Social Worker

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.

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. 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 4 accreditation standards for a masters of social work. Licensure-Documentation Required.

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/ Grandfathering Provision.

All persons employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date (9/10/2019) of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education and licensure or certification that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation.

02Grade Determinations

In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. 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. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. 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, 8 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 [Full Performance Level] Assignments.

This is the full performance level. Social workers at this level are licensed or certified to independently practice social work. Incumbents are assigned to all program areas, including but not limited to: inpatient or outpatient medicine, surgery, mental health, neurology, rehabilitation medicine, and geriatrics. Employees provide professional, independent social work services in the assigned area.

Duties include but are not limited to: assessing and documenting identified behaviors or symptoms of abuse, neglect, exploitation and/or intimate partner violence; use of clinical social work skills and knowledge to maintain Veteran privacy and confidentiality per policies, handbooks or directives; and acts as an advocate with appropriate VA and community service providers and agencies when it serves the best interest of the Veteran and family members/caregiver.

Incumbent independently assesses the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and their family members, identifying the Veteran's strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and psychosocial acuity. In collaboration with the Veteran, family/caregiver, and interdisciplinary treatment team, the social worker facilitates the delivery of health care services. Other assignments may be found in the qualification standards of this occupational series.

03Preferred Experience

Knowledge of medical and mental diagnoses and terminology. Experience in discharge planning and case management in an Acute care health and/or mental health setting. Knowledge of community resources to support Veterans experiencing significant social determinants of health. 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 GS-11.

04Physical Requirements

Work requires extreme patience and controlling of emotions. Day-to-day work involves sitting, walking, standing, and carrying light objects. Work is typically performed in a clinical setting that exposes the Social Worker to communicable diseases common to the hospital setting. Able to meet the physical demands of the position, reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. They must have good manual dexterity.

Must be able to express or exchange ideas by means of spoken and written words. Must be able to view and read information on computer screens. The job entails walking, standing, bending, pushing, traveling among several different stories/floors, sitting, working on a computer, carrying objects up to 15 pounds.

VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU Clinical work of this position includes the provision of discharge planning, crisis intervention, short-term solution-focused or problem solving focused evidence based interventions with Veterans and/or their family members/significant others/caregivers on the acute care medicine, surgery, neurology and intensive care inpatient units.

Major duties include, but are not limited to: Conduct psychosocial assessments of Veterans in collaboration with the interdisciplinary team, the Veteran, family members, caregivers, and/or significant others. The goal of the assessment is to identify needs and formulate a treatment/discharge plan to meet those needs. Develop discharge plans through collaboration with the Veteran, family members/caregiver, and collaboration with the interdisciplinary team.

• Establish plans, goals and evaluates outcomes of interventions for a wide variety of individuals from various socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other diversified backgrounds.
• Complete crisis assessments, develop and execute crisis management plans in a timely, effective and efficient manner.
• Work with patients and families who are experiencing emotional, medical, and social problems utilizing individual, group, and family counseling skills.

Establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, staff, and representatives of local community agencies. Collaborate with other service providers in assessing/reassessing the Veteran's needs during inpatient stay and make appropriate warm hand off referrals to the Veteran's assigned PACT, Specialty Clinic and/or other appropriate clinical social worker for follow up post discharge.

Document social work interventions and activities timely and as directed by standard operating procedures in the patient's electronic medical record. Serve as a liaison to community agencies and network with agency representatives as related to assigned job duties for facilitating continued patient care in another setting. Communicates effectively, both orally and in writing, with people from varied backgrounds.

Facilitate referrals based upon the Veteran's needs and eligibility by utilizing knowledge of Veterans benefits and services relating to special programs, service connected compensation, and non-service connected pension. Work Schedule: 7:30am - 4pm, Monday through Friday Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 50010F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized