The incumbent is a social worker assigned to FHCC providing services to Veterans, Active Duty Service Members, Retirees and their Dependents. The incumbent serves as Program Coordinator in the Compensated Work Therapy/Transitional Residence Program and is responsible for all administrative and clinical duties of the program, providing treatment to Veterans who are homeless and/or diagnosed with mental illness, substance use disorder, or comorbid conditions.

Duties

Functions of this position include the following: Screening/Assessment - The social worker will develop a psychosocial assessment of the veteran in collaboration with the interdisciplinary treatment team, the Veteran, family members, and significant others. The initial psychosocial assessment will be completed as specified by the policy for the assigned work area. An initial psychosocial assessment is required as well as reassessments as defined by policy. Treatment Planning/Goal Setting- The social worker is responsible for contributing to the development of the treatment plan and setting achievable treatment goals with the Veteran and family members/caregiver. The initial psychosocial assessment will be completed as specified by the policy for the assigned work area. Referral to service providers - Throughout the course of treatment, the social worker is the subject matter expert on VA and/or community resources. The social worker will collaborate with other service providers in reassessing the Veteran's needs. The social worker is responsible for educating the Veteran and family members/caregivers of the available services and assisting them in establishing the appropriate referrals based on the Veteran's preference or that of his surrogate decision-maker. Resource Usage/Development - The social worker is responsible for using the current Social Work resource file of VA and community social service programs and enhancing the content to the benefit of Veterans. The social worker will refer the Veteran to needed services. Advocacy - The social worker understands the intimidation of bureaucracy and will act as an advocate when it serves the best interest of the Veteran and family members/caregiver. When appropriate and feasible, the social worker will educate and encourage the Veteran to advocate on their own behalf, thus fostering a sense of independence and empowerment. Crisis Intervention -The social worker is experienced in making rapid assessments and developing crisis management plans for admission to mental health inpatient programs. The social worker has access to multiple resource directories in addition to previously developed resources to meet the demands of a crisis. Education/Health promotion and prevention - The social worker provides education related to VA and community resources, entitlements, Advance Directives/Living Will and will refer Veterans and family members/caregiver to the appropriate interdisciplinary team member for identified health education needs. Coordination of non-institutional and institutional services -The social worker will review the progress notes from the other providers to accurately determine the strengths and limitations of each Veteran admitted to inpatient mental health units/programs. The social worker will educate the Veteran, their family members/caregiver and the team of all the options available to them and will collaborate with the Veteran and family members/caregiver on the preferred option. Supportive counseling -The social worker will provide the Veterans and their family members/caregiver with ongoing supportive counseling. Discharge/Aftercare planning -The social worker, in collaboration with his/her multidisciplinary treatment team and other appropriate hospital clinical staff, will assist Veteran and their family members/caregiver in planning for discharge/aftercare by offering appropriate and viable discharge/aftercare options to the Veteran and appropriate family members/caregiver. It is the responsibility of the social worker to make Veteran and family members/caregiver aware of available self-help/support groups in the community. Administrative responsibilities - The social worker will enter all Veteran/family contacts in the electronic record using appropriate formats and templates. The social worker will establish and maintain positive working relationships with employees, volunteers, consumers and stakeholders within the VA and outside community agencies. The social worker will attend all appropriate staff meetings (interdisciplinary treatment team meetings, Social work staff meetings, social work supervision meetings, and other committees and workgroups, as appropriate) and perform other duties as required. The social worker will work with social work students as needed/when requested. The social worker will collaborate in the performance improvement processes and comply with performance measures as required by the VA for their specific population and/or program. The social worker will participate in activities that obtain feedback from clients and work to enhance services as needed. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 0730-1600 Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized 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: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. 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/. 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. At the time of appointment, the supervisor, chief social work or social work executive will provide the unlicensed/uncertified social worker with the written requirements for licensure or certification, including the time by which the license or certification must be obtained and the consequences for not becoming licensed or certified by the deadline. 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 (Program Coordinator), GS-12 Experience and Education. One year of experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level. Experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment, demonstrating progressively more professional competency. Candidate may have certification or other post-master's degree training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university that includes a defined curriculum/course of study and internship, or equivalent supervised professional experience. Licensure/Certification. Individuals assigned as social worker program coordinator must be licensed or certified at the advanced practice level, and must be able to provide supervision for licensure. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Knowledge of program coordination and administration which includes consultation, negotiation, and monitoring. Knowledge and ability to write policies, procedures, and/or practice guidelines for the program. Ability to supervise multidisciplinary staff assigned to the program. Skill in organizing work, setting priorities, meeting multiple deadlines, and evaluating assigned program area(s). Ability to provide training, orientation, and guidance within clinical practice. References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/120 PART II APPENDIX G39 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12.

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 Captain James A Lovell Federal Health Care Center 3001 Green Bay Road North Chicago, IL 60064 US
• Name: Jessica Thompson
• Phone: 757-722-9961
• Email: [email protected]