Social Worker

Summary Thre incumbent is a member of an interdisciplinary team and is primarily responsible for completing psychosocial history and assessments - completing the psychosocial portions of the care plan and the Minimum Data Set (MDS). The Social Worker is also responsible for facilitating the Interdisciplinary Treatment Team meetings - emphasizing culture transformation including resident centered care planning Summary Thre incumbent is a member of an interdisciplinary team and is primarily responsible for completing psychosocial history and assessments - completing the psychosocial portions of the care plan and the Minimum Data Set (MDS). The Social Worker is also responsible for facilitating the Interdisciplinary Treatment Team meetings - emphasizing culture transformation including resident centered care planning 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: Candidates must 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: 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 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 NOTE: For appointment licensure or certification at this level please refer to paragraph 3c 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) Skill 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 - 8 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 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 Preferred Experience: Hospice or inpatient hospital experience Case Management experience Social Work experience with the Veteran Population Medical Social Work experience Long Term Care Social Work experience. Duties Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Duties include - but are not limited to: Conduct psychosocial assessments to determine needs of Veterans and family members The incumbent has skill in independently conducting psychosocial assessments and treatment interventions to a wide variety of individuals from various socioeconomic - cultural - ethnic - educational - and other diversified backgrounds This requires knowledge of human development and behavior (physical and psychological) and the differential influences of the environment - society - and culture Active participant in the treatment planning process with other disciplines The incumbent has knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses - disabilities - and treatment procedures (e.g. - acute - chronic - and traumatic illnesses/injuries - common medications and their effects/side effects - and medical terminology) to formulate a treatment plan Participate in discharge planning with other disciplines and will be responsible for ensuring that discharge plans are executed in a manner that is timely and appropriate Provide individual - family and group counseling as appropriate The incumbent has 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 This requires judgement and skill in utilizing supportive - problem solving - or crisis intervention techniques Has the ability to assess the psychosocial functioning and needs of patients and their family members - and to formulate and implement a treatment pan - identifying the patient's problems - strengths - weaknesses - coping skills - and assistance needed Provide consultation and education to Veterans and families on community resources - advance directives - and VA benefits Act as a consultant to other team/staff members Provide consultation and education to medical students on social work practice and VA policy and procedure The incumbent provides consultation services to new social workers - social work graduate students - and other staff about the psychosocial needs of patients and the impact of psychosocial problem on health care and compliance with treatment Ability to provide orientation and coaching to new social workers and social work graduate students Ability to serve as a field instructor for social work graduate students who are completing VHA field placements Act as a liaison between VA and community resources - to include marketing and public relation duties as needed 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 work - individual - family and group counseling - discharge planning - case management - and other services as appropriate The incumbent will provide wellness and prevention education and facilitate Veteran and family support groups as appropriate Maintain data and statistical compilations to comply with Joint Commission - VA and medical center policy and procedures Establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients - staff - and representatives of community agencies Communicates effectively - both orally and in writing - with people from varied backgrounds Other duties - as assigned Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 8:00 am - 4:30 pm Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (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 #: GS-9: 30392-F GS-11:30393-F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized. #J-18808-Ljbffr