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 Work Service (SWS) Acute Care Coordination (CC) Social Worker provides social work services to Veterans admitted to acute/ inpatient medicine at the Southern Arizona VA Health Care System (SAVAHCS). The inpatient medicine setting is a fast- paced work environment in which interdisciplinary collaboration is key to accomplishing time sensitive tasks. The safe, timely, and efficient discharges of inpatient Veterans is essential to the operations of the SAVAHCS facility. Major duties include: Provides clinical duties to include a full range of social work within commonly accepted standards of social work practice that include comprehensive biopsychosocial spiritual assessments, social determinants of health screenings, Advance Directives, Goals of Care, case management, crisis intervention, risk/suicide assessments, documentation, safety planning, abuse/neglect/exploitation reporting, psychoeducation, discharge, and other services as appropriate. Assesses and reports any patient safety concerns in a timely manner to appropriate entities to include suicide safety planning and abuse/neglect reporting. Implements timely, safe, and clinically appropriate discharge care planning through methods of casework, referrals, collaboration with the patient and/or their decision maker, their multidisciplinary team and other modes of intervention. Facilitates patient's self-determination and self-management through tenants of advocacy, shared and informed decision making, counseling, and health education. Arranges discharge home, or to necessary placements (e.g., skilled nursing homes, assisted living facilities, adult care homes, etc.) and engages other VHA and community services as needed and ensures that adequate follow-up care has been brokered, when appropriate. Provides education related to coping with health conditions, VA and community resources, entitlements, Advance Directives and Life Sustaining Treatment options, guardianship, insurance, and co-pay(s) information, etc. Refers Veterans/families to the appropriate VA staff, programs, and community resources. Maintains effective professional working relationships with medical center staff, subject matter experts, veteran's support systems, leadership, and community agencies in the provision of safe, appropriate, effective, patient-centered, timely, efficient, and equitable care and services. Uses and maintains current knowledge on patient-centered whole health and a collaborative partnership approach, that is responsive to the patient's culture, linguistic sensitivity, preferences, needs and values. Implements evidence-base care guidelines in the care of the patient, as available and applicable to the practice setting and/or patient population served. Adheres to national and local policies on clinical documentation practices and documents social work activity in medical record comprehensively, timely, promptly, accurately, and concisely. Provides consultation, training, and education to VA staff on the role of social work, social work practices, psychosocial resources at the VA and in the community, and research pertaining to their scope of practice. Adheres to and maintains compliance with federal, state, and local directives, policies, operating procedures, rules and regulations, accreditation, and certification standards. Assumes responsibility for professional development, attends social work staff meetings and daily huddles. Supervises the practice of social work students, or a less experienced social worker. Serves the Medical Center and social work profession in a variety of capacities, such as committee, unit councils, workgroups, special assignments, or other duties as assigned that are necessary to meet program goals and VA Mission. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday. 8:00am to 4:30pm. Works some week-ends and holidays as needed. Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Contact Contact [email protected], the EDRP office for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): 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 Citizenship. Citizen of the United States. Licensure. Full, unrestricted license or certification by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level. Education. Master's degree in social work (MSW) 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 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 master's degree in social work. Preferred Experience: Experience in inpatient setting. Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements above, candidates must meet the following grade requirements. GS-09 Experience: None beyond the basic requirements listed above. Candidate must demonstrate 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. Assignments. Individuals assigned as GS-9 grade level social workers are considered to be at the entry level and are closely supervised, as they are not yet functioning at the independent practice level conferred by independent licensure or certification. Social workers at the GS-9 entry level are typically assigned to program areas that do not require specialized knowledge or experience. Duties may include but are 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. Since social workers at this level are not practicing at an independent level, they should not be assigned to program areas where independent practice is required, such as in a CBOC, unless there is a licensed social worker in the program area who can provide supervision for practice. GS-9 social workers provide psychosocial services in the assigned area under supervision. GS-11 Experience/Education: Candidates must possess at least 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; or a Doctoral degree. Additionally, candidates must demonstrate the following KSA's 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. Assignments. This is the full performance level. Social workers at this level are licensed or certified to independently practice social work. Incumbents are assigned to all program areas, including but not limited to: inpatient or outpatient medicine, surgery, mental health, neurology, rehabilitation medicine, and geriatrics. Employees provide professional, independent social work services in the assigned area. Duties include but are not limited to: assessing and documenting identified behaviors or symptoms of abuse, neglect, exploitation and/or intimate partner violence; use of clinical social work skills and knowledge to maintain Veteran privacy and confidentiality per policies, handbooks or directives; and acts as an advocate with appropriate VA and community service providers and agencies when it serves the best interest of the Veteran and family members/caregiver. Incumbent independently assesses the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and their family members, identifying the Veteran's strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and psychosocial acuity. 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-09 to GS-11. References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G39 - Social Worker Qualification Standard. Additional information regarding the assignments at the full performance level can be found in the appendix referenced above. Physical Requirements: The work requires the incumbent to be mobile throughout the medical center as needed, involving standing, walking, bending, pushing, and lifting. The incumbent should be capable of prolonged standing/walking and be physically capable of pushing equipment, wheelchairs, and patient stretcher. Light lifting (under 15 pounds); light carrying (under 15 pounds); reaching above shoulder; use of fingers; both hands required; walking; standing; hearing (aid permitted); emotional stability; ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing.

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 Tucson VA Medical Center 3601 South Sixth Avenue Tucson, AZ 85723 US
• Name: Cherie Mennel
• Phone: 520-792-1450 X6213
• Email: [email protected]