The Primary Purpose of the Position is: The Inpatient Social Worker is a part of the Medicine team which delivers inpatient care to Veteran patients in the inpatient setting. The Social Worker functions as a discharge planner and coordinates care with a multidisciplinary team to ensure that discharge planning needs are in place prior to the Veterans discharge from the inpatient setting. Basic Requirements: Citizenship: Be a citizen of the United States. (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/. 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. 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: GS-11 Social Worker: 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, 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. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of community resources, how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services, and ability to coordinate services. (b) 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. (c) 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. (d) 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. (e) 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: 2 years of case management/discharge planning experience 2 years of experience conducting psychosocial assessments Experience working with an interdisciplinary team Experience providing crisis intervention, goal directed supportive counseling, and grief/bereavement counseling Experience making referrals for community resources such as, but not limited to nursing facilities, group homes, assisted livings, substance abuse treatment, and hospice services References: VA Handbook 5005/120 Appendix G39 dated September 10, 2019 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. Physical Requirements: Light lifting, under 15 pounds; Straight pulling (1 hour); Pushing (2 hours); Reaching above shoulder; Use of fingers; Walking (3 hours); Standing (3 hours); Repeated bending (1 hour); Climbing, use of legs and arms; Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other; Both eyes required; Depth perception; Ability to distinguish colors; Ability to distinguish shades of colors; Hearing (aid may be permitted); Frequent computer keyboarding ["The incumbent must assess and treat the psychosocial problems of Veterans and their families/significant others. Social work responsibilities include the assessment of psychosocial problems that cause distress, often impacting the health condition and creating barriers to care. These stressors can include adjustment to the current medical condition, mental health or substance abuse condition, economic instability, legal problems, and inadequate housing and transportation. The incumbent must complete thorough assessments to determine the underlying cases of the presenting problem(s), the interpersonal and environmental factor impacting the problem, and its effect on the patient's ability and desire to comply with the treatment recommendations by the multidisciplinary team. The social worker will help the patient and family to understand the contributing factors to the problem(s), will discuss with them the pros and cons of possible short-term and long-term solutions, encouraging them to make positive and lasting changes to reduce stressors. The social worker will coordinate with VA staff and community agencies to assist in problems solving as needed. Case management with members of the inpatient 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 regarding needed services for Veterans and/or their families. Must be sensitive to the ethnic, cultural, and age diversity of the Veteran population and adjusts intervention and treatment plans/services as appropriate. Duties include but are not limited to: Must have skills to establish and maintain effective relationships with Veterans and/or their families. The incumbent is able to work with Veterans and their families who are experiencing a wide range of complicated medical, psychiatric, emotional, behavioral, financial, legal, and psychosocial problems. Must have knowledge of the team approach and the role of each health and allied health care team members as well as an underrating of the role of the social worker in the inpatient setting. Must complete thorough comprehensive psychosocial assessments to determine the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and/or their families. The incumbent must be able to utilize this assessment in facilitating the Veteran's maximum use of treatment for attainment of the highest level of independence that is possible and practicable. Must actively participate as a member of the interdisciplinary treatment team and actively participate through collaboration with Veterans and family as well as interdisciplinary treatment team members in the development and implementation of treatment goals and interventions. Must develop knowledge 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 placement through collaboration with Veterans and their families as well as interdisciplinary treatment team members to ensure that appropriate community placements are completed in a timely manner. Community placements can involve but are not limited to referrals to group and family care homes, assisted living facilities, adult day health care programs, contract nursing homes, Community Living Centers, residential care homes, inpatient and outpatient hospice services. Must develop an understanding of caregiver stressors, ability to conduct caregiver assessments and provide appropriate caregiver specific interventions. Must serve as a liaison between Veterans and/or their families and VA and community resources in order to ensure thorough delivery of services. Must develop knowledge and ability to implement treatment modalities and evidence based practices. The social worker must be able to use and teach Veterans in the effective use of My HealtheVet (MHV) system. Must possess skill in using computer systems, especially the internet for Veterans who choose this modality to communicate with the team. Must provide consultation and education to Veterans and their families regarding community resources, VA benefits and specialty programs, and Advance Directives. This includes the incumbent's knowledge of the process for accessing and/or coordinating community-based services, including information and referral for additional services from other VA programs, other government programs, and community programs. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30am - 4:00pm\nTelework: Not Available\nVirtual: This is not a virtual position.\nFunctional Statement #: 000000\nRelocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized\nPermanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required"]