Summary

Works for the Central Virginia VA Health Care System in Richmond - Virginia - as a direct report to the Social Work Service - and is assigned to the Inpatient Team under Social Work Service.

Qualifications

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
• GS-9: Experience - Education - and Licensure
• None beyond the basic requirements
• For appointments at the GS-9 grade level - 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
• 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
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following: 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
• GS-11: 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)
• A doctoral degree in social work may not be substituted for the master's degree in social work
• Experience/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
• In addition to the above - the following experience must be demonstrated: 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 - 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
• References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/120 PART II APPENDIX G39 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11.

Duties

• Provides direct patient care which includes psychosocial assessments - case management - care coordination - and discharge planning
• Must use a high level of skill in assessing the complicated bio-psychosocial problems of Veterans admitted to the inpatient units
• As a part of an interdisciplinary team - the social worker assess the bio-psychosocial stressors that have contributed to a patient's hospitalization
• assists in the formation of the treatment plan
• and develops a carefully thought out plan for treatment and discharge
• Conduct meetings with patients and their families - and collaborate with outpatient providers and community agencies to realize a plan that utilizes the patient's strengths and existing supports
• Performs other directly related duties as assigned
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 8am -4:30pm Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position Recruitment/Relocation Incentives: Not Authorized