Social Worker - Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT)

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.

Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.

Basic 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 7403(f).

Education : Applicant must 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.

Grade Determinations : Social Worker, GS-9 Experience. None above basic requirements Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities.

In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs : (a) Ability to work with Veterans and family members from various socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other diversified backgrounds utilizing counseling skills.

b) 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.

c) 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. (d) Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients, staff, and representatives of community agencies.

e) 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 or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs : (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, cultural, ethnic, educational and other diversified backgrounds.

c) Knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities and treatment procedures ( acute, 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.

Preferred Experience : Experience completing bio-psychosocial assessments to determine dependence level in Activities of Daily Living (ADL) and Intermediate Activities of Daily Living (IADL).

Experience providing case management to adult patients including geriatric patients related to their physical limitations, psychological needs and age associated illnesses and conditions.

References : VA Handbook 5005 / 120, Part II Appendix G39, Social Worker Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office.

The full performance level of this vacancy is 11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of 9 to 11.

Physical Requirements : Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation.

May require standing, lifting, carrying, sitting, stooping, bending, pulling, and pushing. Driver's License and physical exam required to confirm ability to operate a government vehicle.

Environmental Factors : Outside and inside; Constant noise; Working closely with others; Working alone. " Social Work : This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until September 30, 2024 or until all positions are filled.

The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be March 18, 2024, with subsequent cut-off dates of every two weeks until all positions are filled.

If you are a current, permanent VA employee or Federal employee from another agency, you should apply under CBST-12339450-24-AB.

The duties of the Patient Aligned Care Team Social Worker include, but are not limited to : Performs assessments of Veterans in collaboration with the interdisciplinary treatment team, the Veteran, family members and significant others.

Demonstrates an understanding of the range of treatment and skills needed for all adult patients including geriatric patients related to their physical limitations, psychological needs and age associated illnesses and conditions.

Contributes to the development of the treatment plan and setting achievable treatment goals with the Veteran and family members / caregiver.

Collaborates with other service providers in reassessing the Veteran's needs. Educates the Veteran and family members / caregivers of the available services and assisting them in establishing the appropriate referrals based on the Veteran's preference or that of his surrogate decision-maker.

Utilizes the current Social Work resource file of VA and community social service programs and enhancing the content to the benefit of Veterans.

Acts as an advocate when it serves the best interest of the Veteran and family members / caregiver. Educates and encourages the Veteran to advocate on his / her own behalf, thus fostering a sense of independence and empowerment, when appropriate and feasible.

Makes rapid assessments and develops crisis management plans. Provides education related to VA and community resources, entitlements, Advance Directives / Living Will and will refer Veterans and family members / caregiver to the appropriate interdisciplinary team member for identified health education needs.

Reviews the progress notes from the other providers to accurately determine the strengths and limitations of each Veteran.

Educates the Veteran, their family members / caregiver and the team of all the options available to them and will collaborate with the Veteran and family members / caregiver on the preferred option.

Provides the Veterans and their family members / caregiver with ongoing supportive counseling. Enters all Veteran / family contacts in the electronic record using appropriate formats and templates.

Establishes and maintains positive working relationships with employees, volunteers, consumers and stakeholders within the VA and outside community agencies.

Attends all appropriate staff meetings (interdisciplinary treatment team meetings, Social Work staff meetings, Social Work supervision meetings, and other committees and workgroups, as appropriate) and perform other duties as required.

Collaborates in the performance improvement processes and comply with performance measures as required by the VA for their specific population and / or program.

Work Schedule : Monday - Friday, 8 : 00 am - 4 : 30 pm Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus) : Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance) : Not Authorized EDRP Authorized : Contact , 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 existing pay, 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 $ 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.

Functional Statement # : 564-00285-F, 564-00286-F Permanent Change of Station (PCS) : Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report : Not required"