The incumbent is a clinical social worker assigned to the North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System (NF/SGVHS) Emergency Department and Inpatient Acute Psychiatry. The social worker's responsibilities include the assessment of psychosocial and mental health problems, actively participating in multi-disciplinary treatment planning, individual and group counseling, and evidence based therapies with Veterans and/or their family members/significant others/caregivers.

Duties

The social worker is responsible for ensuring appropriate patient-centered discharge plans aimed to achieve maximum independence are prepared for Veterans. Work performed is commensurate with appropriate level of licensure and within the guidelines of state licensure laws. Duties may include, but are not limited to: The social worker will independently complete psychosocial/mental health assessments of Veterans in collaboration with the interdisciplinary treatment team, the Veteran, family members, caregivers, and significant others. The goal of the assessment is to identify needs and formulate a plan to meet those needs. The social worker must be knowledgeable of the problems of mental health and respect for the diversification of the mental health Veteran population, being sensitive to human growth and development, age-appropriate needs and concerns of the mental health Veteran. The social worker will provide current and advanced techniques to the treatment of this Veteran population appropriate to level of licensure and under appropriate supervision, as applicable. It is the responsibility of the social worker, working within the interdisciplinary treatment team, to share in the development of a treatment plan with the Veteran based on this assessment. With the treatment team, the social worker will assess and determine needs for high risk suicide protocol to be implemented. The social worker is responsible for developing the discharge plan through collaboration with the Veteran, family members/caregiver, and the interdisciplinary team. The social worker establishes plans, goals and evaluates outcomes of interventions for a wide variety of individuals from various socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other diversified backgrounds. The social worker will independently assess the psychosocial and mental health functioning and needs of patients and their family members, to formulate and implement a discharge plan, identifying the patient's problems, strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and assistance needed. The social worker is responsible for assisting in the development of the treatment plan and developing achievable treatment goals with the Veteran and family members/caregiver and collaborating with all additional providers. The treatment plan will be documented in approved VA treatment planning software and in the electronic health record. The social worker is responsible for planning and organizing work, coordinating with clinical interdisciplinary staff, other professional and clinical staff, and management personnel. This social worker is responsible for reviewing and coordinating all phases of the continuing care for Veterans served. Throughout the course of treatment, the social worker is the subject matter expert on VA and/or community resources. The social worker continually reassesses the Veteran's needs, with input from interdisciplinary team members, as appropriate and ensures goal oriented treatment plans and the progress of meeting treatment goals is well documented in the electronic health record. The social worker is responsible for educating the Veteran and family members/significant others/caregivers of the available services and assisting them in establishing the appropriate referrals based on the Veteran's preference or that of his/her surrogate decision-maker. The social worker will ensure discussion on resources and referrals are documented in the electronic health record. The incumbent is responsible for developing, updating and using current social worker resources within VA and community social service programs. The incumbent acts as an advocate when needed to serve the best interest of the Veteran and family members/caregiver. Additionally, the social worker will educate and encourage the Veteran to advocate on his/her own behalf, thus fostering a sense of independence and empowerment. The incumbent will complete crisis assessments, developing and executing crisis management plans in a timely, effective and efficient manner. The incumbent has advanced skills in independently making rapid assessments and developing crisis management plans. The incumbent provides education related to navigating the VA system, use of community resources, entitlements, Advance Directives/Living Will/Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care, and Life Sustaining Treatment Decisions through Goals of Care Conversations. The social worker provides psychoeducation to the Veterans, family members/caregivers and refers them to appropriate interdisciplinary team members or services for identified health education needs. The social worker will perform other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM Telework: Not available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 573-FS-122-021 Social Worker, GS-11 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: 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. 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-11 Social Worker candidates 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-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. References: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005/120, Part II, Appendix G39, Social Worker Qualification Standard. Preferred Experience: Advanced Practice Licensure preferred with minimum of 2-3 years medical and mental health social work experience preferably in a hospital, inpatient mental health, and/or mental health crisis evaluation setting. Knowledge and skill/ability to complete assessments and discharge planning. Demonstrated knowledge of DSM V TR and co-occurring medical and mental health diagnoses. Demonstrated ability to manage mental health crisis to include assessment and follow-up for patients with suicidal ideations and homicidal ideations. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. Physical Requirements: The work requires extreme patience and controlling of emotions. Day-to-day work involves sitting, walking, standing, and carrying light objects. Work is typically performed in a clinical setting that exposes the social worker to communicable diseases common to the hospital setting. Able to meet the physical demands of the position, reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. They must have good manual dexterity. Must be able to express or exchange ideas by means of spoken and written word. Must be able to view and read information on computer screens. The job entails walking, standing, bending, pushing, traveling among several different stories/floors, sitting, working on a computer, carrying objects.

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 Malcom Randall Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center 1601 Southwest Archer Road Gainesville, FL 32608 US
• Name: Yolanda Ortiz-Davila
• Phone: (407) 631-7515
• Email: [email protected]