Social Worker - Acute Medicine

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. 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. Exception.

VHA may waive the licensure or certification requirement for persons who are otherwise qualified, pending completion of state prerequisites for licensure/certification examinations. This exception only applies at the GS-9 grade level. For the GS-11 grade level and above, the candidate must be licensed or certified. Failure to Obtain License or Certification. In all cases, social workers must actively pursue meeting state prerequisites for licensure or certification starting from the date of their appointment.

Failure to become licensed or certified within the prescribed amount of time will result in removal from the GS-0185 social worker series and may result in termination of employment. Loss of Licensure or Certification. Once licensed or certified, social workers must maintain a full, valid, and unrestricted independent license or certification to remain qualified for employment.

Loss of licensure or certification will result in removal from the GS-0185 social worker series and may result in termination of employment. 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).

02Grade Determinations

Social Worker, GS-9 Experience, Education, and Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Ability to utilize a Veteran centric approach when providing interventions and counseling for Veterans, their family members, caregivers, and survivors.

Ability to assess the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and their family members, and to formulate and implement a treatment plan, identifying the Veterans problems, strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and assistance needed. Ability to implement treatment modalities in working with individuals, families, and groups to achieve treatment goals. This requires judgment and skill in utilizing supportive, problem solving, or crisis intervention techniques.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients, staff, and representatives of community agencies. Fundamental knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities, and treatment procedures. This includes acute, chronic, and traumatic illnesses/injuries; common medications and their effects/side effects; and medical terminology. 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.

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 in the range of GS-9 to GS-11.

03Physical Requirements

See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Services.

Incumbent is a professional social worker assigned to the SVAMC inpatient medical/surgical/ICU units.

The incumbent must use a high level of skill in assessing and treating the complicated biopsychosocial problems of veterans referred to the unit social worker (SW.) The incumbent completes brief biopsychosocial assessments and provides single session or short-term, solution focused counseling with individuals and families who may be in crisis; supportive counseling, discharge planning, case management and referral for resources and benefits.

Duties include bot are not limited to: Must have a high level of skill and expertise to establish effective therapeutic rapport with veterans/families referred by consultation, by pro-active SW case finding, by patient self-referral, or by any member of the treatment team. The incumbent is able to work independently with veterans and their families who are experiencing a wide range of complicated medical, psychiatric, emotional, behavioral, and psychosocial problems.

Must independently complete psychosocial assessments to determine the psychosocial functioning and needs of veterans and/or their families. The incumbent must be able to utilize this assessment in facilitating the veteran's maximum use of treatment for attainment of the highest level of independence that is possible and practicable.

Must actively participate as a member of the interdisciplinary treatment team and collaborate with veterans and family as well as interdisciplinary treatment team members in the development and implementation of a veteran-centered treatment plan. Must collaborate with VAMC staff or community agencies to ensure continuity of health services for veterans in need of follow up care.

Incumbent will meet with veterans/family members as well as interdisciplinary treatment team members to ensure that appropriate discharge plans are executed in a timely manner. Must possess knowledge and ability to independently implement treatment modalities, provide counseling and/or supportive groups for veterans and families. Must provide consultation and education to veterans and their families regarding community resources, VA benefits and specialty programs, and advance directives.

This includes the incumbent's knowledge of the process for accessing and/or coordinating community-based services, including information and referral for additional services from other VA programs, other government programs, and community programs. Must possess skills and knowledge to provide advocacy and case management services to veterans and their families throughout the continuum of care.

The incumbent will be able to appropriately utilize principles of human growth and development over the life span and will be able to assist veterans in coping with loss and grief experiences from disability and terminal illness. Must be knowledgeable of terms, treatment modalities and services used specifically to assess and treat individuals with medical problems. Must have thorough knowledge of discharge planning process and resources. Performs other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:15am - 3:45am Telework: ADHOC, as determined by agency policy Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized