The Social Worker position is part of the Geriatric Care Coordination Team (GCCT) at Bedford VA Healthcare System, located at the Bedford, Massachusetts location. This position is full-time at 40 hours per week. This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program, see details below.

Duties

The Geriatric Care Coordination Team (GCCT) Social Worker is a part of the Geriatric Care Coordination Team (GCCT), aiming at preventing hospitalizations and institutionalization of geriatric population. The Geriatric Care Coordination Team (GCCT) focuses on providing care management and coordination for elderly Veterans with high Care Assessment Need scores who reside in the community. The primary duty is to assess and regularly reassess the needs of geriatric Veterans and their Caregivers. The Geriatric Care Coordination Team's patient panel will consist of Veterans who were lost to follow up and have not had or continued care within the VA Bedford HCS. Once on the patient panel, the GCCT assists in coordinating all care for the Veteran with the goal of successfully transitioning each Veteran's ongoing care to either the PACT or HBPC service within the VA Bedford HCS. Collaboration with and communication to other healthcare team members is essential to ensure quality care is delivered to Veterans. The ideal GCCT candidate will have strong communication skills to effectively engage with patients, Caregivers, and team members. Strong critical thinking skills, coupled with a patient-centered approach and empathy, are the necessary qualities. Major duties include but are not limited to: Assists Veterans in reaching their identified goals, through time-limited community supports. Utilizes local resources, the development of new skills and connections within their community, and to implement the treatment plan through home visits. Collaborates with VA and community partners to ensure and promote continuity of care, establish appropriate referrals, and provide access to care based on Veteran's needs and preferences. Provides services across multiple facilities and community-based outpatient clinics. Accomplishes the completion of a thorough independent biopsychosocial assessment. Utilizes knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses to formalize a treatment/intervention plan based on measurable, achievable goals and identified Veteran's strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and biopsychosocial acuity. Consults referrals with VA, community, and other government service agencies. Utilizes various treatment modalities and work with individuals, families, and groups to achieve the Veteran's treatment goals. Coordinates care between the Veteran and appropriate providers and resources throughout the continuum of health and human services, ensuring the care provided is safe, effective, patient-centered, timely, efficient, and equitable. Serves on committees, work groups, and task forces at the facility and VISN level or in the community. Provide subject-matter consultation to colleagues and students related to the GCCT program. Assist the GCCT Program manager in support of the Care Coordination and Integrated Case Management (CC&ICM) program. Collaborates with the Program Manager to facilitate a seamless transition of these services being adopted and accepted amongst Case Management Staff and the whole of VA Bedford. 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 Work Schedule: Monday-Friday; 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: Ad Hoc Only Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Contact Karen Chapman @ [email protected], the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Notifications: This position is in the Excepted Service. Due to a critical staffing shortage, 38 U.S.C. § 7412 waives the requirement to apply Veterans' preference for this job announcement. These positions are NAGE Bargaining Unit positions. This position is covered by locality-based comparability pay.

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: Be a citizen of the United States. Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. English Language Proficiency: Licensed practical or vocational nurses appointed to direct patient care positions must be proficient in [both] spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d). 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 Master 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 -GS-11: (1) 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 (2) 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. (3) 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. References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II Appendix G39, Social Worker Qualification Standard GS-185 Veterans Health Administration. Physical Requirements: See VA Handbook 5019.

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 Bedford Healthcare System 200 Springs Road Bedford, MA 01730 US
• Name: Elizabeth Nowak
• Phone: 401-273-7100 X14335
• Email: [email protected]