The incumbent is assigned to the Social Work General Medicine and Surgical Section. He/she is responsible for the provision of a full range of social work services to patients, families, and significant others, in dealing with psychosocial problems presented by these beneficiaries, which present highly complex situations. He/she coordinates Discharge Planning activities on the assigned program involving patient and significantothers in order to facilitate Guideline for Discharge.

Duties

Duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to: Assessment/Re-Assessment: The social worker will develop an assessment of the veteran in collaboration with the interdisciplinary treatment team, the veteran, family members and significant others. The incumbent demonstrates an understanding of the range of treatment and skills needed for all adult patients including geriatric patients related to their physical limitations, psychological needs and age associated illnesses and conditions. The Social Work Consult will be completed within 48 hours from consultation/referral; a Social Work Discharge Planning Assessment will be completed in cases required due to their complexity, referred to other VA services or community. A reassessment is required as indicated by changes in patient's medical condition. A Social Work Admission Screening will be completed by Social Worker and other staff assigned, as Social Work Associate, will collaborate. Treatment Planning/Goal Setting: Incumbent is responsible for formulating the treatment plan and setting achievable goals with the veteran/family. Care Coordination: Incumbent coordinates Discharge Planning Process on assigned wards and determines the most effective treatment modality utilizing a range of social work models and techniques. He/she integrates these services with those of other professional personnel as member of the interdisciplinary team. Assures Continuity of Care identifying the need of post-discharge follow-up. Completes an electronic Coordination of Care Referral when social work follow-up is required in the patient's next level of care. Supportive Counseling: The incumbent performs individual supportive counseling with patients and families/significant others as necessary, requiring utilization of a variety of psychological and counseling theories and modalities. The decision regarding the particular method to be employed is at his/her discretion, with appropriate supervisory input. Assistance is also provided to allied health personnel through consultation to the end that general patient care and therapeutic intervention is maximized. Advocacy: Social worker will act as an advocate when it serves the best interest of the veteran/family. When appropriate and feasible, social worker will educate and encourage the veteran/family to advocate on own behalf, thus fostering a sense of independence and empowerment. Education/Health promotion and prevention: Incumbent provides education related to VA and community resources, entitlements, Advance Directives/Living Will and will refer veterans/families 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 being referred for social work intervention. Social worker will educate the veteran, their families and the team of all the options available to them and will collaborate with the veteran and family on the preferred option. Administrative responsibilities: The incumbent will enter all veteran/family contacts in the electronic record using appropriate formats and templates. Prepares statistics reports, uses the Event Capture System/Decision Support System Data Entry (DSS) and/or other statistical program. The social worker will establish and maintain positive working relationships with employees, volunteers, consumers and stakeholders within the VA and outside community agencies. Social Worker will attend all appropriate staff meetings and perform other duties as required and the coverage of other in-patient ward/area as assigned. 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. Social worker will participate in activities that obtain feedback from clients and work to enhance services as needed. Training and Education: Participation in in-service training programs with Nursing Service, Medical Service, HAS, Social Work, and other services and their affiliated training programs will be required as the need and demand arise. The incumbent may also supervise social work intern and practicum students. Incumbent shall also participate in intra and extra-VA educational programs, including community activities that present opportunity for fostering patient rehabilitation through a greater understanding of VA programs. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 7:30am-4:00pm (Note: The incumbent may be required to work various shifts on a permanent or temporary basis based on facility/patient care needs). Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Title/Functional Statement #:Social Worker (Medicine/Surgical Section)/PD06453F and PD06455F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be Authorized- As determined by Facility/Agency

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 Requirement: Per VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, Section A, Paragraph 3j: No person will be appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C., chapter 73 or 74, to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA who is not proficient in written and spoken English. 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 dependently practice social work at the master's degree level. Current state requirements may be found by going to http://vaww.va.gv/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-09 Social Workercandidates must have the following: Experience, Education, and Licensure: None beyond the basic requirements. GS-11 Social Workercandidates must have the following: Experience and Licensure: Appointment to the GS-11 grade level requires completion of a minimum of one (1) 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 (1) year of professional social work experience in a clinical setting. 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: GS-09 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 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: Working with Mental Health population. References: VA Handbook 5005/120, Part II, Appendix G-39, qualification standard for the appointment of Social Workers, GS-0185, in VA. Selective Placement Factor (SPF): This position includes a skill, knowledge, ability or other worker characteristic basic to -and essential for- satisfactory performance of the job. Selective Placement Factors are a prerequisite to appointment and represent minimum requirements for a position. Applicants who do not meet it are ineligible for further consideration. Evidence of the Selective Placement Factor must be reflected in your resume. The SPF for this position is: In addition to the English Language Proficiency, you must also be proficient in basic written and spoken Spanish in order to perform the duties of this position. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. Physical Requirements: Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Services.

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.

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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Contacts

• Address San Juan VA Medical Center 10 Calle Casia San Juan, PR 00921 US
• Name: Yolanda Ortiz-Davila
• Phone: (407) 664-3446
• Email: [email protected]