Social Worker - Community Residential Care Program and Medical Foster Home

The Community Residential Care and Medical Foster Home Case Manager Social Worker provides clinical evidence-based services such as assessments and interventions, Veteran, family, sponsor, and staff education, and care management across the spectrum of healthcare. The incumbent will collaborate with both programs to identify and recruit residents that meet the program guidelines and may also provide support to other Geriatrics and Extended Care programs as needed.

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 http://www.cswe.org/Accreditation to verify that the social work degree meets the 4 accreditation standards for a masters of social work. (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED)
• 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 http://vaww.va.gov/OHRM/T38Hybrid/.
  • 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 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. For the GS-11 grade level and above, the candidate must be licensed or certified.

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, 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:
  • Ability to utilize a Veteran centric approach when providing interventions and counseling for Veterans, their family members, caregivers, and survivors.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients, staff, and representatives of community agencies.
  • 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 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. 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 of social work may be substituted for the required one year of professional social work experience in a clinical setting. (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED)
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
  • 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, educational, and other 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, 8 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.

Preferred Experience:
GS-09:

• Fully licensed at a Master's Level
• Former VA Trainee
• Prior experience in a similar role or with the population served

GS-11:

• EBP Certification
• Prior experience in a similar role or with the population served
• Clinical supervision certification
• Quality or utilization management experience
• Former VA trainee
• Licensed to practice at the independent practice level

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

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-09 to GS-11.

Physical Requirements: Light to moderate lifting (up to 44 lbs); light to moderate carrying (up to 44 lbs); reaching above shoulder; use of fingers; both hands required; walking (6 hours); standing (6 hours); repeated bending (2-4 hours); operation of motor vehicle; ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; Far vision 20/30; ability to distinguish basic colors; hearing (aid may be permitted); emotional and mental stability; sit for extended periods; performs independently; cognitive stability.

Responsibilities:

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

Major duties include but are not limited to:

• Providing case management and support to residents of the CRC/MFH programs and the sponsors/caregivers.
• Identifying the psychosocial needs, strengths and limitations of both current participants of the CRC/MFH programs as well as Veterans being referred to CRC and MFH through an individual clinical assessment of the Veteran.
• Educating Veterans, their families and program stakeholders, as well as caregivers/sponsors on upcoming appointments during each visit.
• Reaching out to Veterans/sponsors to review missed clinic appointments, consults or labs in a timely manner and identify any barriers to attending appointments and assist Veteran/sponsor with rescheduling necessary appointments.
• Completing assessments via face-to-face interactions with program participants during monthly visits in the CRC or MFH setting. The assessment will include but is not limited to the following: satisfaction with the home, financial concerns, family concerns, and any other issues that impact Veteran satisfaction in the home.
• Working within the respective CRC or MFH teams to provide care management and coordination of care.
• Maximizing psychosocial functioning, foster healthy adaptations to complex medical conditions, promote positive coping strategies, enhance quality of life, and improve health outcomes through incorporating clinical social work interventions.
• Providing a wide range of interventions and treatment modalities which may include individual or group counseling or psychotherapy.
• Independently formulating and implementing a treatment plan including measurable, achievable goals identifying the Veterans' independence, health, and well-being.
• Completing the Columbia Suicide Severity Risk Scale (C-SSRS) annually or more often as indicated, the Comprehensive Suicide Risk Evaluation, and a Safety Plan via shared template in the Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS) on all patients at intake, with Veterans with suicidal ideation and on any Veteran whose record is flagged "High Risk for Suicide." Additionally, completes the Suicide Behavior and Overdose Report (SBOR) as clinically indicated.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized
Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases
Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year)
Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience.
Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.
Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66.
Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA
Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)
Telework: This position is eligible for ad-hoc telework. To be discussed during the interview process.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: PD55523F and PD55522F
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Salary : $417