The incumbent serves as a core member of a VISN-level inter-professional group of clinical reviewers, the Centralized Eligibility and Appeals Team (CEAT). The CEAT Senior Social Worker position requires advanced knowledge and understanding of not only the services and benefits available for caregivers from both federal, state and private sector resources but the statute, regulations, and policy that govern the program.
Applicants must meet the qualification standard for the GS 12 Social Worker as defined in VA Handbook 5005, Part II Appendix G39, Social Worker Qualification Standard GS-185 Veterans Health Administration. In addition to the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) listed, the GS-12 Senior Social Worker must be licensed at the advanced practice level. Their experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment, demonstrating progressively more professional competency. 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. 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/. 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. 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: The grade of this position is a GS-12 which is above the full performance level. Physical Requirements: Must be in overall good health, able to sit at a desk working at a computer, engage in light to moderate physical activity including sitting, walking, bending, and carrying supplies. Applicants must be able to perform primarily light and sedentary duties with occasionally moderate physical demands, exercise patience, and control emotions, with reasonable accommodation if necessary, without endangering the health and safety of the applicant or others. This position also requires close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; extensive reading; and repetitive motions of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers. References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/120 PART II APPENDIX G39
Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Major duties include but are not limited to; Supporting the mission, policies, and procedures of the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), the appropriate Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN), and the facility. Completing all reports, data, and maintain reporting requirements with outcomes related to the CSP Program. Keeping supervisor apprised of problems and recommended solutions to problems encountered in the incumbent's area of responsibility. Furthering one's own professional growth through continuing education and for ensuring continuing education appropriate to the area of assignment. Providing assistance with the orientation and learning of less experienced social workers and, if interested, to serve as a field instructor for graduate level social work students. Demonstrating knowledge and skill in the use of software applications for drafting documents and data management as well as other computer systems in use by the VHA. Maintaining a level of productivity and quality consistent with the complexity of the assignment and consistent with Social Work standards, Joint Commission standards, and VISN standards. Modifying tour of duty as necessary to accommodate the needs of Veteran and/or caregiver. Engaging in coordination with the VA and community agencies, organizations, and groups as to learn of current services, resources and/or benefits available for homeless veterans. Actively participating in the CSP conference calls and participating in other relevant conference calls and/or meetings as assigned. Using knowledge of the CSP to matrix Veteran level of functioning with the appropriate CSP services (i.e., Program of General Caregiver Support Services [PGCSS]; PCAFC; and/or Veteran entitlements and benefits) in order to ensure patient safety, recovery, and program stewardship. and organizing delivery of care to assure continuity of care and peer accountability for practice, including access to care and discharge planning. Applying advanced discipline's clinical knowledge/judgment to promote staff involvement in planning, decision-making, and evaluating PCAFC eligibility. Functioning as a technical expert in clinical practice and/or CSP related to the assigned roles and responsibilities. Systematically evaluating current practice and formulating outcomes for groups of patients, caregivers, and/or organizational processes within area of expertise. Using professional standards of care, scientific evidence, and practice to evaluate programs and/or service activities and implementing broad-reaching evidence­ based change. (VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G39). Leading and organizing practice and process evaluation to assure continuity and peer accountability. Working with inter-professional team members at regional, VISN and facility levels to ensure PCAFC eligibility determinations PCAFC are delivered objectively with strong, consistent inter-rater reliability with documentation and communication of outcomes in a direct and coordinated manner. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm 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) 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 #: CEAT Senior Social Worker