and assessments - completing the psychosocial portions of the care plan and the Minimum Data Set (MDS). This social worker is assigned to the Community Living Center (CLC) at the Nebraska Western Iowa VA Health Care System (NWI). The social worker is responsible for providing social work services to the Veteran residents of this area. The social worker is a member of an interdisciplinary team and is primarily responsible for completing biopsychosocial history and assessments - completing the psychosocial portions of the care plan and the Minimum Data Set (MDS). Qualifications Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Be a citizen of the United States 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: 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 to verify that the social work degree meets the accreditation standards for a masters of social work Licensure Requirement: 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 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 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 (Entry Level): Experience and Licensure: 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 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 Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities: In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: 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 Social Worker GS-11 (Full Performance Level): 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: 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 All qualifying experience you possess must be clearly described in your application package We will not make assumptions when reviewing applications Failure to demonstrate your experience in your resume may result in disqualification It is strongly recommended that you write to each KSA in your application package Preferred Experience: Experience with medical social work or nursing home social work Reference: 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-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 Major duties include but are not limited to the following: Provide orientation to new residents of the CLC - communicating with Veterans and family members/significant others the purpose of CLC - expected length of stay and goals for discharge on admission to the CLC Conduct biopsychosocial assessments to determine needs of Veterans and family members Is an active participant in the treatment planning process with other disciplines Facilitate the Long-Term Care Co-Pay process with the Veteran and family members Participate in discharge planning with other disciplines - and Veterans and family members to the least restrictive environment through shared decision making and will be responsible for ensuring that discharge plans are executed in a manner that is timely and appropriate Provide consultation/education to Veterans and families on community resources - and VA services and benefits Act as a consultant to other team/staff members Act as liaison between VA and community resources Provide case management to Veterans and families - as needed - throughout the continuum of care Provide a full range of social work services within commonly accepted standards of social work practice which includes case management - individual - family and group counseling - discharge planning - vulnerable adult reporting - and other services as appropriate Provide psychosocial treatment to assist Veterans and family members with psychosocial concerns This may include financial - legal - housing - and other issues that can impact on health and functioning It also includes helping Veterans cope with new diagnoses - declining functioning - limitations on functioning - and death Guiding principles are to promote health and wellness and move care forward for the well-being of the Veteran Assist Veterans with crisis situations as required Serve as the CLC contact person with family members and significant others and will coordinate family conferences and meetings and address family issues that impact the Veteran's health and functioning Serve as an advocate for residents with facility staff and treatment team members and will help other team members understand the Veteran's perspective - life situation - coping mechanisms - and psychosocial problems Assist Veterans address advance care planning and end-of-life issues - including advance directives - living wills - pain management - dying and the transition to palliative and hospice care Provide wellness/prevention education and facilitate resident/family support groups as appropriate As appropriate - supervise the practice of social work students - or a less experienced social worker Coordinate treatment and communicate with the care lines to facilitate continuity of care for veterans Participate in various Service Line or health care system workgroups - committees - and/or councils to represent and contribute social work expertise as assigned Document all social work interventions and activities in the resident's clinical record utilizing CPRS and ensure appropriate hand off when transferring patient care This independent documentation includes the initial biopsychosocial assessment - periodic reassessments (at least quarterly or as changes in the resident's condition occur) - review of progress towards problem resolution and treatment goals/outcomes - regular progress notes and a closing or discharge summary Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 7:30am-4:0pm Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (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: Virtual: This is not a virtual position Functional Statement #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized #J-18808-Ljbffr