The Inpatient Medicine/Surgery (Med/Surg) Social Worker is aligned under the Acute and Ambulatory Care (AAC) Social Work department. This requires direct patient care in the inpatient units, with encounters at the patient's bedside and care coordination with the assistance of caregivers, family, and friends. The position requires possessing or developing an understanding of and sensitivity to the special needs of all patients. in respect to age, developmental requirements.
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 Master of Social Work. English Language Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). 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 SW Licensure Summary by State. 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). Grandfathering Provision. The following is the standard grandfathering policy for all title 38 hybrid qualification standards. Please review the qualification standard to determine the specific education and/or licensure/certification/registration requirements that apply to this occupation. All persons employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education and licensure or certification that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: Employees in an occupation that requires a licensure or certification, may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation. If an employee who was retained in an occupation listed in 38 U.S.C. § 7401(3) under this provision leaves that occupation, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation. NOTE: If social workers covered under the grandfathering provision of the 1991 Federal law regarding licensure or certification of VHA social workers leave the GS- 0185 social work series, they lose the grandfathering protection. If they return later to the GS-0185 series, they must be licensed or certified to qualify for employment as a social worker. Grade Determinations: 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. Examples of specialized experience include, but not limited to: assessing and documenting identified behaviors or symptoms of abuse, neglect, exploitation and/or intimate partner violence; use of clinical social work skills and knowledge to maintain patient privacy and confidentiality per policies, handbooks or directives; and acts as an advocate with appropriate community service providers and agencies when it serves the best interest of the patient and family members/caregiver, independently assessing the psychosocial functioning and needs of patients and their family members, identifying the patients strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and psychosocial acuity. Experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment. Senior social workers are experts in their specialized area of practice. In addition to the experience above at the GS-11 level, 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, 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. GS-12 Knowledge Skills and Abilities: 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. Ability to incorporate complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice. 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. 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. 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. Preferred Experience: Have one year experience in a Healthcare setting. Reference: VA HANDBOOK 5005/120, PART II, APPENDIX G3 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-12. Physical Requirements: Physical demands of the work are generally minor and are generally sedentary in nature but may require occasional travel. Physical activity involves sitting, standing, walking, bending, stooping, climbing stairs, and carrying light items such as papers, books, or other supplies. The incumbent uses a computer and standard office equipment to complete tasks. The emotional demands can be stressful in working with the Veteran/Patient population and their families/caregivers. A level of self-awareness is essential.
VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU MAJOR DUTIES: Screening/Assessment The social worker will develop an assessment of the veteran in collaboration with the interdisciplinary treatment team, the veteran, family members and significant others. Coordinating admissions screening with an interdisciplinary team as well as coordinating all aspects of discharge planning. Must have a high level of skill and expertise to work with Veterans and families who are experiencing a wide range of complicated mental, emotional, behavioral, physical, psychosocial, and environmental problems. Provide interventions to increase access to care, including transportation assistance and Advanced Directives, economic assistance, including assistance with medical bills, financial aid services and strategies to increase income (employment, vocational rehabilitation, VA benefits, disability), and/or reduce expenses, find the appropriate housing for the patient's level of need (affordable independent housing, homeless shelters, group and family care homes, Veterans Homes, assisted living, nursing homes, respite care, hospice care) and order necessary services to assist with functional decline. Discharge & Treatment Planning The Inpatient Social Worker must facilitate discharge planning through collaboration with Veterans and their families as well as interdisciplinary treatment team members to ensure that appropriate discharge plans are executed in a timely manner. Must be available to provide consultation to other treatment team and staff members regarding psychosocial needs of Veterans and/or their families and the impact of the identified psychosocial problems on the Veteran's health care planning, compliance with treatment, and discharge planning. Mental Health Counseling/Crisis Intervention Experienced in making rapid assessments and developing crisis management plans for referral to appropriate MH services. Social worker has access to multiple resource directories in addition to previously developed resources to meet the demands in a crisis. Evaluates the need for mental health services and makes appropriate referrals where needed for individual, group, marital, and family treatment services. Care Coordination Throughout the course of treatment, the social worker is the subject matter expert of VA and community resources. Responsible for coordinating admission referrals to the respite program. Must provide consultation and education to Veterans and their families regarding community resources, VA benefits and specialty programs. Assists Veterans and their families with financial matters such as initiating and assisting with completing the 1010-EC as appropriate or with establishing a fiduciary when appropriate. The social worker is responsible for using the current social work resource file of VA and community social service programs and enhancing the content to the benefit of veterans. Advocacy Serves as an advocate for Veterans and their families, helping them access needed services at the facility, at other VA facilities, and in the community. Must be sensitive to the ethnic and cultural diversity and age-specific challenges of the Veteran population and adjusts intervention and treatment plans as appropriate. Clinical Documentation and Consult Management Has working knowledge and skill in the use of word-processing, data management and other computer systems, especially those programs in use by VHA. Timely completion of documentation in accordance with facility policy. Ensures consults are completed within 48 hours of submission. Supervisory Controls The Senior Social Worker practices independently and supervision and consultation is of an administrative and consultative nature. Customer Service Requirement Meet the needs of customers while supporting VA missions; consistently communicate and treat customers (veterans, their representatives, visitors, and all VA staff) in a courteous, tactful, and respectful manner; provide customer with consistent information per established policies and procedures; and handle conflict and problems in dealing with customers constructively and appropriately. AGE, DEVELOPMENT, AND CULTURAL NEEDS OF PATIENTS REQUIREMENT Age-specific care that is appropriate to the cognitive, emotional, cultural, and chronological maturation needs of the patient. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm. Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 00000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized