This Social Worker is assigned to Community Nursing Home Program at VA Puget Sound Health Care System (VAPSHCS) located in Seattle, Washington with responsibility to provide direct services for Veterans, their families and caregivers.
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. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f). 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. (TRANSCRIPTS W/ CONFER DATE REQUIRED) 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/. (COPY OF LICENSE REQUIRED) 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-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. (TRANSCRIPTS W/ CONFER DATE REQUIRED) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the experience above, 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, 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. Preferred Experience: Independent or Advanced Practice SW License; 1+ years experience with Veteran care coordination; 1+ years experience with coordinating referrals to the Community Nursing Home Program; 1+ years experience collaborating with internal VA and external community partners;1+ years experience with educating Veterans/surrogates, internal VA, and external community partners 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. Physical Requirements: light lifting (under 15 lbs), use of fingers, walking, standing, repeated bending, operation of a motor vehicle, ability to distinguish basic colors, and hearing (aid may be permitted). Environmental Factors include working outside and inside, working with hands in water, working with others and working alone.
Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Duties include but are not limited to: Conducts psychosocial assessments to determine needs of Veterans and family members Actively participates in the treatment planning process with other disciplines Provides individual, family, and group counseling as appropriate Provides consultation/education to Veterans and families on community resources, advance directives, and VA benefits Acts as a consultant to other team/staff members Acts as liaison between VA and community resources, to include marketing and public relation duties as needed Provides case management to Veterans and families, as needed, throughout the continuum of care in Community Nursing Homes (CNH) Provides a full range of social work services within commonly accepted standards of social work practice which includes case work, individual, family and group counseling, discharge planning, case management and other services as appropriate Provides wellness/prevention education and facilitate patient/family support groups as appropriate May, as appropriate, supervise the practice of social work students, or a less experienced social worker Coordinates treatment and communicates within appropriate service lines to facilitate continuity of care for Veterans Participates in process improvement initiatives, change management initiatives, and/or committee assignments, as deemed necessary by the CNH Program Coordinator Maintains data and statistical compilations to comply with TJC, VA, and medical center policy and procedures Assists patients and their significant others with coping and dealing with the loss and grief experiences in disability, terminal illness, and death Documents oversight visits and social work interventions and activities in patient's clinical record utilizing the electronic health record and ensure appropriate hand off when transferring of patient care Liaisons between VA and community clinical staff, to facilitate coordination of care needs to enhance the delivery of co-managed care as needed Provides oversight visits at CNH within the VA Puget Sound catchment area to assess Veteran satisfaction, Veteran safety, and quality of care Provides education and support to staff at CNH to ensure Veteran needs are met Communicates and documents patient safety events per programmatic guidelines Participates in the CNH initial and annual assessment process Performs a large part of their work in community settings and must have an unrestricted state driver's license and be cleared upon hire to drive a government vehicle Responsible for the coordination of referrals/placements to the CNH Program and will be responsible for ensuring Veterans in the program meet VA eligibility requirements Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8am-4:30pm (negotiable) Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized 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: Available, Ad-hoc only Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized