The PACT Social Worker provides social work services to Veterans receiving primary health care in the PACT Clinics, specialty care in a specialty clinic and/or urgent care through the Emergency Department at the Richard L. Roudebush VAMC.

Duties

Duties include but are not limited to: Screening/Assessment- In conjunction with the interdisciplinary medical and psychiatric staff, the PACT Social Worker screens and assesses the Veteran's psychosocial needs and barriers in order to facilitate his or her access to appropriate VA and community resources. Treatment Planning/Goal Setting - From screening/assessment information, the PACT Social Worker determines realistic goals with the Veteran, including such factors as a) the appropriate type of intervention and/or level of care, b) the setting conducive to providing such intervention or , c) the need for caregiver support to allow for the least restrictive level of , d) transportation options/barriers and e) the steps to obtaining resources (VA or community) that make the achievement of goals possible. Referral to service providers - To facilitate the continuity of a Veteran's recovery, the PACT Social Worker will arrange referrals to needed VA and/or community resources (e.g., home health care, assisted living facilities, extended care facilities/nursing homes, services available through area agencies on aging, community support groups, hospice, community-based extended care). Resource Usage/Development - As a subject matter expert on the services and resources available to Veterans through both VA and the community, the PACT Social Worker will monitor patterns of resource availability, identifying unmet needs and the resultant impact on the Veteran's psychosocial functioning. Advocacy- The PACT Social Worker will advocate for Veterans to ensure that they have access to all needed and resources within VA and in the community. Crisis Intervention - The PACT Social Worker will assess and intervene in any medical or psychiatric crises presented by the Veteran and participate in developing crisis management and safety plans to minimize the event of future crises. Education/Health promotion and prevention - The PACT Social Worker will provide education about VA and community resources, entitlement programs, VA benefits and Advance Directives/Living Wills, assisting in the completion of the advanced directive or living will as requested. Supportive counseling- The PACT Social Worker will provide the Veteran and his or her family/givers with time-limited, supportive counseling. Organ Transplant Assessment - The PACT Social Worker will complete Psychosocial Assessments for Organ Transplant candidates as consulted. Non-patient care responsibilities - The PACT Social Worker will enter all Veteran/family contacts in the electronic medical record using appropriate formats and templates. This information will be entered in a complete, confidential, timely and professional manner to promote relevant and effective communication with other VA employees about the Veteran's care. Work Schedule: Compressed Schedule 7:00am - 5:30pm Compressed/Flexible: Available Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 91171-A & 91170-A 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 Requirement - You must 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. Note: A doctoral degree in Social Work may NOT be substituted for the master's degree in Social Work. Licensure - You must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the advanced practice level, and must be able to provide supervision for licensure. Indiana requires Licensed Clinical Social Worker-LCSW. 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. 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: Experience requirements for GS-9: In addition to the basic requirements, the candidate must demonstrate the following knowledge, skills, and abilities: 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. Experience requirements for GS-11: You must have one of the following: 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); OR a doctoral degree in social work from a school of social work. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following knowledge, skills, and abilities: 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. Preferred Experience: Previous Emergency Department experience. References: VA Handbook 5005/120 Part II Appendix G39 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS9 to GS11. Physical Requirements: The physical demands of the position involve standard office requirements such as using the telephone, retrieving files, writing reports, data entry and maintenance of computer databases, etc. Work is typically performed sitting at a desk and using a computer. This position may require occasional travel. The position requires periods of walking, standing, sitting and bending.

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 Richard L Roudebush VA Medical Center 1481 West Tenth Street Indianapolis, IN 46202 US
• Name: Justina Saucedo
• Phone: 785-409-9018
• Email: [email protected]