Senior Social Worker (PACT)

Job Title

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Primary Duties

Administrative Duties

Leading daily huddles and reporting outcomes

Leading all PACT Social Workers in reviewing and monitoring high-risk Veterans in need of case management, utilizing high-risk identifiers such as CAN scores and Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions, and assigning work based on these identifiers

Reviewing and supporting revisions of policy, procedures, and practice guidelines pertaining to service delivery, and reporting recommendations

Expanding clinical social work knowledge through consultation and guidance to colleagues and role-modeling effective social work practice skills

Mentoring less experienced social workers and collaborating with the Social Work Supervisor and Senior Social Workers to facilitate orientation of new employees, acting as clinical expert in case consultation, and maintaining the PACT SW onboarding document as a current resource

Coordinating PACT Social Worker coverage of the Emergency Department (ED) during normal business hours, including training PACT Social Workers on ED coverage and educating ED staff on how to contact Social Work for assistance

Working with the Social Work Supervisor to develop best practices ensuring consistency and excellence in social work practice within assigned areas(s)

Representing VA Social Work at community meetings, workshops, and conferences, and actively nurturing new community partnerships

Mentoring or serving as a field instructor for trainees, and providing clinical supervision for social work licensure or certification

Clinical Duties

Establish/ maintain effective therapeutic relationships with Veterans in the Primary Care Clinic and/or their families, working independently with Veterans and families experiencing complex medical, psychiatric, emotional, behavioral, financial, legal, and psychosocial problems, often over a series of visits

Assessing suicide/homicide risk factors using standardized and validated measures, identifying protective factors, interpreting safety and recommended level of care, and collaborating with the Suicide Prevention program for Veterans at increased risk

Providing immediate psychosocial assessments to individuals and families presenting to the Emergency Department, consultation to ED staff, and assistance with creating an appropriate plan of care

Independently completing thorough psychosocial assessments to determine psychosocial functioning and needs, utilizing assessments to facilitate the Veteran's maximum use of treatment, and documenting interventions using the national template Social Work notes

Leading interdisciplinary treatment team discussion on social work needs and collaborating with Veterans, families, and treatment team members in developing and implementing treatment goals and interventions

Maintaining working knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities, and treatment procedures, including acute, chronic, and traumatic illnesses, substance use disorders, common medications and their effects/side effects, and medical terminology

Work Schedule: Full-time, Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm

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: Ad-hoc according to Agency policy

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: 517-260563-F

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized