Social Worker

Summary

Social Worker, serves as a member of Social Work Service at the Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center. The Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center is a 1a-High Complexity Facility, that serves over 67,000 unique patients and has 13 off site community clinics, in addition to the homeless team, the community based extended care programs and a 50 bed Domiciliary. This Social Worker is assigned to the HBPC Program, within the Geriatric Community Based Extended Care line, within Social Work Service.

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Duties

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VA Careers - Social Work :

Duties of the Social Worker are to include, but not limited to:

Screening/Assessment - In conjunction with the interdisciplinary treatment team, the HBPC Social Worker screens, assesses and addresses the Veteran's psychosocial needs and barriers in order to provide care management to Veterans as they reside in their homes. Through collaborative relationships with the Veteran, his or her family/caregiver and other VA programs and VA staff, the HBPC Social Worker coordinates the gathering of information vital to the process of completion of the psychosocial portion of the interdisciplinary care plan.

Treatment Planning/Goal Setting - From screening/assessment information, the HBPC Social Worker, in collaboration with the interdisciplinary team, determines realistic goals that consider such factors as a) safety in the home, b) transportation options/barriers, c) financial resources, d) caregiver/family supports and e) the steps to obtaining resources (VA or community) that ensure that the Veteran can maintain in their home as long as possible.

Advance Directive Screening and completion - The HBPC Social Worker will screen Veterans to identify the need to provide education and offer assistance with completing an advance directive.

Referral to service providers - To facilitate the continuity of a Veteran's recovery and enhance their ability to stay in their homes, the HBPC Social Worker will arrange referrals to needed VA and/or community resources (e.g., home health care, services available through area agencies on aging, community support groups, hospice care, Adult Day care, respite, etc.) The HBPC Social Worker will educate the Veteran and/or caregiver about the available services and their shared responsibility in accessing such services. The Veteran's preferences or that of his/her surrogate decision-maker will be considered throughout the referral and care coordination process.

Resource Usage/Development - As a developing subject matter expert on the services and resources available to Veterans through both VA and the community, the HBPC Social Worker will monitor patterns of resource availability, identifying unmet needs and gaps in service delivery. The HBPC Social Worker will communicate with appropriate stakeholders (e.g., the SW Supervisor/Program Coordinator of Community Based Extended Care, the Social Work Chief, the Social Work Professional Practice Council, other VA programs, community partners) to encourage the development of new and innovative resources.

Advocacy - The HBPC Social Worker will advocate for the Veteran to ensure that he or she has access to all needed care and resources within VA and in the community. By availing the Veteran of his or her choices in complex decisions and by guiding the Veteran through complicated enrollment procedures and bureaucratic processes, the HBPC Social Worker facilitates the best possible outcome for the Veteran. When appropriate and feasible, the HBPC Social Worker will educate and encourage the Veteran and his/her family/caregiver to advocate on his/her own behalf, fostering independence and empowerment.

Crisis Intervention - The HBPC Social Worker will assess and intervene in any medical or psychiatric crises presented by the Veteran and participate in developing crisis management and safety plans to minimize the event of future crises. The HBPC Social Worker will work collaboratively with other disciplines on complex cases (i.e. the Psychiatry Consultation Team).

Work Schedule : Monday-Friday 7am-3:30, 7:30am to 4pm, or 8am-4:30pm, No Weekends/Holidays, No on-call

Compressed/Flexible :Not available

Telework : Available

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement # : 91796-0, 91797-0

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives : Not Authorized

Fi nancial Disclosure Report: Not required

Travel : Regular, occasional travel required (within your work schedule); must possess a valid drivers license and be able to operate a government owned vehicle

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

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; Indiana requires Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW).
  
  
  • 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

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:

GS 9 Social Worker (Graduate/developmental):

Experience, Education, and Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements.

In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate, in their resume, 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.

GS 11 Social Worker (full performance level):

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 nonVA experience) and licensure or certification in a state at the independent practice level.

or

Additional 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.

In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate, in their resume, 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 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, 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: experience working with geriatric population and/or providing home-based services to individuals

References: VA Handbook 5005/120 PART II APPENDIX G39

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS 11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS 9 to GS 11.

Promotion Potential : The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level.

Physical Requirements: The physical demands of the position involve standard office requirements such as using the telephone, retrieving files, writing reports, data entry and maintenance of computer databases, etc. Work is typically performed sitting at a desk and using a computer, however much of the work is also in the community/Veterans homes, so the environment can change accordingly. Since the position is community based, the position requires travel and driving a government vehicle, and thus requires a valid drivers license. The position requires periods of walking, standing, sitting and bending.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit:

Additional information

Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process.

Due to COVID-19, VA is currently in an expanded telework posture. If selected, you may be expected to temporarily telework, even if your home is located outside the local commuting area. Once employees are permitted to return to the office, you will be expected to report to the duty station listed on this announcement. Management officials will provide information about returning to the official, pre-pandemic worksite, when applicable. At that time, you may be eligible to request to continue to telework depending upon the terms of your organization's telework policy and the duties of the position.

If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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