VA Puget Sound Health Care System (VAPSHCS) is a Complexity Level 1a Facility and provides extensive primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary care in outpatient, inpatient, residential and community settings.
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement. BASIC REQUIREMENTS. The basic requirements for employment as a VHA social worker are prescribed by statute in 38 U.S.C. § 7402(b)(9), as amended by section 205 of Public Law 106-419, enacted November 1, 2000. To qualify for appointment as a social worker in VHA, all applicants must meet the following: Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with 38 U.S. Code). 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. 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/. English Language Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). GRADE DETERMINATIONS. In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. Senior Social Worker, GS-12. Experience/Education. 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. Senior social workers have experience that demonstrates possession of advanced practice skills and judgment. Senior social workers are experts in their specialized area of practice. Senior social workers may have certification or other post-masters training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university that includes a defined curriculum/course of study and internship or equivalent supervised professional experience in a specialty. Licensure/Certification. Senior social workers must be licensed or certified by a state at the advanced practice level which included an advanced generalist or clinical examination, unless they are grandfathered by the state in which they are licensed to practice at the advanced practice level (except for licenses issued in California, which administers its own clinical examination for advanced practice) and they must be able to provide supervision for licensure. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) 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. (b) Ability to incorporate complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice. (c) 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. (d) 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. (e) 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. References: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. Physical Requirements: The physical demands of this position require moderate lifting and carrying (15-44 pounds); pushing (up to 6 hours); operation of a motor vehicle; the ability to distinguish basic colors; and hearing (aid may be permitted). Environmental Factors: Work may be performed outside and inside and you must be able to work alone and closely with others.
This Social Worker is assigned to the Caregiver Support Program (CSP) at VA Puget Sound Health Care System in Seattle, Washington with responsibility to provide direct services for Veterans, their families and caregivers. Functions and scope of assigned duties include: Utilize advanced practice skills and judgment in the provision of services provided to caregivers enrolled in program. Know and understand services and benefits available for caregivers from both federal, state and private sector resources and statutes, regulations and policies that govern the program. Stay abreast of current legislation directed at assisting caregivers to continue to provide caregiving in an environment that is safe for both themselves and the Veteran. Comply with Service Line documentation requirements, including standards for timely completion of notes, use of required documentation templates and risk assessment protocols. Adhere to all VAPSHCS and Service Line policies and practices for delivering clinical care, including risk assessment and reduction practices for potentially dangerous behavior (suicide and violence), timeliness of care and access, and professional conduct requirements. Maintain level of productivity and quality consistent with the complexity of assignment and Social Work, The Joint Commission and VA standards. Assist with clinical program development, effectiveness, and modification of service patterns. Use sound judgment in the interpretation of trends and patterns; application of regulation, policy, guidelines; and recommendation of program enhancements. Lead and organize practice and process evaluation to assure continuity and peer accountability. Conduct peer review and other assigned audits. Complete all reports, data, and maintain reporting requirements with outcomes related to the CSP. Provide leadership, direction, orientation, coaching, in-service training, staff development, and continuing education programs. Serve on committees, work groups, and task forces at facility, VISN, and national level or in community which support caregiver issues and needs. Assist with coordination of events and programs for annual National Family Caregivers Month every November, CSP Summit, and other CSP supported activities. Collaborate with and contribute knowledge to a community of practice with the CSP and profession. Maintain a knowledge base of current theory and treatment modalities by reading professional journals, attending conferences, clinic seminars, and teleconferences. Actively participate in CSP conference calls and other relevant conference calls and/or meetings as assigned. Keep supervisor apprised of problems and recommended solutions encountered in area of responsibility. Work Schedule: Mon - Fri, 8:00am to 4:30pm. Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized. 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) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience. 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 #: 000000. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.