Recruitment Incentive approved for highly qualified candidates The incumbent is accountable to the Primary Care Social Work Supervisor in carrying out operational functions described above. The incumbent has clinical involvement in patient care by providing clinical case consultation to patient/family/community inquiries about services or patient care issues. The incumbent is expected to provide cross coverage as needed. 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 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. 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. Grade Determinations: GS- 9 Grade Requirements: (a) Experience, Education, and Licensure: None beyond the basic requirements. (b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Ability to work with Veterans and family members from various socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other diversified backgrounds utilizing counseling skills. 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. GS-11 Grade Requirements: (a) 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 non-VA experience) and licensure or certification in a state at the independent practice level; OR (b) 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. (c) 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, cultural, ethnic, educational and other diversified 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, 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: Prefer licensed at the independent social work license. Physical Requirements: Persons selected for employment shall meet the physical and mental fitness requirements necessary for the safe and efficient performance of the duties and responsibilities of this position. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Services. References: VA Handbook 5005/120 Part II Appendix G39. ["VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU Major duties include, but are not limited to the following: a). Psychosocial Assessment: The social worker will complete an assessment of the veteran's family, economic, community, and psychosocial support systems when clinically indicated. The assessments must reflect a high level of skill in gathering, analyzing, interpreting, and documenting data that is pertinent and directly related to patient health care planning, treatment, education and case management. The veteran, family members, significant others and the interdisciplinary treatment team are involved in this process, whenever possible. The goal of the communication is to highlight the veteran's strengths, limitations, and internal/external supports and service needs in order to optimize the veteran's functional status and safely maintain the veteran in his/her home. b). Treatment Planning/Goal Setting: Social Worker demonstrates basic knowledge of psychosocial treatment modalities and demonstrates the ability to implement treatment modalities when working with individuals, families, and groups to achieve treatment goals. The social worker is responsible for developing a treatment PACT Social Work GS-9 plan and setting achievable treatment goals with the veteran/family in collaboration with the primary care interdisciplinary treatment team members when indicated. Social Worker demonstrates basic knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities, and treatment procedures to include acute, chronic and traumatic illnesses/injuries; common medications and their effects/side/effects; and basic medical terminology. Social worker will provide the Veterans and their Caregivers with ongoing psychotherapy (group and/or individual) and/or supportive counseling when appropriate. c). Referral to service providers: The social worker is responsible for educating the Veteran and/or Caregiver of the available services and assisting them in establishing the appropriate referrals based on the Veteran's preference or that of his/her surrogate decision-maker. The social worker is responsible for developing a resource file of VA and community social service programs and will refer the Veteran to needed services. Social worker understands the intimidation of bureaucracy and will act as an advocate when it serves the best interest of the Veteran/family. When appropriate and feasible, social worker will educate and encourage the Veteran/family to advocate for themselves, thus fostering a sense of independence and empowerment. d). Crisis Intervention: Social worker is expected to make rapid assessments and developing crisis management plans to maintain patient in the home, for admission to acute, short term and/or long term placements. Social worker has access to multiple resource directories in addition to previously developed resources to meet the demands of a crisis. In the event of a medical or psychiatric emergency, staff will follow the protocol of the Medical Center. e). Education/Health promotion and prevention: Social worker provide education related to VA and community resources, entitlements, Advance Care Planning and will refer Veterans/families to the appropriate interdisciplinary team member for identified health education needs. Social worker will provide the Veterans and their caregivers with ongoing supportive counseling. f). Administrative responsibilities: The social worker will enter all Veteran/family contacts in the electronic record using appropriate formats and templates. The incumbent completes Clinical Reminders and interfaces with mental health to ensure integrated delivery of services. The social worker will establish and maintain positive working relationships with employees, volunteers, consumers and stakeholders within the VA and outside community agencies. Social Worker will attend all meetings (weekly interdisciplinary treatment team meetings, Social Work staff meetings, assigned committees, etc.) and perform other duties as required by the Social Work Service and in the CBOC Primary Care area. The social worker will collaborate in the performance improvement process and comply with performance measures as required by the VA for their specific population and/or program and for Social Work Service. This work will include referring cases to Protected Peer Review and Intensive Case Review. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday; 0730am-4:00pm.\nTelework: AD HOC Basis only; will discuss at interview.\nVirtual: This is not a virtual position.\nRecruitment Incentives: Incentive approved for highly qualified candidates\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required"]