The Social Work Service (SWS) Acute Care Coordination (CC) Social Worker provides social work services to Veterans admitted to acute/ inpatient medicine at the Southern Arizona VA Health Care System (SAVAHCS). The inpatient medicine setting is a fast- paced work environment, in which interdisciplinary collaboration is key to accomplishing time sensitive tasks. The safe, timely, and efficient discharges of inpatient Veterans is essential to the operations of the SAVAHCS facility. 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. Proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f). Hold 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. Note: A doctoral degree in Social Work may NOT be substituted for the master's degree in social work. Licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level. 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. 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: GS-09 Experience: None beyond the basic requirements listed above. Candidate must demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (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. GS-11 Experience or Education: Must possess 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). Examples of specialized experience include but are not limited to: Working under close supervision in program areas that do not require specialized knowledge or experience. Identifying behaviors or symptoms of abuse, neglect or exploitation; providing education on advance directives and advanced care planning; providing social work case management; acting as an advocate with community service providers/agencies when it serves the best interest of the patient and family members/caregiver; assessing the psychosocial functioning and needs of patients and their family members identifying strengths, weaknesses, coping skills and psychosocial acuity, in collaboration with the patient, family, and interdisciplinary treatment teams; maintaining a current network of internal and external resources to educate the patient and/or family members/caregivers and assist with the appropriate referrals. - OR - Possess a doctoral degree in social work from a school of social work. GS-11 Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: In addition to meeting the licensure and experience or education for the GS-11 level, must possess the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: 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. Preferred Experience: One plus year of discharge planning experience preferred. 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-9 to GS-11. Physical Requirements: The work requires the incumbent to be mobile throughout the medical center as needed, involving standing, walking, bending, pushing, and lifting. The incumbent should be capable of prolonged standing/walking and be physically capable of pushing equipment, wheelchairs, and patient stretcher. Light lifting (under 15 pounds); light carrying (under 15 pounds); reaching above shoulder; use of fingers; both hands required; walking; standing; hearing (aid permitted); emotional stability; ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing. ["Major duties include: Provides clinical duties to include a full range of social work within commonly accepted standards of social work practice that include comprehensive biopsychosocial spiritual assessments, social determinants of health screenings, Advance Directives, Goals of Care, case management, crisis intervention, risk/suicide assessments, documentation, safety planning, abuse/neglect/exploitation reporting, psychoeducation, discharge, and other services as appropriate. Assesses and reports any patient safety concerns in a timely manner to appropriate entities to include suicide safety planning and abuse/neglect reporting. Implements timely, safe, and clinically appropriate discharge care planning through methods of casework, referrals, collaboration with the patient and/or their decision maker, their multidisciplinary team and other modes of intervention. Facilitates patient's self-determination and self-management through tenants of advocacy, shared and informed decision making, counseling, and health education. Arranges discharge home, or to necessary placements (e.g., skilled nursing homes, assisted living facilities, adult care homes, etc.) and engages other VHA and community services as needed and ensures that adequate follow-up care has been brokered, when appropriate. Provides education related to coping with health conditions, VA and community resources, entitlements, Advance Directives and Life Sustaining Treatment options, guardianship, insurance, and co-pay(s) information, etc. Refers Veterans/families to the appropriate VA staff, programs, and community resources. Maintains effective professional working relationships with medical center staff, subject matter experts, veteran's support systems, leadership, and community agencies in the provision of safe, appropriate, effective, patient-centered, timely, efficient, and equitable care and services. Uses and maintains current knowledge on patient-centered whole health and a collaborative partnership approach, that is responsive to the patient's culture, linguistic sensitivity, preferences, needs and values. Implements evidence-base care guidelines in the care of the patient, as available and applicable to the practice setting and/or patient population served. Adheres to national and local policies on clinical documentation practices and documents social work activity in medical record comprehensively, timely, promptly, accurately, and concisely. Provides consultation, training, and education to VA staff on the role of social work, social work practices, psychosocial resources at the VA and in the community, and research pertaining to their scope of practice. Adheres to and maintains compliance with federal, state, and local directives, policies, operating procedures, rules and regulations, accreditation, and certification standards. Assumes responsibility for professional development, attends social work staff meetings and daily huddles. Supervises the practice of social work students, or a less experienced social worker. Serves the Medical Center and social work profession in a variety of capacities, such as committee, unit councils, workgroups, special assignments, or other duties as assigned that are necessary to meet program goals and VA Mission. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday; 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized"]
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,321 health care facilities, including 172 VA Medical Centers and 1,138 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics) to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. VHA Medical Centers provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy. In addition, most of our medical centers offer additional medical and surgical specialty services including audiology & speech pathology, dermatology, dental, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, podiatry, prosthetics, urology, and vision care. Some medical centers also offer advanced services such as organ transplants and plastic surgery.
