Social Worker

Summary

The Patient Aligned Care Team Social Worker (PACT) member eliminates barriers to care through assisting Veterans and their families with a variety of needs related to resolving psychosocial - emotional - and economic barriers to health and well-being. The position will provide coverage for equivalent level social workers within TVHS.

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 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)
• Grandfathering Provision: The following is the standard grandfathering policy for all title 38 hybrid qualification standards
• Please carefully review the qualification standard to determine the specific education and/or licensure/certification/registration requirements that apply to this occupation
• (1) All persons employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title - series and grade held - including positive education and licensure or certification that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation
• For employees who do not meet all of the basic requirements in this standard - but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it - the following provisions apply: (2) Such employees in an occupation that requires a licensure or certification - may be reassigned - promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level - or changed to lower grade within the occupation - but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions
• (3) Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed - on a temporary or permanent basis - until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard
• (4) Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation - who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all of the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation
• (5) If an employee who was retained in an occupation listed in 38 U.S.C. § 7401(3) under this provision leaves that occupation - the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation
• NOTE: If social workers covered under the grandfathering provision of the 1991 Federal law regarding licensure or certification of VHA social workers leave the GS- 0185 social work series - they lose the grandfathering protection
• If they choose to return at a later date to the GS-0185 series - they must be licensed or certified to qualify for employment as a social worker
• Grade Determinations 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
• 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 basic qualifications and 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 - 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
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit
• The full performance level of this vacancy is 11
• Physical Requirements: The work environment is normally a clinical setting
• There is exposure to individuals having psychiatric and medical illness and disabilities - including infections - violent or aggressive behavior - and chronic psychiatric or physical problems
• Travel may be required to meeting patient needs - and may occasionally demand unplanned - irregular tours of duty.

Duties

• VA Careers - Social Work: VA Careers - Licensed Clinical Social Worker: Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Must have a high level of skill and expertise to establish and maintain effective therapeutic relationships with veterans - their families - and caregivers
• The incumbent is able to independently work with veterans - their families and caregivers] who are experiencing a wide range of complicated medical - psychiatric - emotional - behavioral - and psychosocial problems
• Must independently complete thorough psychosocial assessments to determine the psychosocial functioning and needs of veterans - their families and caregivers
• The incumbent must be able to utilize this assessment in treatment planning with the goal of attaining the highest level of independence and benefit that is possible and practical
• The content and documentation of psychosocial assessments must be consistent with professional standards - guidelines - and agency policies
• Must actively participate as a member of the interdisciplinary treatment team and actively collaborate with veterans - their families and caregivers as well as interdisciplinary treatment team members in the development and implementation of treatment goals and interventions
• The content and documentation of treatment plans and progress notes must be consistent with professional standards - guidelines - and agency policies
• Must possess a working knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses - disabilities - and treatment procedures - including acute - chronic and traumatic illnesses - common medications and their effects/side effects - and medical terminology
• Must facilitate action for community placements through collaboration with veterans - their families and caregivers as well as interdisciplinary treatment team members to ensure that appropriate community placements are completed in a timely manner
• Community placements can involve but are not limited to referrals to contract nursing homes - Community Living Centers - residential care homes - inpatient and outpatient hospice services
• The incumbent must possess a high level of ability in the use of assessments - forms - and processes needed to facilitate placement (.e.g. - Form 10-10 EC) The incumbent must possess the knowledge - skills - and abilities needed to refer veterans to VA programs
• This includes but not limited to the following programs: Homemaker I Home Health Aide - Veterans Directed - Medical Foster Home - Community Residential Care - Community Nursing Home
• The incumbent must possess a high level of ability in the use of assessments - forms - and processes needed to facilitate placement
• Must serve as a liaison between veterans - their families and caregivers and VA and community resources in order to ensure thorough delivery of social work services
• Must be available to provide consultation to other treatment teams and staff members regarding psychosocial needs of veterans - their families and caregivers and the impact of the identified psychosocial problems on health care planning and motivation to work toward personal health and wellness goals
• Must maintain knowledge of Veteran's benefits and services - community resources - and process for making appropriate referrals to community and other governmental programs or agencies
• Work Schedule: 8:00am - 4:30pm - Monday - Friday Recruitment Incentive (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: Ad-Hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #:70918-F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,321 health care facilities, including 172 VA Medical Centers and 1,138 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics) to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. VHA Medical Centers provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy. In addition, most of our medical centers offer additional medical and surgical specialty services including audiology & speech pathology, dermatology, dental, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, podiatry, prosthetics, urology, and vision care. Some medical centers also offer advanced services such as organ transplants and plastic surgery.