While part of the larger CLC, this position will serve as primary coverage on the inpatient hospice and palliative care unit (1D) as well as serve on the Palliative Care Consult Team. This position will provide services and support to Veterans and their families in a variety of settings (CLC, acute medicine, ICU, outpatient clinic, consult response, etc.) to ensure their hospice and palliative needs are met from both an interdisciplinary team and Social Work perspective.
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: Must possess 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. Grade Determinations: GS-9 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 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. References: VA Handbook 5005 Part II, Appendix G39 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.
VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU Major duties include, but are not limited to: This work includes, but is not limited to, meeting with families upon admission to introduce them to the hospice and palliative care models, completing psychosocial assessments, providing support to Veterans and their families, discharge planning, and providing resource and referrals to include VA and C&P benefits as well as end-of-life benefits and planning. This unique position works with Veterans in both inpatient and outpatient settings. The incumbent will independently perform case finding functions through identifying and screening patients for psychosocial needs. The incumbent must possess the knowledge and ability to independently implement treatment modalities, provide counseling or psychotherapy for individuals, families and groups. They will be skilled in working in complex systems, orchestrating discharge and end-of-life planning services and accessing VA and community resources. The incumbent will independently conduct psychosocial assessments. They will develop treatment plans in collaboration with the Veteran/family and with the interdisciplinary treatment team. The incumbent will participate in MDS completion as required for every CLC patient. The incumbent will possess the skills to offer psychosocial interventions and measures outcomes to interventions. Incumbent will be able to coordinate community-based services, including information and referrals for additional services from other VA programs, other government programs and community agency programs. The incumbent will independently identify high-risk patients and provide case management services when appropriate. They will provide crisis intervention services, coordinate family conferences, and serve as a liaison to Veterans and family members. They will have working knowledge and experience in medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities, and treatment procedures, as well as end-of-life benefits and protocol. They will have medical Social Work knowledge including, but not limited to, acute, chronic and traumatic illnesses/injuries, common medications and their effects/side effects, and medical terminology. The incumbent will establish and maintain effective therapeutic relationships with Veterans and their families. They will function as a critical member of an interdisciplinary team serving Veterans and families who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric, medical, and social problems utilizing individual, group and family counseling and therapy skills. The incumbent will independently evaluate their own practice through professional peer review, case conferences and other organizational means. The incumbent will be able to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with people from varied backgrounds. General knowledge of Veterans' benefits and services relating to special programs, service-connected compensation and non-service connected pension is required. Facilitates referrals based upon Veterans needs and eligibility. The incumbent will serve as a partner within REC to assure the needs of Veterans are met within a variety of care settings. They will also collaborate on service delivery with others throughout the facility, meeting the Veteran where they are at with their care. Services may be offered to Veterans (and their loved ones) who are receiving care in an inpatient setting (e.g medicine, intensive care unit(s), or community living center setting), in outpatient settings, and/or in the community through a partnership with community agencies in nursing home or home-based settings. Bereavement services may be offered to any surviving loved one who has experienced the loss of a Veteran who has been eligible for care through the Minneapolis VA Health Care System. The incumbent will be able to meet the needs of customers while supporting VA missions. They will consistently communicate and treat customers (Veterans, their representatives, visitors, and all VA staff) in a courteous, tactful, and respectful manner. They will be able to provide the customer with consistent information according to established policies and procedures. They will handle conflict and problems in dealing with the consumer constructively and appropriately. They will have working knowledge and skill in the use of word-processing, data management and other computer systems, especially those programs in use by VHA. Work Schedule: 08:00 - 16:30; Monday through Friday Telework: Ad-Hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized