The Social Worker is assigned to a Community Living Center (CLC) at the Lake City VA Medical Center within the North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System (NF/SGVHS) and is aligned under Social Work Service. The responsibilities include the assessment of mental health and psychosocial problems for Veterans admitted for short term rehabilitation or long term care.
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: You must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f). Education: You must possess 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. Note: A doctoral degree in Social Work may NOT be substituted for the master's degree in Social Work. Licensure: You must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level. For assignments at the GS-9 level, VHA may waive the licensure or certification requirement for persons who are otherwise qualified, pending completion of state prerequisites for licensure/certification examinations. 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: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates: GS-9 Social Worker Experience, Education, and Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements. 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. While we no longer require essay-style responses to our Knowledge's Skills, Abilities, and Other Characteristics (KSAOs), you must be able to demonstrate that you possess the (below) competencies which are necessary to perform the work of the position. Please ensure your resume/CV/application contains sufficient information to support the level of experience/education/training; otherwise, we will not be able to award you credit for the experience/education/training you claim. These are the KSA's for this subject position: GS-9 Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Ability to utilize counseling skills when working with Veterans and family members. 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 Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 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, 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. 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: The work requires extreme patience and controlling of emotions. Day-to-day work involves sitting, walking, standing, and carrying light objects. Work is typically performed in a clinical setting that exposes the Social Worker to communicable diseases common to the medical setting. Able to meet the physical demands of the position, reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The Social Worker must have good manual dexterity. Must be able to express or exchange ideas by means of spoken and written word. Must be able to view and read information on computer screens. The job entails walking, standing, bending, pushing, traveling among several different stories/floors, sitting, working on a computer, carrying objects. Some job duties include working with Veterans with cognitive disorders or traumatic brain injury requiring the Social Worker to be vigilant regarding safety of self and others.
The CLC Social Worker is responsible for completing assessments, facilitating Goals of Care Conversations, facilitating completion of Advance Directives, discharge planning, providing crisis intervention services, and providing ongoing behavioral health interventions to Veterans and their families at the Lake City VA Community Living Center (CLC ) neighborhoods. The Lake City VA CLC consists of four neighborhoods, including a 40-bed Short Term Rehabilitation neighborhood, a 40-bed Long Term Care neighborhood, a 30-bed secure Dementia Care neighborhood, and a 15-bed Hospice and Palliative Care neighborhood. Veterans may be admitted for short term rehabilitation or long-term care. Clinical work may include the provision of short-term solution-focused or problem-solving focused evidence-based interventions, support groups and counseling/psychotherapy (appropriate to level of licensure). Work is conducted in collaboration with interdisciplinary treatment teams and with Veterans and/or their caregivers. Duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to: Requiring basic knowledge of human development and behavior (physical and psychological), and the differential influences of the environment, society, and culture. Additionally, has 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 for the purpose of ensuring a comprehensive assessment of biopsychosocial barriers to health and well-being. Conducting psychosocial assessments to evaluate the needs of patients and their family members to formulate and implement a treatment plan, identifying the patient's problems, strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and assistance needed. Evaluating outcomes of interventions for a wide variety of individuals from various socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other diversified backgrounds. Working with patients and families/caregivers who are experiencing emotional, medical, social, and behavioral/mental health problems utilizing individual, group, and family psychotherapy skills appropriate to level of licensure. Reviewing and coordinating all phases of continuing care for Veterans served while they are an inpatient as well as providing a handoff to the Veteran's assigned PACT, Specialty Clinic and/or other appropriate Clinical Social Worker for follow up post discharge. Facilitating referrals based upon the Veteran's needs and eligibility. Serving as liaison to community agencies and networks with agency representatives. Understanding the complexities of the medical system, recognizing and understanding the intimidation of bureaucracy, and acting as an advocate when needed to serve the best interest of the Veteran and family members/caregiver. Remaining up to date on the community social service programs available to ensure the Veteran is receiving education and information about, and referrals to current, viable resources to best meet their needs. Completing crisis assessments, developing and executing crisis management plans in a timely, effective and efficient manner. Effectively negotiating crisis situations, utilizing supportive, problem solving, and/or crisis intervention techniques. Collaborating in the performance improvement processes and complying with performance measures as required by the VA for their specific population and/or program. Establishing and maintaining positive, professional working relationships with internal and external stakeholders and communicating effectively, both orally and in writing, with people from varied backgrounds. Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf 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 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) Telework: Not available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement # 51186F & 51187F Social Worker (Geriatrics and Extended Care)