Summary

The incumbent is assigned to the Grand Island Home Based Primary Care Clinic. The social worker must use a high level of skill in assessing and treating the complicated psychosocial problems of Veterans. Responsibilities include the initial - interim - and annual assessment of psychosocial problems. The social worker will provide ongoing provision of services often at a time when the veteran is experiencing crisis and include the provision of short-term - solution-focused counseling with veterans.

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
• English Language Proficiency: Social workers must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005 - Part II - chapter 3 - section A - paragraph 3j - this part
• Education Requirement: Master of Social Work: Applicants must have a master's degree in social work from a school of social work fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education
• Note: 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
• COPY OF TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED
• Licensure Requirement: Appointment at the GS-11 Full Performance Level: Persons hired or reassigned to full performance 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
• OR Appointment at the GS-9 (Entry or Developmental Level): 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
• 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-9 (Entry Level): Experience and Licensure: None beyond the basic requirements
• 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
• Most states require two years of post-MSW experience as a prerequisite to taking the licensure/certification exam - and VHA gives social workers one additional year to pass the licensure/certification exam
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities: In addition to the experience above - the applicant's resume 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 (Full Performance Level): 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 - the applicant's resume 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
• All qualifying experience you possess must be clearly described in your application package
• We will not make assumptions when reviewing applications
• Failure to demonstrate your experience in your resume may result in disqualification
• It is strongly recommended that you write to each KSA in your application package
• 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-9 to GS-11
• Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position
• Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.

Duties

• Major duties include - but are not limited to the following: Screening/Assessment - The social worker will complete an assessment of the veteran in collaboration with the interdisciplinary treatment team - the veteran - family members and significant others
• The goal of the assessment is to identify needs and formulate a plan to meet those needs
• The social worker demonstrates an understanding of the range of treatment and skills needed for all adult patients including geriatric patients related to their physical limitations - psychological needs and age associated illnesses and conditions
• The social worker must understand the problems of advancing age and respect for the diversification of the aging veteran population - being sensitive to human growth and development - age-appropriate needs and concerns of the geriatric veteran and be able to provide current and advanced techniques to the treatment of this veteran population
• Treatment Planning/Goal Setting - The social worker is responsible for contributing to the development of the treatment plan and setting achievable treatment goals with the veteran and family members/caregiver
• Referral to service providers - Throughout the course of treatment - the social worker is the subject matter expert on VA and/or community resources
• The social worker will collaborate with other service providers in reassessing the veteran's needs
• Resource Usage/Development - The social worker is responsible for possessing expert knowledge of and using VA and community social service programs to enhancing the benefits of veterans
• Advocacy - The social worker understands the intimidation of bureaucracy and will act as an advocate when it serves the best interest of the veteran and family members/caregiver
• Crisis Intervention -The social worker is experienced in making rapid assessments and developing crisis management plans
• In the event of a medical or psychiatric emergency - staff will follow the protocols established for the HBPC clinic and the NWI VA Medical Center
• Education/Health promotion and prevention - The social worker provides education related to VA and community resources - entitlements - Advance Directives/Living Will and will refer veterans and family members/caregiver to the appropriate interdisciplinary team member for identified health education needs
• Advance Care Planning - The social worker will engage in goals of care conversations with veterans and family members/caregivers and assist with completing/updating/documenting these Advance Directives and goals of care conversations
• Coordination of non-institutional and institutional services -The social worker will work with the veteran and family/caregiver as well as the interdisciplinary team to accurately determine the strengths and limitations of each veteran
• Supportive counseling -The social worker will provide the veterans and their family members/caregiver with ongoing supportive counseling
• The purpose of such counseling is to deal with the psychosocial impact of coping with chronic/disabling illness (es) - onset of a catastrophic illness mental illness(es) - etc
• Suicide Risk and Intervention - The social worker will conduct routine suicide risk screens
• comprehensive suicide risk assessments and collaborative safety plans when clinically indicated
• Social Work: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Social-Worker-Career-Flyer.pdf Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: Ad-hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• 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) 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) Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized SLRP: This occupational series is eligible for the Student Loan Repayment Program (SLRP)
• Repayment is limited to $10 -000 annually - up to $60 -000 in lifetime awards
• Participants must sign a service agreement and maintain an acceptable level of performance to remain eligible for this program.