This position is located in Social Work and Care Transition Service (SW&CTS) at the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System (CAVHS). The program aims to provide high quality care to patients whose psychiatric and medical conditions require outpatient & inpatient management. Coverage may include Primary Care Clinics, Specialty Care Clinics, Emergency Department, Walk Ins, or other social work coverage areas as defined by social work supervisor. 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. VHA Social Worker 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. 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. Current state requirements may be found by going to http://vaww.va.gov/OHRM/T38Hybrid/. 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. 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 Social Worker Experience, Education, and Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: 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. Note: KSAs must be clearly reflected in your resume under description of duties to be found qualified for this position/grade level. GS-11 Social Worker 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. In addition to the experience above, candidates must demonstrate all of 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. Note: KSAs must be clearly reflected in your resume under description of duties to be found qualified for this position/grade level. Preferred Experience: LCSW license; At least 2 years of medical social work experience; At least 2 years of mental health experience; Prior experience working with an interdisciplinary team; Prior experience completing comprehensive suicide risk evaluations and/or other crisis interventions, to include safety planning; Works well with others, using a team approach to meeting program or agency goals; Excellent skills in problem solving, flexibility, multi-tasking, creativity and having initiative; Proficient in Microsoft Office (especially Word & Excel). 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 Demands: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for this occupation, see duty section for essential duties of this position. May require standing, lifting, carrying, sitting, stooping, bending, pulling, and pushing. May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment. Work Environment: 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 and sometimes stressful situations. ["Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf Social Work: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Social-Worker-Career-Flyer.pdf Duties of the Social Worker - Emergency Room include, but are not limited to: Clinical Functions: Provides assessment of psychosocial problems often at a time when the Veteran is experiencing crisis and include the provision of short-term, solution focused counseling with Veterans and/or their families. Identifies high-risk needs and prioritizes case/care management services. Performs appropriate suicide risk screenings and comprehensive suicide risk assessments. Develops and integrates safety planning and safety goals into the Veteran's collaborative, individualized treatment plan. Participates and collaborates with the Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) members and with Veterans/support systems to implement patient centered care that is personalized, proactive and patient driven healthcare. Participates and collaborates with the interdisciplinary treatment team and with Veterans/support systems to develop and implement treatment goals and interventions. Provides Advanced Directive education to Veterans/support system and assists completing the appropriate forms. Collaborates with Veterans/support systems and the interdisciplinary treatment team members to ensure that appropriate VA and Community placements/referrals are completed in a timely manner. Provides supportive counseling to assist Veterans/families to deal with the psychosocial impact of coping with chronic/disabling illnesses, onset of a catastrophic illness and/or dying. Provides consultation and education to Veterans/support systems regarding community resources, VA benefits and specialty Programs, and advance directives. Provides consultation to other treatment team and staff members regarding psychosocial needs of Veterans/support systems and the impact of the identified psychosocial problems on the Veteran's healthcare planning and compliance with treatment. Non-Clinical Functions: Participates on committees, work groups, and task forces at the facility as deemed appropriate by the supervisor, Assistant Chief or Chief of Social Work Service. Ensures professional growth through continuing education by complying with licensure requirements and continuing education as appropriate to the area of assignment. Establishes and maintains positive working relationships with employees, volunteers, consumers and stakeholders within the VA and outside community agencies. Assists with the orientation and mentoring of newly hired social workers and serves as a field instructor for social work students, if interested and qualified. Maintains a level of productivity and quality consistent with the complexity of the assignment and consistent with Social Work, Joint Commission, CARF and facility standards. Work Schedule: Four 10 hour shifts weekly (7:00 am - 5:30 pm) which includes every other weekend, subject to change based on the needs of the facility. Recruitment/Relocation Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of 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 $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) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 598-00282-F, 598-00283-F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized"]

Return to Search Results