Social Worker - Home Based Primary Care (HBPC)

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

Citizenship: Be a citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g this part). English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).

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 4 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/. 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).

Grandfathering Provision: The following is the standard grandfathering policy for all title 38 hybrid qualification standards. Please carefully review the qualification standard to determine the specific education and/or licensure/certification/registration requirements that apply to this occupation.

All persons employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date 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.

For employees who do not meet all of the basic requirements in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: Such employees in an occupation that requires a licensure or certification, may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions.

Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard.

Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all of the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation.

If an employee who was retained in an occupation listed in 38 U.S.C. § 7401(3) under this provision leaves that occupation, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation. NOTE: If social workers covered under the grandfathering provision of the 1991 Federal law regarding licensure or certification of VHA social workers leave the GS-0185 social work series, they lose the grandfathering protection.

If they choose to return at a later date to the GS-0185 series, they must be licensed or certified to qualify for employment as a social worker.

04Grade 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, 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.

05Preferred Experience

A current, un-restricted LCSW is required. Home-Based Care experience preferred; Experience with Geriatric populations. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. VA Handbook 5005/120, Part II, Appendix G39 Social Worker Qualification Standard. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11.

06Physical Requirements

The incumbent completes home visits to veterans residing within a 60-mile radius of the respected campus assigned and as assessed required by the Interdisciplinary Treatment team. This position requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. This position requires potentially extended periods of continued walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing. Transferring patients and objects may be required.

The incumbent is expected to use proper preventive ergonomic technics to perform duties. The incumbent must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on patient needs. The incumbent may be exposed to homes in poor condition and present potential safety and infection control risks such as unsafe structures and invasive insects.

An ability to recognize safety in the home that includes environmental, physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects is critical. This position requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. The incumbent must complete annual Employee Health requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional The Social Worker serves as a core member of the interdisciplinary Home-Based Primary Care (HBPC) treatment team which is a specialized outpatient Patient Aligned Care program. The incumbent works independently to provide psychosocial interventions and case management services to veterans with complex medical, social, and behavioral conditions in which routine clinic-based care is not effective.

Patients served under HBPC typically are those who have impaired mobility due to disability or functional limitation, inability to cope with the clinic environment due to cognitive, physical, or psychiatric impairment, and the need for frequent coordinated interventions from multiple disciplines, therefore care is delivered to the patient.

Incumbent utilizes advanced practice skills, knowledge, and judgment to develop and measure effectiveness of social work practice and services, utilizing outcome evaluations to improve treatment services. Coordination of specialized services and programs is also provided. Encounters/visits are made in the home-setting and government cars are available for travel to the patient's residence. Incumbent must be physically able to maneuver home structures with obstacles, stairs, and pets.

VANIHCS is part of VISN 10, VA Healthcare System, and consists of the following care sites: Fort Wayne Medical Center, Marion VA Medical Center, Fort Wayne Annex, Jackie Walorski VA Clinic, Muncie Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC), Hoosier CBOC, Defiance CBOC, and Huntington CBOC. VANIHCS is a complex, integrated health care system with approximately 2,0000 employees, a catchment area covering over 15,000 square miles, servicing over 40 counties, and serving over 45,000 Veterans.

Services provided include, but not limited to: audiology, cardiology, Community Living Center, dental, dermatology, diabetes clinic, home-based primary care, home oxygen clinic, ICU, gastroenterology, MRI, Mental Health neurology, occupational therapy, oncology, pain management, pharmacy, physical therapy, podiatry, post-traumatic stress disorder care, primary care, prosthetic and sensory aids services, psychology, pulmonology, palliative care, recreation therapy, homeless Veteran services, and speech therapy The clinical social worker coordinates a variety of case management responsibilities including outreach, interdisciplinary activities, psychosocial assessments, treatment planning, consultation/education to other health care facility staff, and community-based service providers.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm. Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact [email protected], the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more 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: Ad Hoc - as determined by the agency policy. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 91903-0 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized