Social Worker

Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment.

Qualifications

• 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)
• 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

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

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• (a) Knowledge of community resources - how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services - and ability to coordinate services
• (b) Skill in independently conducting psychosocial assessments and treatment interventions to a wide variety of individuals from various socio-economic - educational - and other backgrounds
• (c) Knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses - disabilities and treatment procedures (i.eacute - chronic and traumatic illnesses/injuries - common medications and their effects/side effects - and medical terminology) to formulate a treatment plan
• (d) 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
• (e) 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

Physical Requirements

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

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

• The incumbent is responsible for providing care coordination services (including but not limited to biopsychosocial assessment - walk-in/crisis services - education - provision of self-management resources) and other clinical tasks as needed for Veterans receiving services in BHIP
• Care coordination (including care management and/or case management) includes determining and monitoring care coordination needs over time - providing care coordination - and facilitating follow-up and outreach as needed to promote proactive - personalized care and care continuity
• Provide a full range of services within commonly accepted standards of practice and prioritizes care coordination activities as the primary job function [e.g. - needs assessment - chart reviews - care or case management (as needed) - discharge planning - outreach - etc.] and other services as appropriate
• Conduct biopsychosocial assessments to determine care coordination and treatment needs of Veterans
• Provide consultation/education to Veterans and families on VA resources (including self-management tools) - community resources - Advance Directives and VA benefits
• Participate in discharge planning with other disciplines and will be responsible for ensuring that discharge plans are executed in a manner that is timely and appropriate to promote care continuity
• Act as a clinical resource/point-of-contact to Veterans and other team/staff members
• Act as liaison between VA and community resources - to include education and bidirectional communication that promotes seamless care
• Document interventions and activities in patient's electronic health record and ensure appropriate hand-off communication and documentation when transferring patient care
• Maintain familiarity and share responsibility with other team members for performance measures relevant to the BHIP team
• Perform other BHIP-related duties as directed by the Supervisor - such as - but not limited to: training/mentoring and oversight of new staff & those not yet clinically licensed - and preparing for and training staff on CARF & The Joint Commission standards and accreditation process

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

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

• Not Available

Virtual

• This is not a virtual position

Permanent Change of Station (PCS)

• Not Authorized