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 Palliative Care Social Worker reports to Social Work Service and is located within the Extended Care Palliative Care program and provides services to the East Orange VAMC. The incumbent is a part of and works in collaboration with the extended care Palliative care team. The primary function of the Social Worker on the Palliative care team is to collaborate with the Veterans, their family members/significant others and the interdisciplinary treatment team to ensure successful transition and adjustment for the Veteran and family to palliative care and end of life decisions. The social worker provides assessment, short term clinical treatment, case management, advocacy and coordination with appropriate VA and non-VA community providers such as PACT Social Workers. These services are accomplished in consultation to, and collaboration with, Veterans and their families and members of the interdisciplinary treatment team. Clinical Duties The incumbent is responsible for psychosocial assessment and Veterans referred to the Palliative care program. Consults originate from a VA provider. The incumbent must complete thorough assessments to determine the presenting problem, to determine social determinants of health impacting the problem, and to determine obstacles to treatment. Psycho-social Assessments The Palliative Care Social Worker is responsible for the completion of the Palliative Care Psychosocial assessment within three days of the initial consult/admissions. They interview the Veteran, family member and/or significant other to establish facts about the Veteran's current situation. In collaboration with the interdisciplinary team members, the Veteran, family member and/or significant others, the Social Worker completes an accurate biopsychosocial assessment. The assessment will reflect the Veteran's strengths as well as primary concerns and/or challenge or obstacles to meeting treatment goals. Treatment planning/goal setting The Palliative Care Social Worker, in collaboration with the Veteran and the Palliative Care interdisciplinary team, will develop a treatment plan or goals. The plan will be based on the Veteran's goals (needs and/or preferences) using his/her own language. If the Veteran is not present, the Social Worker (and/or team) will make every effort to reflect the Veteran's language, goals, etc. based on the psychosocial assessment. The treatment plan or goals will be person-centered, holistic, non-linear and strengths -based. The Veteran's goals will be obtainable and measurable. Reassessment of treatment goals are continuous due to the significant changing needs of the Veteran. Provision of clinical services The Palliative Care Social Worker is a core member of the Palliative Care Team, contributing to research and program evaluation of patient care programs though their knowledge of the psychosocial aspects of illness and its social process and social change. The incumbent, when needed, will serve as a liaison, advocate and/or consultant for the Veteran, family member and/or significant other across product lines in VA NJ Healthcare System (VANJHCS) and in the community to promote efficient practice and improve Veteran outcomes. Referrals The Palliative Care Social Worker has knowledge of the VA and community's service systems to identify viable treatment options, and the incumbent will use his/her clinical training, insight, experience, and ability to interpret data to make referrals. Veterans can be assisted in choosing from an array of services with appropriate intensity and flexibility. Services will be matched with the Veteran's needs and goals. Referrals, to those services, will be made in a timely manner. Education, Supervision, Coaching, and Mentoring The Palliative Care Social Worker is responsible for working within his/her scope of practice in his/her assigned area and uphold the profession's standards of treatment and ensure that all services provided are recovery-oriented in nature. The incumbent will update his/her social work practice skills and acquire new knowledge in contemporary treatment modalities. Supervises social work students and general licensed Social Workers as needed and as appropriate; includes co-signing all progress notes and providing supervision as indicated. Administrative Duties The Palliative Care Social Worker will attend all administrative and programmatic meetings. The incumbent will implement the goals and requirements of Social Work Service and may assist with coverage responsibilities in the absence of other staff to ensure that the Veterans receive services as required and programs continue to function as needed. Perform other duties as assigned Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 21M53-O EDRP Authorized: Contact [email protected] , the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

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: 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/. Loss of Licensure or Certification. Once licensed or certified, social workers must maintain a full, valid, and unrestricted independent license or certification to remain qualified for employment. Loss of licensure or certification will result in removal from the GS-0185 social worker series and may result in termination of employment. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Services. English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). 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). Creditable Experience. The candidate must have knowledge of current professional social work practices. To be creditable, the experience must have required the use of knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics associated with current professional social work practice. The experience or education must be post-Master of Social Work (MSW) degree. Experience and education satisfying this requirement must be active professional practice, which is paid/non-paid employment as a professional social worker, as defined by the appropriate state licensing board. Quality of Experience. Experience is only creditable if it is obtained following graduation with a master's degree in social work and if it includes work as a professional social worker directly related to the position to be filled. Qualifying experience must also be at a level comparable to social work experience at the next lower level. Part-Time Experience. Part-time experience is creditable according to its relationship to the full-time work week. For example, one week of full-time credit is equivalent to two weeks of part-time work. Fellowships or Post-Graduate Training. Fellowship and post-graduate training programs are typically in a specialized area of clinical practice, i.e., group or family practice. Training as a fellow or post-graduate may be substituted for creditable experience on a year-for-year basis. Practicum in a VA Setting. A VHA practicum experience may not be substituted for experience, as the practicum (field placement) is completed prior to graduation with a master's degree in social work. Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. 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 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. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of community resources, how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services, and ability to coordinate services. (b) 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. (c) 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. (d) 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. (e) 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: Palliative Care experience is preferred. References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/120 PART II APPENDIX G39 September 10, 2019 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11, which is the actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy.

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 VA New Jersey Health Care System 385 Tremont Avenue East Orange, NJ 07018 US
• Name: Kelli Bencic
• Phone: 716-458-6982
• Email: [email protected]