The incumbent will work with the PCAFC Program Coordinators and the Program of General Caregiver Support Services (PGCSS) Coordinator and/or designee to complete program required home visits, telephone contacts, assessments, annual evaluations, and respond to Caregiver Hotline calls. In addition, they will work in partnership with areas throughout the medical center to identify and meet the needs of Caregivers through direct services or through partnerships with other professional colleagues.

Duties

VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU Major duties include, but are not limited to: All clinical social work duties will be performed under direct clinical supervision with oversight, mentoring and guidance from the Caregiver Support Program Manager, REC social work supervisor and/or the Social Work Program Coordinator (who is are LICSW prepared Social Workers). The incumbent participates in direct Caregiver and Veteran contacts to identify and assess Caregiver stress/burden and the development and application of directed clinical treatment interventions. They collaborate with interdisciplinary teams throughout the medical center on Caregiver issues, offers educational tools, supports program development, and provides training focused on specific Caregiver needs/issues. The incumbent provides education and in-service training to VAMC employees, Veterans, families and Caregivers regarding the Caregiver Support Program. The incumbent assists in developing and facilitating Caregiver support groups (face-to-face, VVC or VANTS telephone line), educational programs, providing direct services and referrals, and coordinating respite services. The incumbent distributes educational materials provided by VA, local, state and national Caregiver organizations. The incumbent will be responsible for assessing the bio-psycho-social needs of Caregivers as well as assessing the Veteran's functional and psychosocial needs. This will include the need for personal care services using standardized assessments, which will assist the Centralized Eligibility and Appeal Teams (CEAT) in determining eligibility. The incumbent may assess Veterans needs for personal care services, particularly Activities of Daily Living (ADLs), supervision, protection or instruction, working collaboratively with the Caregiver Support Program Coordinator(s) and/or designee(s), to complete Veteran functional assessments and re-assessments. The incumbent will be involved in responding to calls from the National Caregiver Support Hotlines, responding to other phone calls and general inquiries relating to the Caregiver Support Program including those served through via PCAFC eligibility and those seeking general Caregiver support. They will collaborate on the development and maintenance of a library of Caregiver support resources and information for distribution through the various inpatient/outpatient and specialty clinic settings. The incumbent will collaborate with various teams including those in REC, Primary Care (PACT), Geri-PACT, mental health and community stakeholders. They will maintain knowledge of current federal and state legislation related to Caregiver initiatives. The Social Worker will use sound judgement in the interpretation of trends and patterns, the application of guidelines, and the recommendation of program enhancements. They will seek guidance and consultation with complex cases. The incumbent will assist the Program Coordinator(s) in providing clinical services as part of the program, completing notes and gathering/monitoring data related to the day-to-day functioning and evaluation of the program. The incumbent conducts Caregiver and family clinical interventions to facilitate the identification of Caregiver stress, psychiatric illness, emotional distress and social needs as treatment issues. Professional judgment, including the knowledge of normal and abnormal behavior, is an inherent competency applied in daily interactions with Caregivers and the Veterans they care for. The incumbent conducts psychosocial assessments and develops treatment plans in collaboration with the Veteran/family and with the interdisciplinary treatment team while receiving clinical supervision. The incumbent demonstrates the skills to offer psychosocial interventions and measures outcomes to interventions. They are skilled in resource facilitation, systems navigation, and crisis management. Clinical roles will include advanced care planning, providing supportive therapy to those who are adjusting to chronic illnesses, completing mental health assessments, coordinate team and family meetings, and on occasion, providing case manage services to Caregiver/Veterans with complex psycho-social factors. They will have the working knowledge and experience in the use of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities and treatment procedures. This will include acute, chronic and traumatic illnesses/injuries, common medications and their effects/side effects, and medical terminology. The incumbent will engage in community home visits for the completion of in-home assessments as associated with the mandates of the program. Regional travel will be required. Work Schedule: Administrative days Telework: Telework, if approved, will be on an Ad-Hoc basis only. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Recruitment/Relocation Incentive: 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. English Language Proficiency: Social workers must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j, this part. Education Requirement: Master of Social Work: Must possess a master's degree in social work from a school of social work fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. Note: 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. COPY OF TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED. Licensure Requirement: Appointment at the GS-11 Full Performance Level: Persons hired or reassigned to full performance 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. OR Appointment at the GS-9 (Entry or Developmental Level): 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 appointments at the GS-9 grade level, VHA social workers who are not licensed or certified at the time of appointment must become licensed or certified at the independent, master's level within three years of their appointment as a social worker. Grade Determinations: GS-9 None beyond the basic requirements. For appointments at the GS-9 grade level, VHA social workers who are not licensed or certified at the time of appointment must become licensed or certified at the independent, master's level within three years of their appointment as a social worker. Most states require two years of post-MSW experience as a prerequisite to taking the licensure/certification exam, and VHA gives social workers one additional year to pass the licensure/certification exam. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the applicant's resume 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. This requires judgment and skill in utilizing supportive, problem solving, or crisis intervention techniques. 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. 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, the applicant's resume 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. References: VA Handbook 5005 Part II, Appendix G39 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: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application.

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 Minneapolis VA Medical Center One Veterans Drive Minneapolis, MN 55417 US
• Name: Jason Arcand
• Phone: 612-629-7118
• Email: [email protected]