The incumbent serves as Social Worker (Program Coordinator) Renal/Dialysis is for a complex Veteran-centered program that serves patients enrolled at Overton Brooks VA Medical Center (OBVAMC) in Shreveport, Louisiana.

Duties

This Social Worker (Program Coordinator) coordinates outpatient dialysis and nephrology services and provides services for patients seen and followed by the Overton Brooks VA Renal/Nephrology provider. The Social Worker (Program Coordinator) is also assigned the administrative responsibilities and program outcome accountability for the Veterans served under the Community-Based Dialysis Program. The incumbent manages the daily operations of the program and is responsible for developing policies and procedures for the program to ensure high quality outcomes for patients. Duties include but not limited to: Screening/Assessment - Assessment and education for pre-dialysis, initiation of discussion related to Goals of Care and life-sustaining dialysis treatment, end of life planning/withdrawal from dialysis treatments and transplantation. Treatment Planning/Goal Setting - The Renal/Dialysis Social Worker (Program Coordinator) possesses advanced skills in a range of specialized interventions and treatment modalities used with the chronically ill dialysis dependent patient population. Case Management for patients receiving VA authorized community-based dialysis services. Assisting both Veteran and community partner providers with submission and tracking of all Dialysis Authorization for payment (new starts, transfer, transient requests, annual reauthorizations for care and vascular access related requests), facilitating assistance with pharmacy issues, and travel benefits (if eligible). Referral to service providers - To facilitate the continuity of a Veteran's recovery, the Renal/Dialysis Social Worker (Program Coordinator) will arrange referrals to needed VA and/or community resources (e.g., home health care, assisted living facilities, extended care facilities/nursing homes, services available through area agencies on aging, community support groups, hospice care, community-based extended care). Resource Usage/Development - The Renal/Dialysis Social Worker (Program Coordinator) possesses advanced knowledge and expertise 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. Advocacy - The Renal/Dialysis Social Worker (Program Coordinator) will advocate for Veterans to ensure that they have access to all needed care and resources within VA and in the community. Crisis Intervention - The Renal/Dialysis Social Worker (Program Coordinator) will assist in mitigating any medical or psychiatric crises arising in presenting Veterans, within the scope of social work practice, and participate in developing crisis management and safety plans to minimize the event of future crises. Education/Health promotion and prevention - The Renal/Dialysis Social Worker (Program Coordinator) will provide education about VA and community resources, VA benefits and Advance Directives/Living, completing the advanced directive or living will as requested. Supportive counseling - The Renal/Dialysis Social Worker (Program Coordinator) will provide the Veteran and his or her family/caregivers with time-limited, supportive counseling. Non-patient care responsibilities - The Renal/Dialysis Social Worker (Program Coordinator) will develop and revise/update as needed standard operating procedures for the process. All Overton Brooks VA Social Workers may be required to drive patients in a government vehicle and as such will be required to meet driver physical requirements as detailed in Medical Center Memorandum 138-18. Other duties as assigned, Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm, occasional weekends Telework: Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

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. 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. 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/. Grade Determinations: Social Worker (Program Coordinator), GS-12 Experience/Education. One year of experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level. Experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment, demonstrating progressively more professional competency. Candidate may have certification or other post-master's degree training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university that includes a defined curriculum/course of study and internship, or equivalent supervised professional experience. Licensure/Certification. Individuals assigned as social worker program coordinator must be licensed or certified at the advanced practice level, and must be able to provide supervision for licensure. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Knowledge of program coordination and administration which includes consultation, negotiation, and monitoring. Knowledge and ability to write policies, procedures, and/or practice guidelines for the program. Ability to supervise multidisciplinary staff assigned to the program. Skill in organizing work, setting priorities, meeting multiple deadlines, and evaluating assigned program area(s). Ability to provide training, orientation, and guidance within clinical practice. Reference: VA HANDBOOK 5005/120 September 10, 2019 PART II APPENDIX G39 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. Preferred Experience. Must have unrestricted drivers license. Must be able to drive and travel to All OBVAMC CBOC's as needed. Be physically able to attend community outreach/networking events and ability to set-up (table, handouts) and market promotional materials (handouts, etc.). Works occasional week-ends. Physical Requirements: Must be in overall good health, able to sit at a desk working at a computer, engage in light to moderate physical activity including sitting, walking, bending, and carrying supplies. Applicants must be able to perform primarily light and sedentary duties with occasionally moderate physical demands, exercise patience, and control emotions, with reasonable accommodation if necessary, without endangering the health and safety of the applicant or others. Position requires walking throughout the clinic and the Medical Center, standing for extended periods of time, and involves sitting at a computer and in counsel and consultation with Veterans and interdisciplinary teams. Position may require minimal travel into the community to meet with community agencies and partners who assist and support to the Caregiver Support program, its Veterans and caregivers. This position also requires close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; extensive reading; and repetitive motions of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address Overton Brooks VA Medical Center 510 East Stoner Avenue Shreveport, LA 71101 US
• Name: Rebecca Montgomery
• Phone: (281) 536-7730
• Email: [email protected]