This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.

Duties

The Social Worker serves as the liaison of the Community Nursing Home (CNH) program. The Social Worker is delegated responsibility for planning and carrying out all elements of the CNH program, including recruiting new contracts for CNH. The incumbent is responsible for independently assuring that VA Central Office Geriatrics and Extended Care program standards and policies are adhered to in a timely and effective manner. The CNH Social Worker is assigned to work at the Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center located in Spokane, Washington. The position entails travel into the community 50-75% of the time, including visits to CNH facilities for oversight visits, facility assessments, and case management of Veterans. FUNCTIONS OF THE POSITION: Carries out the daily operation of the CNH program. Assists in developing policies and procedures for program operation. Tracks program data. Organizes and prepares reports and statistics for the Chief of Social Work Service (SWS) and Contract Nursing Home Oversight committee, service leadership, the health system director, VISN 20 GEC Liaison, and the VA Central Office. Participates in interdisciplinary staff work assignments in the CNH program. Ensures that follow-up visits to Veterans in CNH facilities are completed by the CNH Social Workers and CNH RN Liaisons, as required in program guidelines. Provides direct clinical services to Veterans through visits to CNH residents. Consults with CNH facility staff to address and resolve Veterans' concerns as they develop. Ensures services are provided with attention commensurate with the dignity of the resident and consideration of the resident's capacity to understand treatment options. Ensures that Veterans placed in the CNH program meet VA eligibility requirements. Serves as the Alternate Contracting Officer Representative (COR) for all CNH contracts. Obtains and maintains COR certification. Conducts the assessments of CNH facilities for which the incumbent has been assigned COR responsibility. Ensures that annual CNH assessments are completed in accordance with VA policy. Maintains a working knowledge of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) standards for long-term care facilities. Attends and participates in monthly and quarterly conference calls and training sessions related to the program. Communicates with coordinators at other VA healthcare systems to exchange information and resources and to facilitate referrals between catchment areas. Possesses the ability to coordinate community-based services, including information and referral for additional services from other VA programs, other government programs, and community agency programs. Establishes and maintains effective therapeutic relationships with Veterans and their families. Incumbent can independently work with patients and families who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric, medical, and social problems utilizing individual, group, and family counseling and therapy skills. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 0800 - 1630 Telework: Available, Ad-hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Please contact the EDRP Coordinator @ [email protected]. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• You may be required to serve a probationary period
• Subject to a background/security investigation
• Must be proficient in both written and spoken English
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)
• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Personnel

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. Education: Social Worker. 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. NOTE: You must submit transcripts/documentation showing degree and conferred date. Licensure: Social Worker. 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. Exception: This exception only applies at the GS-9 grade level. VHA may waive the licensure or certification requirement for persons who are otherwise qualified, pending completion of state prerequisites for licensure/certification. For grade levels at or above the full performance level, the candidate must be licensed. English Language Proficiency: Social Workersmust be proficient in both spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d). Grade Determinations: Social Worker, GS-9 Experience, Education, and Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements. ~AND~ Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following 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. -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. Social Worker, GS-11 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~ 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. ~AND~ Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: -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/LICENSURE: The Behavioral Health Service Line is looking for a highly qualified/ fully licensed Social Worker to fill this position, but will also consider other qualified/ Non Licensed applicants. References: VA Handbook 5005/120, Part II, Appendix G39, Social Worker Qualification Standard Dated: September 10, 2019 and Appendix G43, 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: Use of fingers, Both hands required, See computer screen, Hearing (aid permitted), Mental and emotional stability, Working closely with others and alone, Ability to communicate clearly with patients.

Education

IMPORTANT: An Official 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 Mann-Grandstaff Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center 4815 North Assembly Street Spokane, WA 99205 US
• Name: Hector Jebulan
• Phone: (253) 582-8440 X75538
• Email: [email protected]