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Veterans Health Administration is Hiring a Social Worker (PACT) Near Walla Walla, WA

Qualifications:

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.

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 http://www.cswe.org/Accreditation 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.
  • 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.
  • Loss of Licensure or Certification: Once licensed or certified, social workers must maintain a full, valid, and unrestricted independent license or certification to remain qualified for employment. Loss of licensure or certification will result in removal from the GS-0185 social worker series and may result in termination of employment.
• English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f).

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:

Social Worker, GS-9

Experience/Education: None beyond the basic requirements.

*In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs

1. Ability to work with Veterans and family members from various socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other diversified backgrounds utilizing counseling skills.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients, staff, and representatives of community agencies.
5. 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.

Social Worker, GS-11

Experience/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.

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.

*In addition to the experience above, candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

1. Knowledge of community resources, how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services, and ability to coordinate services.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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 with Geriatric Population, Case Management/Discharge planning. Experience at least 1 year Social Work and/or Home Care experience.

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.

Physical Requirements: This work requires use of fingers, both hands required, to see computer screen and hearing (aid may be permitted) Environmental factors working closely with others and working alone.

Responsibilities:

Social worker assigned to Primary Care Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT). Must use a high level of skill in assessing and treating the complicated psychosocial problems of Veterans and their families. Responsibilities include the assessment of psychosocial problems that cause distress, often impacting the health condition and creating barriers to care. These stressors can include, but are not limited to, adjustment to the current medical condition, untreated or under-treated mental health or substance abuse condition, economic instability, legal problems, and inadequate housing and transportation.

Must complete thorough assessments to determine the underlying causes of the presenting problem, the interpersonal and environmental factors impacting the problem, and its effect on the patient's ability to comply with the treatment recommendations. Will help the patient to understand the contributing factors to the problem. Case management with members of the outpatient interdisciplinary team is provided in order to coordinate a collaborative effort to meet the agreed upon goals for a Veteran's treatment needs and include liaison with community professionals. Services include but are not limited to interventions and referrals to increase access to care, and Advanced Directives, economic assistance, find the appropriate housing for the patient's level of need and order necessary services to assist with functional decline.

• Must have a high level of skill and expertise to establish and maintain effective therapeutic relationships with Veterans in the Primary Care Clinic and their families. Able to independently work with Veterans who are experiencing a wide range of complicated medical, psychiatric, emotional, behavioral, financial, legal and psychosocial problems.
• Must have knowledge of the PACT team approach and the role of each health and allied health care team members.
• Must independently complete thorough psychosocial assessments to determine the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans. Is able to assess functional acuity of the patient and provide appropriate interventions.
• Must actively participate as a member of the interdisciplinary treatment team and actively participate through collaboration with Veterans and family as well as other team members in the development and implementation of treatment goals and interventions.
• Must possess a working knowledge and experience in use of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities, and treatment procedures, including acute, chronic and traumatic illnesses, substance abuse disorders, common medications and their effects/side effects, and medical terminology.
• Must facilitate action for community placements through collaboration with Veterans as well as interdisciplinary treatment team members.
• Must have an understanding of caregiver stressors, ability to conduct caregiver assessment and provide appropriate caregiver specific interventions.
• Must serve as a liaison between Veterans and/or their families and VA and community resources.
• Must possess knowledge and ability to independently implement treatment modalities and evidence-based practices as well as provide educational classes, and supportive groups for Veterans and families. Must be able to use and teach Veterans in the effective use of the My Health Vet (MHV) system. Must possess skill in using computer systems.
• Must provide consultation and education to Veterans and their families regarding community resources, VA benefits and specialty programs, and Advance Directives.
• Must be available to provide consultation to other treatment team and staff members regarding psychosocial needs of Veterans and their families and the impact of the identified psychosocial problems on the Veteran's health care planning and compliance with treatment.
• Must maintain knowledge of Veteran's benefits and services, community resources, and process for making appropriate referrals to community and other governmental programs or agencies.
• Must possess skills and knowledge to provide case management services to Veterans throughout the continuum of care. Able to appropriately utilize principles of human growth and development over the life span and will be able to assist Veterans in coping with the loss and grief experiences.
• Must have knowledge of the signs and symptoms of abuse, neglect and exploitation.
• Must possess and demonstrate ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing with people from varied backgrounds.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8am - 4:30pm
Compressed/Flexible:Not Available
Telework: Ad-Hoc
Virtual: This is not a virtual position
Functional Statement #: 000000
Relocation Incentives: Not Authorized
EDRP Authorized: Contact V20compensationteam@va.gov or VHAEDRPProgramSupport@va.gov for questions/assistance. Learn more
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Job Summary