Senior Social Worker

Summary The Senior Social Worker serves as a coordinator within the Home and Community Based Care (HCBC) program under Geriatrics and Extended Care Service. The incumbent provides advanced-level clinical social work services and coordinates the daily operations of multiple non-institutional care programs serving Veterans and their caregivers. 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 Current state requirements may be found by going to 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 Senior Social Worker - GS-12 (1) Experience/Education

• The candidate must have at least two years of experience post advanced practice clinical licensure and should be in a specialized area of social work practice of which - one year must be equivalent to the GS-11 grade level
• Senior social workers have experience that demonstrates possession of advanced practice skills and judgment
• Senior social workers are experts in their specialized area of practice
• Senior social workers may have certification or other post‑masters training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university that includes a defined curriculum/course of study and internship or equivalent supervised professional experience in a specialty

(2) Licensure/Certification • Senior social workers must be licensed or certified by a state at the advanced practice level which included an advanced generalist or clinical examination - unless they are grandfathered by the state in which they are licensed to practice at the advanced practice level (except for licenses issued in California - which administers its own clinical examination for advanced practice) and they must be able to provide supervision for licensure (3) Demonstrated Knowledge – Skills – and Abilities • In addition to the experience above - candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

• a) Skill in a range of specialized interventions and treatment modalities used in specialty treatment programs or with special patient populations
• b) Ability to incorporate complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice
• c) Knowledge in developing and implementing methods for measuring effectiveness of social work practice and services in the specialty area - utilizing outcome evaluations to improve treatment services and to design system changes
• d) Ability to provide specialized consultation to colleagues and students on the psychosocial treatment of patients in the service delivery area - as well as role modeling effective social work practice skills
• e) Ability to expand clinical knowledge in the social work profession - and to write policies - procedures - and/or practice guidelines pertaining to the service delivery area

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit . Physical Requirements Light lifting (under 15 pounds) Light carrying (under 15 pounds) Reaching above shoulder Use of fingers Both hands required Walking Standing Hearing (aid permitted) Ability to operate vehicles with frequent travel into the community is required. Duties VA Careers – Social Work: Major duties include - but are not limited to: Coordinates the Contract Adult Day Health Care (CADHC) - Veteran Directed Care (VDC) - Homemaker/Home Health Aide (H/HHA) - and Home Respite programs Provides advanced clinical social work services - case management - care coordination - psychosocial assessment - supportive counseling - crisis intervention - and advocacy for Veterans and their families or caregivers Screens and evaluates Veterans for eligibility and appropriateness for home and community-based services and facilitates timely referrals and placement into appropriate programs Develops - implements - and monitors individualized plans of care in collaboration with Veterans - families - caregivers - interdisciplinary teams - and community providers Monitors Veterans receiving services through contracted community agencies and evaluates their continued need for services - progress toward treatment goals - and overall quality of care Serves as a subject matter expert on VA and community resources - benefits - entitlements - and home and community-based care services Leads and collaborates with multidisciplinary teams responsible for evaluating and monitoring contracted community home care agencies for compliance with established standards of care Investigates and resolves concerns or complaints involving Veterans - families - caregivers - and community agencies and initiates appropriate action to ensure quality and continuity of care Develops and implements program policies - procedures - practice guidelines - quality assurance activities - and performance improvement initiatives Monitors program operations - documentation - workload - data - quality measures - expenditures - and compliance with applicable VA policies - regulations - and standards Prepares and maintains accurate program reports - statistics - workload data - and other information required for facility - VISN - and national reporting Collaborates with leadership regarding program resources - budgetary concerns - service needs - and the development or expansion of community contracts Maintains effective working relationships with VA staff - community agencies - contractors - Veterans - caregivers - and other stakeholders to promote coordinated service delivery Provides consultation - education - guidance - and support to staff - Veterans - families - caregivers - and community partners regarding available services and complex psychosocial needs Provides supportive counseling to Veterans and caregivers coping with chronic or disabling illness - catastrophic illness - loss - grief - terminal illness - and changing levels of care Performs rapid assessments and develops appropriate intervention and crisis management plans for Veterans experiencing medical - psychiatric - psychosocial - or safety-related concerns Documents all Veteran and family contacts - assessments - interventions - treatment plans - and care coordination activities in the electronic health record in accordance with VA policies and professional standards Participates in interdisciplinary treatment team meetings - committees - workgroups - performance improvement activities - and other program or service initiatives Practices independently at the advanced level - exercising professional judgment and expertise in complex clinical and administrative matters involving Veterans and their families or caregivers Work Schedule: Full-time - Monday-Friday - 8:00 am- 4:30 pm Compressed/Flexible: Not available Telework: Ad hoc - after 90 days Virtual: This is not a virtual position Functional Statement #: 11094-F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized #J-18808-Ljbffr Direct Jobs