Social Worker-Community Nursing Home (CNH)

Summary

This position is located within the Orlando VA Healthcare System - a Level 1a facility - which provides a state-of-the-art continuum of services - education and resources to Veterans and caregivers of Veterans with complex needs. Incumbent will report to the Viera VA Clinic in Viera - Florida (other locations may be negotiated dependent on space availability).

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
• English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f)
• 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
• 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.] 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
• 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: In addition to meeting the basic requirements stated above - the following qualifications criteria must be met in determining the appropriate grade assignment of candidates
• GS-11 (Full-Performance Level) Experience and Licensure: Appointment to the GS-11 grade level requires completion of a minimum of one (1) 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 (1) year of professional social work experience in a clinical setting
• While we no longer require essay-style responses to our Knowledge's Skills - Abilities - and Other Characteristics (KSAOs) - you must be able to demonstrate that you possess the (below) competencies which are necessary to perform the work of the position
• Please ensure your resume/CV/application contains sufficient information to support the level of experience/education/training
• otherwise - we will not be able to award you credit for the experience/education/training you claim
• These are the KSA's for this subject position: 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
• Preferred Experience: Ability to perform comprehensive assessments - discharge planning - and engaging in client advocacy
• Candidates should be able to work independently while offering psychosocial support to Veterans and their families with complex health and/or mental health needs - as well as delivering short-term - solution-focused care coordination
• Experience in identifying - obtaining - and coordinating resources and facilitating appropriate referrals is also preferred
• Additional preferred qualifications include two or more years of post-licensure clinical experience and prior work in settings serving older adults (Geriatrics and Extended Care Programs - skilled nursing facilities - etc.)
• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing
• Physical Requirements: The incumbent must be in overall good health - able to sit at a desk working at a computer - engage in light to moderate physical activity including sitting - walking - bending - and carrying supplies
• The incumbent must be able to perform primarily light and sedentary duties with occasionally moderate physical demands with reasonable accommodation - if necessary - without endangering the health and safety of others
• Position requires walking throughout the clinic and/or Medical Center - standing for extended periods of time - and involves sitting at a computer and in counsel and consultation with Veterans and interdisciplinary teams
• Position requires regular and recurring periods of standing - walking - lifting - accessing transportation - and driving a government car or van
• Work requires being physically able to lift and carry objects up to 15 pounds - conducting street outreach in the community in the extreme heat and unpredictable inclement weather of Central Florida - walking a moderate to high distance to obtain a government vehicle and to make contact with Veterans for face-to-face visits as a part of outreach efforts - ability to climb and descend several flights of stairs - and to maintain an individual level of self-preservation in the community
• Ability to drive/operate government vehicle.

Duties

• The CNH Social Worker independently performs case finding functions and outreach - identifying and screening patients for psychosocial needs
• Incumbent must possess the knowledge and ability to independently implement treatment modalities - provide counseling or psychotherapy for individuals - families and groups
• The CNH Social Worker independently conducts psychosocial assessments and develops treatment plans in collaboration with the Veteran/family and with the interdisciplinary treatment team
• Incumbent possesses the skills to offer psychosocial interventions and measures outcomes to interventions
• The Incumbent is able to coordinate community-based services - including information and referral for additional services from other VA programs - recertification for continuation of VA authorized community-based services - other government programs - and community agency programs
• The CNH Social Worker has general knowledge of Veterans' benefits and services relating to special programs - service-connected compensation - and non-service connected pension
• Incumbent facilitates referrals based upon Veterans needs and eligibility
• The CNH Social Worker independently identifies high-risk patients and provides case management services
• Incumbent provides crisis intervention services - seeking to address the cause as well as the presenting complaint - coordinates family conferences and serves as liaison to family members
• He/she has working knowledge and experience in use of medical and mental health diagnoses - disabilities and treatment procedures
• This includes acute - chronic and traumatic illnesses/injuries - and medical terminology
• Work Schedule: Monday through Friday 07:30am - 04:00pm 08:00am - 04:30pm Virtual: This is not a virtual position Telework: Ad-hoc/Situational-Occasional - Non-routine Functional Statement #: 80031F VA Careers - Social Work: Travel/Driving: 50% or less of the job duties will require driving

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.