This Social Worker is assigned to the Homeless Patient Aligned Care Team (H-PACT) of Social Work Service with responsibility to provide social work services to Veterans receiving care in at the VA Puget Sound Health Care System. The Social Worker provides a variety of services related to psychosocial issues and health care needs with a special focus on Veterans experiencing homelessness.
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement. 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 masters of social work. (COPY OF TRANSCRIPT WITH CONFERRED DATE REQUIRED) Licensure/Certification. 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/. (COPY OF LICENSE REQUIRED FOR GS-11) 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. Failure to Obtain License or Certification. In all cases, social workers must actively pursue meeting state prerequisites for licensure or certification starting from the date of their appointment. Failure to become licensed or certified within the prescribed amount of time will result in removal from the GS-0185 social worker series and may result in termination of employment. 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: Social Worker, GS-9. Experience, Education, and Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Ability to utilize counseling skills when working with Veterans and family members. (b) 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. (c) 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. (d) Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients, staff, and representatives of community agencies. (e) 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. Social Worker, GS-11. 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. NOTE: For appointment licensure or certification at this level please refer to paragraph 3c.OREducation. 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. (COPY OF TRANSCRIPT WITH CONFERRED DATE REQUIRED) 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, educational, and other 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. Specialized and/or Preferred Experience: Candidates will be expected to perform a large part of their work in community settings. Candidates must have an unrestricted State Driver's License and be cleared upon hire to drive a government vehicle for transporting Veterans. 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: Moderate lifting and carrying (15-44lbs); pushing (up to 6 hours); operation of a motor vehicle; the ability to distinguish basic colors; and hearing (aid may be permitted). Environmental factors include working inside and outside, working closely with others and working alone.
Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional CLINICAL: Provides a variety of services for Veterans assigned to the H-PACT specialty clinic,. Provides consultation/education to Veterans and families on community resources and Veterans Administration benefits. Uses their educational training, clinical experience, and knowledge to include that of VA policies and standards in administering direct services to provide psychosocial assessment of patient/family needs in relation to the provision of interdisciplinary treatment planning and service delivery, individual, group, and family counseling, and case management services for the purpose of addressing identified needs and address homelessness. Performs visits to H-PACT Veterans who are dually enrolled in HUD-VASH at project-based facilities and/or in community settings. Coordinates care including serving as an advocate on behalf of Veterans to ensure comprehensive service delivery and linking and referring Veterans to the VA Medical Center, VA Regional Offices, and/or community agencies. Conducts psychosocial assessments to determine needs of Veterans and family members and is an active participant in the treatment planning process with other disciplines and ensures appropriate hand off when transferring of patient care. Acts as a consultant to other team/staff members. Participates in discharge planning with other disciplines (i.e., inpatient units) and is responsible for ensuring that discharge plans are executed in a manner that is timely and appropriate. Conducts routine suicide risk screens, comprehensive assessments, and collaborative safety plans when clinically indicated; follow-up appointments for all Veterans upon initiation on the "High Risk for Potential Suicide List" in compliance with VA Central Office (VACO) directives. Provides wellness/prevention education and facilitate patient/family support groups as appropriate. Assists patients and their significant others with coping and dealing with the loss and grief experiences in disability, terminal illness, and death. Acts as liaison between VA and community resources, to include marketing and public relation duties as needed. Documents social work interventions and patient contact in the patient's clinical record, utilizing the electronic medical record. The incumbent will be expected to perform a large part of their work in community settings. The incumbent must have an unrestricted State Driver's License and be cleared to drive a government vehicle for transporting Veterans. ADMINISTRATIVE: Complies with criminal conflict of interest laws and Executive Branch Standards of conduct to avoid conflicts of interest while serving as the H-PACT Social Worker. Performs accountability functions: 1) documents all contacts, interventions, and activities with patients/families in the electronic medical record; 2) completes statistical and other reports in accordance with VA Medical Center and respective professional discipline/Service level policies and procedures. Actively participates in conference calls, staff meetings, and attends trainings and meetings/calls offered by the HUD-VASH National, VISN, and local programs. Maintains familiarity and responsibility to all performance measures relating to the HPACT Program. Responsible for following local policy and procedures. This includes following policies and documentation requirements as required for CARF and Joint Commission accreditation. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 0800-1630 Recruitment/Relocation Incentive: Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade). 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