If you ARE a current, permanent VA employee or Federal employee from another agency, you should apply under CBST-12165391-24-KMS. Social Work and Care Transitions is comprised of 117 employees, who provide services to Primary Care (Ambulatory Care), Emergency Department and Acute Inpatient Medicine/Surgical Services; as well as Medical Subspecialty Services (Dialysis, Community Radiation and Dialysis, Active-Duty Program, Women's Health).

Duties

VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU Social Worker responsibilities include but are not limited to: Possesses a skill set to establish and maintain effective therapeutic relationships with Veterans/support systems. The incumbent will work with Veterans/support system who are experiencing a wide range of complicated medical, psychiatric, emotional, behavioral, financial, and psychosocial issues. Demonstrates an ability to identify high-risk needs and prioritizes case management services. Demonstrates an ability to complete an appropriate (brief or comprehensive) psychosocial assessment to determine the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and/or their support systems. The incumbent utilizes the assessment in facilitating the Veteran's action plan to maximum use of treatment programs/resources for attainment of the highest feasible level of independence that is practicable. Actively 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. Possesses a working knowledge and experience in use of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities, and treatment procedures, including acute, chronic and traumatic illnesses, and medical terminology. Under supervision, provides Advanced Directive information and education including but not limited to the following: Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care, Living Will, Health Care Directive, and/or treatment preferences document to Veteran and families. Also assists the Veteran in preparing such documents, as requested. Assists the interdisciplinary team with identifying appropriate decision makers if Veteran is unable to make own decision. Facilitates advanced care planning group visits with Veterans and support system (as appropriate). 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. VA and Community placements or referrals can involve, but are not limited to, referrals to contract nursing homes, Community Living Centers, community nursing homes, residential care homes, assisted living facilities, inpatient and outpatient hospice services. Possesses knowledge and ability to implement appropriate interventions, facilitate psycho-educational classes, and supportive groups for Veterans/support systems, as well as adhering to guidance provided by the LCSW supervisor. Provides consultation and education to Veterans/support systems regarding community resources, VA benefits and specialty programs, and advance directives. This includes the incumbent maintaining knowledge of the process for accessing and/or coordinating community-based services, including information and referral for additional services from other VA programs, other government programs, and community programs. 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. Possesses skills and knowledge to provide case management services to Veterans and their families throughout the continuum of care. The incumbent will be able to appropriately utilize principles of human growth and development over the life span and will be able to assist Veterans in coping with the loss and grief experiences from disability and terminal illness. Possesses and demonstrates ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with people from varied backgrounds. Complies with established Social Work Service documentation standards. Under direct supervisor, assists in performing comprehensive suicide risk assessments and develops and integrates safety planning and safety goals into the Veteran's collaborative, individualized treatment plan. In conjunction with the healthcare team and supervisor, identifies and assesses risk, safety, supports and implements appropriate interventions/treatment for those who are experiencing abuse, neglect, exploitation or are experiencing domestic or intimate partner violence. Adheres to VA and mandated reporter requirements. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Telework: Not available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 598-00037-F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized 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. 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. 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. 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. 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: Social Worker, GS-9 Experience, Education, and Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Ability to work with Veterans and family members from various socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other diversified backgrounds utilizing counseling skills. (b) 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. (c) 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. (d) Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients, staff, and representatives of community agencies. (e) 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. (KSAs must be clearly reflected in resume under description of duties in order to be found qualified for this position/grade level). 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. Examples of creditable experience include but not limited to: 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 appropriate VA and community service providers/agencies when it serves the best interest of the Veteran and family members/caregiver; assessing the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and their family members identifying the Veteran's strengths, weaknesses, coping skills and psychosocial acuity, in collaboration with the Veteran, family, and interdisciplinary treatment teams; maintaining a current network of internal and external resources to educate the Veteran and/or family members/caregivers and assist with the appropriate referrals. Resume must include hours per week for work experience credit. 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. (KSAs must be clearly reflected in resume under description of duties in order to be found qualified for this position/grade level). References: VA Handbook 5005/120, Part II Appendix G39, Social Worker Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office. 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. Please see physical requirements below in the "Education" section.

Education

Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting (15-44 pounds), light lifting/carrying (under 15 pounds), use of fingers, walking (2 hours), Near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4, Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other, hearing (aid permitted), and mental and emotional stability. Environmental factors include outside and inside, and working closely with others. (See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Services).

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 John L McClellan Memorial Veterans' Hospital 4300 West Seventh Street Little Rock, AR 72205 US
• Name: Krista Smith
• Phone: 501-274-6635
• Email: [email protected]