The Western NY VA Healthcare system is currently recruiting for one Social Worker at the Buffalo NY location. This social worker is assigned to inpatient/outpatient veterans with primary responsibility to provide direct services under the direction of the Geriatric and extended Care line, and and will provide support to Programs offered to veterans and their families who have need for psychosocial intervention(s). 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. 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 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 accreditation standards for a masters of social work. License or Certification*: You must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level. *Exception - For assignments at the GS-9 level, VHA may waive the licensure or certification requirement for persons who are otherwise qualified, pending completion of state prerequisites for licensure/certification examinations. VHA social workers who are not licensed or certified at the time of appointment must become licensed or certified at the independent, master's level within three years of their appointment as a social worker. 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. 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. 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). Grade Determinations: Social Worker, GS-09: Experience, Education and Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements. AND Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Ability to work with Veterans and family members from various socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other diversified backgrounds utilizing counseling skills. 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. (NOTE: For appointment licensure or certification at this level please refer to paragraph 3c in Part II, Appendix G39 at https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/) 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. AND 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, cultural, ethnic, educational and other diversified 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, 7 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-09 to GS-11. Physical Requirements: Work is sedentary but also demands standing, walking, bending, twisting, and carrying light items. Work is performed in an office/clinic setting with minimal risks that requires normal safety precautions; the area is adequately lighted, heated and ventilated. However, the work environment requires someone with the ability to handle several tasks at once in sometimes stressful situations. ["This Social Work position is located at the VA Western New York Healthcare System, in Buffalo New York. The incumbent is assigned to Geriatric and Extended Care (GEC) Line and works in collaboration with multiple teams including: Geriatrics and Extended Care (GEC), Behavioral Health Care Line (BVAC), Medicine Teams and Patient Aligned Care Teams (PACT). The GEC Social Worker is responsible for delivery of care, referrals for treatment services and case management services. The incumbent is assigned to work with a variety of patients and families in the inpatient medical/surgical areas. Responsible for maintaining patient centered relationships in collaboration with many disciplines including outpatient services. Home and community-based services, Home Based Primary Care (HBPC) and Community Living Centers (CLC). Duties include, but are not limited to: Provides a full range of social work services within commonly accepted standards of social work practice, which includes casework, individual, family and group counseling, discharge planning, case management and other services as appropriate. Direct services provided including: social work triage, identifying patient discharge disposition, making referrals for post hospital needs such as home health aide, skilled nursing, in-home rehab services, transportation, adult day health care, behavioral health programs. Providing health care proxy/living will education and completion; economic assistance or financial aid services and strategies to increase income (employment, vocational rehabilitation, VA benefits, disability). Determine patient disposition which may involve placement to the least restrictive environment (i.e. retirement facility/supportive living, assisted living, nursing home, or homeless shelter, group home, or a return to the prior to admission living situation). Actively participate in the treatment planning process with other disciplines which may be modified in relation to any change in the patient medical status. Assists patient and family with adjustment to alternative living arrangements such as nursing home placement, (long-term, sub-acute rehab), assisted living, supportive housing, etc. Referrals are made as soon as possible during the patient's episode of care. Advocate on behalf of patient to ensure services are obtained in a timely manner. Act as a liaison between patient/family and medical team in communicating concerns or issues of importance. Serves on committees, work groups, and task forces at the facility as deemed appropriate by the supervisor. Keeps their supervisor apprised of problems and recommended solutions to problems encountered in the incumbent's area of responsibility. Provides assistance with orientation and learning and serves as a field instructor for graduate level social work students. Is responsible for supporting the mission, policies, and procedures of the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), the appropriate Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN), and the facility. Social Work Consults are answered within designated time frame and response/treatment is congruent with the provider's request and patient's needs. Note: A Licensed Social Worker at the GS-11 grade will perform duties Independently. Work Schedule: Full-Time. Monday - Friday (7:30am - 4:00pm) Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 24640-F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU Social Work: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Social-Worker-Career-Flyer.pdf Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. 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)"]

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