Social Worker- Inpatient Medicine

Incumbent serving as the Inpatient Medicine/Surgical Unit Social Worker is responsible for serving veterans on the Inpatient Medicine/Surgical Units in the Nursing and Social Work Case Management service line at the Kansas City VA Medical Center. They will provide direct patient care services to Veterans on the inpatient medicine and surgical unit. Basic Requirements United States Citizenship: 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. In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. Master's degree in Social Work Have a master's degree in social work from a school 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 social work. Licensed. 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 SW Licensure Summary by State. 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 the basic requirements stated above, the following qualification criteria must be met for each grade. The candidate's qualifications must clearly demonstrate the level of competence required for the grade. Social Worker, GS-09 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 work with Veterans and family members from various socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other diversified backgrounds utilizing counseling skills.
• 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.

[Entry Level] Assignments. Individual assigned at the GS-9 grade level social workers are considered to be at the entry level and are closes supervised, as they are not yes functioning at the independent practice level conferred by independent licensure or certification. Social workers at the GS-9 grade level are typically assigned ot program areas that do not require specialized knowledge or experience. Social Worker, GS-11 Experience and Licensure. Appointment to the GS-11 grade level requires completion 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 or 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, cultural, ethnic, educational and other diversified backgrounds.
• c) Knowledge of medical and mental health diagnosis, disabilities and treatment procedures (i.e. acute, chronic and traumatic illnesses/injuries, common medications and their effects/side effects, and medical terminoloy) 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, 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 healthcare and compliance with treatment.

Note: KSAs must be clearly reflected in your resume under description of duties to be found qualified for this position/grade level. Preferred Experience: Inpatient medicine/surgical unit experience Military veteran experience and/or military service members Hospital social work experience Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-9 or GS-11. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Services #J-18808-Ljbffr US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair