Social Worker

Summary The Acute Care Medical/Surgical Social Worker functions as a key member of the interdisciplinary healthcare team - providing professional social work services to Veterans and their families within the acute medical/surgical inpatient setting at the William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital in Madison - WI. 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 3 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 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 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 Grade Determinations: 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 Licensure bullet 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 - 7 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 Preferred Experience: Working on integrated multi-disciplinary teams teams (i.e PCMHI - BHIP - etc.) - and prior experience delivering services related to Substance Use Disorders (SUD) Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11 Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 - Employee Occupational Health Services. Duties VA Careers - Social Work: Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional The Acute Care Medical/Surgical Social Worker functions as a key member of the interdisciplinary healthcare team - providing professional social work services to Veterans and their families within the William S Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital in Madison - WI They are responsible for comprehensive psychosocial assessments - treatment planning - crisis intervention - discharge planning - and coordination of care The social worker addresses the complex needs of patients facing acute illness - hospitalization - and related challenges - ensuring that the psychosocial - emotional - and resource needs of Veterans are identified and addressed They collaborate closely with optimize resources - and promote continuity of care following discharge 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 mental health or other Social Work-related settings - (VA or non-VA experience) and licensure or certification in a state at the independent practice level (September 10 - 2019 - VA Handbook 5005/120 - PART II APPENDIX G39 - II-G39-7) To practice independently in this position - the Social Worker has an independent clinical Social Work license from the state If hired with less than one year of post graduate degree experience or without a license or certification - the Social Worker would be considered for promotion after obtaining certification or licensure at the independent practice level A doctoral degree in Social Work may not be substituted for the the master's degree in social work This can be substituted for the required one year of professional Social Work experience in a clinical setting Individuals assigned as GS-11 Social Workers are at the full performance level A GS-11 Social worker has a Master of Social Work Degree granted by a graduate program fully accredited by the council on Social Work Education (CSWE) Work Schedule: Monday to Friday 8:00am to 4:30pm with rotating weekends and holidays EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive Contact - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance Learn more 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: Telework Eligible: Ad Hoc telework Yes - as determined by the agency policy Virtual: This is not a virtual position Functional Statement #: GS-09 10139F - GS-11 10140F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized #J-18808-Ljbffr