The Senior Social Worker is responsible for providing clinical case management to adult and geriatric veterans assigned to the GeriPACT clinic. This population has serious health, mental health and crisis needs and may lack familial and community support, be poor self-monitors, fail to adhere to treatment and/or have major deficits in coping skills requiring continuing formal support. 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. Current state requirements may be found by going to http://vaww.va.gov/OHRM/T38Hybrid/. NOTE: Licenses from the state of Alabama no longer meet VA regulatory requirements for independent licensure. If you are licensed in the State of Alabama, you must also be licensed at the Independent Level in another state. Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. English Language Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). Preferred Experience: GS-12 Two years of Medical Social Work/Case Management experience including experience in working with Veterans/Families and caregivers. Certification in Advance Case Management or Certified Case Manager (CCM) preferred/if available. Must be familiar with local community agencies and resources. Counseling experience including individual and group. Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade level. Senior Social Worker, GS-12 Experience and 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. Licensure/Certification. Individuals assigned Senior Social Worker must be licensed or certified at the advanced practice level and must be able to provide supervision for licensure. NOTE: Licenses from the state of Alabama no longer meet VA regulatory requirements for independent licensure. To qualify for the assignment of Senior Social Worker at the GS-12 level, you must have 2 years of experience at the advanced practice level, earned while having an active, unrestricted advanced practice license in a U.S. state or territory other than Alabama. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate 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. This includes individual, group, and/or family counseling or psychotherapy and advanced level psychosocial and/or case management. (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 Physical Requirements: There are no set physical requirements for this position. Use of eyes, hands, walking/standing and hearing may be needed to perform some functions. Mental, emotional, and cognitive stability are required. References: VA Handbook 5005/120 Part II Appendix G39, September 10, 2019 The grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-12. ["VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU The Senior Social Worker provides a full range of social work services within commonly accepted standards of social work practice which include psychosocial assessment of patient/family needs; behavioral health assessments and diagnosis as per the current DSM; individual, group, and family counseling; casework services for the purpose of addressing identified needs; intensive case management services; evaluation/consultation; placement services; referrals to various community agencies and hospital services; discharge planning; advocacy; supportive services to veterans, their families, caregivers and/or significant others and other services as appropriate. The Senior Social Worker: is a practitioner providing direct patient care both in the clinic and home/community site visits. is a member of the GeriPACT interdisciplinary treatment team meeting for regularly scheduled team meetings develops the psychosocial treatment component of the overall treatment plan works collaboratively with medicine and specialty clinics to further the VA mission in providing exceptional health care to improve the health and well-being of veterans assists veterans, families and significant others cope with the crisis of illness, maximizing interpersonal and social functioning, providing education to veterans and interdisciplinary team members on the psychosocial impact of illness and disease progression. ensures the plan of care addresses, in an interdisciplinary manner, the biopsychosocial status of severely disabled, frail, and/or older persons at risk for further decline and institutional placement, with the intention of optimizing their health, function and ability to live with the greatest degree of independence suitable for their situation. coordinates communication with veterans, families or significant others including appropriate team members to facilitate effective communication of the team plan. develops a system to identify and educate staff regarding Veterans who will benefit from the program. This involves use of the Patient Treatment File searches, Veterans Health Information System, and Technology Archive (VISTA) and Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS). develops a plan to identify potential problems with the GeriPACT program and works with quality management staff to ensure that national guidelines are met. participates in the daily operation of the GeriPACT and provides accountability for program effectiveness and modification of service patterns to enhance customer satisfaction. addresses Advance Directives, Organ Donation, Guardianship/Fiduciary status and Goals of Care conversations in accordance with the standards of the work area. provides wellness/prevention education and facilitate Patient/family support groups as appropriate. assists patients and their significant others with coping and dealing with the loss and grief experiences in disability, terminal illness and death. documents social work interventions and activities in patient's clinical record utilizing CPRS. Documentation will be completed promptly and accurately per policy and/or procedures. ensures appropriate hand off when transferring patient care. offers consultation to colleagues, social work students, residents, interns, and fellows from other disciplines regarding the psychosocial treatment of patients, rendering professional opinions based on experience and expertise and role modeling effective social work practice skills. Teaches and mentors staff and students in the special area of practice and to provide supervision for licensure or specialty certifications. participates and prepares reports and statistics for facility, VISN, and national use. utilizes data regarding day-to-day functioning and program evaluation. ensures the GeriPACT program is in compliance with VHA directives and care is rendered pursuant to the guidance of Clinical Practice Guidelines. may be required, at times, to work an irregular tour of duty depending on the needs of the service. follows the Suicide Risk Assessment protocol on all patients with suicidal ideation and on any patient whose record is flagged \"High Risk for Suicide.\" may be required to drive a government and/or personal vehicle during the course of their duties to provide service to veteran's in the community Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM Compressed/Flexible: May be authorized Telework: Ad-Hoc telework may be authorized. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]
The Veterans Health Administration is America’s largest integrated health care system, providing care at 1,298 health care facilities, including 171 medical centers and 1,113 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics), serving 9 million enrolled Veterans each year.
