The Intimate Partner Violence Assistance Program (IPVAP) Social Worker is assigned to the IPVAP Program with primary responsibilities to provide clinical evidence-based services and interventions; provide Veteran and staff education on intimate partner violence (IPV); engage in community outreach and resource development, continuous quality-improvement activities, and evaluation and consultation.

Duties

Duties to include but not limited to: Supports compliance with IPV screening, identification and documentation protocols in accordance with the VHA Directive 1198 and other related national policies and guidance. Conducts Relationship Health and Safety Screenings and Assessments, makes referrals to community resources and governmental agencies for services, coordinating services as needed. Serves as a subject matter expert (SME) for addressing the needs of Veterans, their intimate partners, caregivers and VA employees experience relating to IPV, as well as enhancing the quality of service provided. Independently conducts psychosocial assessments and assesses IPV risks, psychiatric illness, emotional distress and social drivers of health, social risks and social needs. Conducts safety planning (and provides consultation to other clinical staff as needed) with individuals at risk for IPV. Incumbent identifies resources and additional needs for clinical interventions. Provides evidenced-based interventions, specifically IPV-related interventions including Strength at Home (SAH) and Recovering from IPV through Strengths and Empowerment (RISE), as well as other support groups and educational programs. Provides consultation to facilitators of SAH, RISE and so forth. Provides education, referrals, and consults to VA services and programs as appropriate when meeting directly with Veterans. Provides a full range of social work services within commonly accepted standards of social work practice which includes independently implementing different treatment modalities with individuals, families, and groups who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric, medical, and social problems to achieve treatment goals. Adjusts interventions and approach to be responsive and sensitive to ethic and cultural diversity and age-specific challenges of specialty and vulnerable populations. Assists patients and their significant others with coping and dealing with the loss and grief experiences in disability, terminal illness and death. Documents social work interventions and activities in patient's clinical record utilizing the Electronic Health Record and ensure appropriate hand off when transferring of patient care consistent with VHA Directive 1198 and other related national policies and guidance. Addresses Advance Directives and mental health preferences in accordance with the standards of their work area. Provides 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. May provide formal clinical supervision of social work students or less experienced social workers, if appropriate per licensure and policy. Maintains data and upholds professional and agency standards to comply with Joint Commission, VA and medical center policy and procedures. Performs work in a wide range of settings including within the medical center, teleworking, or in community-based settings. Work areas may be noisy, irregular, unpredictable and may be stressful at times. This position requires work in the community which may include the ability to operate a government vehicle. Attends all appropriate staff meetings and performs other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm 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. 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 the CSWE website to verify if that social work degree meets the accreditation standards for a master of social work. In addition to the experience above, candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs either at the GS-9 grade level or GS-11 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: GS-9: Experience, Education, and Licensure: None beyond the basic requirements. GS-11: Experience and Licensure. Appointment to the GS-11 grade level requires 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) 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 year of professional social work experience in a clinical setting. References: Handbook 5005, Part II Appendix G39, Social Worker Qualification Standard GS-185 Veterans Health Administration. Physical Requirements: The applicant must be able to perform primarily light and sedentary duties with occasionally moderate physical demands, exercise patience, and control emotions, with reasonable accommodation if necessary, without endangering the health and safety of the applicant or others.

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 Atlanta VA Medical Center 1670 Clairmont Road Decatur, GA 30033 US
• Name: Christie Lowery
• Phone: 205-554-2000
• Email: [email protected]