Social Worker-Rehabilitation and Extended Care/Home Based Primary Care

01Basic 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.

02Education

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.

03Licensure

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/.

04Grade Determinations

Senior Social Worker, GS-12: Experience and 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.

Applicants must meet the requirements for providing supervision in the state where they are licensed at the advanced practice level and should list these qualifications within the assessment narrative and their resume. Documentation is required if part of your state's requirements for providing supervision for licensure is beyond your licensure only (example: certification of continuing education credits).

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs (submission of a document with written demonstration of KSAs is highly recommended with application). 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.

Ability to incorporate complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice. 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.

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. 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. All qualifying experience you possess must be clearly described in your application package.

We will not make assumptions when reviewing applications. Failure to demonstrate your experience in your resume may result in disqualification. It is strongly recommended that you write to each KSA in your application package. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-12. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

05Physical 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.

Major duties include, but are not limited to the following: The incumbent serves and supports Veterans with life-limiting or debilitating illnesses who are anticipated to need a higher level of care in the future. The incumbent in this position will meet with Veterans and their families/caregivers to assess and address the Veteran's needs. They offer emotional and practical assistance, helping veterans and their families navigate the emotional challenges of diagnosis and treatment.

This includes coordinating care, connecting patients with resources like financial aid, transportation, and support groups, and providing counseling to address anxiety, depression, and other mental health concerns. The incumbent delivers social work in the home setting. Travel within the community and the ICVAHCS area is required for this position. The delivery of care is in accordance with the established standards, policies, and procedures consistent with the interdisciplinary plan of care.

This position requires social work clinical knowledge and competence to function independently in a variety of roles in the clinical setting. The incumbent provides consultation and guidance and acts as a liaison to staff, care facilities, and other health care providers regarding patient needs in the community/home setting and in the interpretation of VA rules and regulations related to HBPC, CNH and Veterans.

The incumbent is required due to the advanced clinical skills to provide specialized mental health support within HBPC. Veterans enrolled in HBPC frequently experience complex medical conditions that are accompanied by depression, anxiety, cognitive decline, adjustment disorders, and other behavioral health challenges. The incumbent's role encompasses a broad spectrum of responsibilities.

They independently conduct comprehensive psychosocial assessments, aiming to understand the needs of both veterans, their families, and their caregivers. The incumbent's active engagement in the treatment planning process alongside other disciplines is crucial, ensuring the patient and family's psychosocial needs are carefully considered. The incumbent possesses a comprehensive understanding of diverse human backgrounds, adept counseling skills, and the ability to independently implement treatment plans.

They independently provide a wide array of counseling services, including individual and family counseling, helping patients and their families cope with the experiences of disability, terminal illness, and death. They extend their support beyond direct counseling, offering consultation and education to veterans and families on community resources, advanced directives, and VA benefits. Additionally, they act as a consultant to their team members, providing valuable insights and guidance.

The incumbent acts as a liaison between the VA and community resources, shouldering additional responsibilities such as marketing and public relation duties when needed. Their commitment to comprehensive care is evident as they provide case management services throughout the continuum of care, ensuring that veterans and their families receive the necessary support at every stage. Their holistic approach to care is further exemplified through their efforts in providing wellness and prevention education.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 7:30am-4:00pm OR 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 00000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized