Summary

Greater Los Angeles Health Care System is recruiting for two Senior Social Workers for its Community Based Outpatient Clinic in Lancaster. The social workers will provide services to Veterans in Primary Care on the Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT). This is a comprehensive team which delivers primary care to veteran patients in a longitudinal fashion, and focuses on prevention, health promotion, coordination and chronic disease management.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Be a citizen of the United States
• English Language Proficiency
• In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English
• Education: 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
• 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
• Licensure: Candidates must be licensed or certified at the advanced practice level, and they must be able to provide supervision for licensure
• Grade Determinations GS-12: In addition to the basic requirements stated above, candidate must have at least two years of experience post advanced practice clinical licensure and should be in a specialized area of social work practice of which, one year must be equivalent to the GS-11 grade level
• Senior social workers have experience that demonstrates possession of advanced practice skills and judgment and are experts in their specialized area of practice
• Senior social workers may have certification or other post-masters training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university that includes a defined curriculum/course of study and internship or equivalent supervised professional experience in a specialty
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
• Candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Skill in a range of specialized interventions and treatment modalities used in specialty treatment programs or with special patient populations
• This includes individual, group, and/or family counseling or psychotherapy and advanced level psychosocial and/or case management
• Ability to incorporate complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice
• Knowledge in developing and implementing methods for measuring effectiveness of social work practice and services in the specialty area, utilizing outcome evaluations to improve treatment services and to design system changes
• Ability to provide specialized consultation to colleagues and students on the psychosocial treatment of patients in the service delivery area, as well as role modeling effective social work practice skills
• Ability to expand clinical knowledge in the social work profession, and to write policies, procedures, and/or practice guidelines pertaining to the service delivery area
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Full Performance Level: The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12
• Physical Requirements: Light lifting (under 15 pounds)
• light carrying (under 15 pounds)
• reaching above shoulder
• use of fingers
• both hands required
• walking
• standing
• hearing (aid permitted)
• Preferred Experience: Experience working in a medical setting is highly preferred Grandfathering Provision: 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)
• (1) All persons employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education and licensure or certification that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation
• For employees who do not meet all of the basic requirements in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: (2) Such employees in an occupation that requires a licensure or certification, may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions
• (3) Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard
• (4) Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all of the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation
• (5) If an employee who was retained in an occupation listed in 38 U.S.C. §
• 7401(3) under this provision leaves that occupation, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation.

Duties

• The Social Worker functions as a Case Manager and Care Coordinator to primary care panels and ensures that health care provided meets the needs defined by the Veterans
• Duties for the position may include but are not limited to: Assesses and treats the complicated psychosocial problems of Veterans, families and significant other
• Reaches out to Veterans with high risk cohort's issues and offers case management in a proactive effort designed to prevent psychosocial crises
• Provides education and training related to the referral process and services provided
• The primary focus is on the acuity level and case management with an understanding for reduction in the acuity level using evidence-based practice that is continuous, accessible and integrated
• Provides assessment of psychosocial problems that cause distress, can include adjustment to the current medical condition and/or functional status, untreated or under-treated mental health or substance abuse condition, economic instability, legal problems, and inadequate social supports, housing and transportation
• Assists Veteran and family to understand the contributing factors to their problem(s), will discuss with them the pros and cons of possible short-term and long-term solutions, encouraging them to make positive and lasting changes to reduce stressors Makes referrals for assistance to community agencies and will participate in coordinating with VA programs/staff and community agencies to assist in problem solving as needed
• Engages in case management services with members of the outpatient interdisciplinary team to meet the agreed upon treatment goals
• Conducts comprehensive assessments of Veterans and develops treatment plans that are sensitive to Veterans' diverse needs and abilities
• Independently performs a full range of clinical services including Individual, Group and Family interventions
• Provides on and off site crisis intervention and outreach (individual sessions, assist and coordinate hospitalizations in conjunction with the physician when required, coordination of treatment with collaterals (family, housing programs, nursing homes, mental health etc.) to maximize the successful stabilization and integration of Veterans in the community both in crisis and non-crisis situations
• Develops and implements methods for measuring effectiveness of social work practice and services in specialty areas, utilizing outcome evaluations to improve treatment services
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m
• - 4:30 p.m
• Telework: As determined by supervisor Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Financial Disclosure Report: Not Authorized