The Oncology Social Worker practices in the Cancer Center at the West Palm Beach VA Medical Center. The incumbent performs specialized interventions centered around new cancer diagnosis, ongoing challenges throughout treatment, advanced illness planning and the end of life process.

Duties

Duties may include, but are not limited to: Provide psychosocial support and case management services to veterans and significant others followed in the oncology clinic. Social Work services are characterized by specialized and advanced social work practice addressing the needs of veterans with cancer. Special emphasis is provided to veterans with end of live care needs and cancer survivorship. There is frequent and direct contact with patients to provide therapy and support. Frequency of contacts is increased at critical times such as at time of new diagnosis and near end of life. Focus on strengthening the patient's ability to address changing needs of cancer patient and their families. Provides individual, family and group therapies as well as educational programs for veterans, families and staff. Also responsible for linking patients to other VA programs and to community resources. Provision of continuity of care within the framework of VA. For example, collaborates and consuls with other interdisciplinary treatment teams including the palliative care team to promote and enhance the care of patients. Outreach and provision of services for treatment of patients and families experiencing psychosocial challenges related to their cancer diagnosis. Maintains flexibility of veteran contact. Veterans can be seen as a component of their hematology clinic visit or when they are visiting VA for other tests, appts, etc. Telephone contact and support is fully utilized. Works consistently with outpatient teams to assure continuity of care by providing consultation regarding clinical needs, treatment plans, and case management services for assigned patients. Must demonstrate the ability to effectively utilize a broad range of treatment modalities. Completes clinical documentation according to Medical Center standards; includes but is not limited to progress notes, clinical progress reports, advanced care-planning goals. Provide documentation of patient care as prescribed by Medical Center Directives. Also document any problem areas concerning implementation of the program and own activities within the programs, and making suggestions for resolving any such problems consistent with Medical Center policies and procedures. Work with other clinical programs and product lines that share in the care oncology patients. Maintains effective working relationships and other professional and administrative personnel both within the Medical Center and in the community. Meets with VA, community, and professional organizations and individuals as needed to carry out assigned developmental and implementation responsibilities. The incumbent supervises and participates in the training of Social Workers, participates as required and requested in orientation, training and staff development programs involving Social Workers in each product line and the hospital. The incumbent assumes responsibility and shows initiative for own learning and professional development, Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30 AM - 4:00 PM Telework: May be authorized as determined by the agency/facility. 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: 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. 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/. 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: In addition to meeting the basic requirements stated above, the following qualifications criteria must be met in determining the appropriate grade assignment of candidates. GS-12 Senior Social Workercandidates must have the following: Experience/Education: The candidate must have at least two (2) years of experience post advanced practice clinical licensure and should be in a specialized area of social work practice of which, one (1) year must be equivalent to the GS-11 grade level. Senior social workers have experience that demonstrates possession of advanced practice skills and judgment. Senior social workers are experts in their specialized area of practice. Senior social workers may have certification or other post-masters training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university that includes a defined curriculum/course of study and internship or equivalent supervised professional experience in a specialty. Licensure/Certification: Senior social workers must be licensed or certified by a state at the advanced practice level which included an advanced generalist or clinical examination, unless they are grandfathered by the state in which they are licensed to practice at the advanced practice level (except for licenses issued in California, which administers its own clinical examination for advanced practice) and they must be able to provide supervision for licensure. While we no longer require essay-style responses to our Knowledge's Skills, Abilities, and Other Characteristics (KSAOs), you must be able to demonstrate that you possess the (below) competencies which are necessary to perform the work of the position. Please ensure your resume/CV/application contains sufficient information to support the level of experience/education/training; otherwise, we will not be able to award you credit for the experience/education/training you claim. These are the KSA's for this subject position: Skill in a range of specialized interventions and treatment modalities used in specialty treatment programs or with special patient populations. This includes individual, group, and/or family counseling or psychotherapy and advanced level psychosocial and/or case management. Ability to incorporate complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice. Knowledge in developing and implementing methods for measuring effectiveness of social work practice and services in the specialty area, utilizing outcome evaluations to improve treatment services and to design system changes. Ability to provide specialized consultation to colleagues and students on the psychosocial treatment of patients in the service delivery area, as well as role modeling effective social work practice skills. Ability to expand clinical knowledge in the social work profession, and to write policies, procedures, and/or practice guidelines pertaining to the service delivery area. References: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005/120, Part II, Appendix G39, Social Worker Qualification Standard. Preferred Experience: Medical, Oncology, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Social Work experience preferred. Physical Requirements: The physical demands of the work requires use of fingers; moderate walking and standing; near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; far vision correctable in on eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other; hearing aid permitted; clear speech; emotional stability; moderate duty. Ability to drive/operate government vehicle.

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 West Palm Beach VA Medical Center 7305 North Military Trail West Palm Beach, FL 33410 US
• Name: Payton Hendrix
• Phone: 813-970-3541
• Email: [email protected]