The Social Worker is a critical position within the Columbia VAMC Social Work Service (Geriatric and Extended Care). The incumbent works with the Veteran's PACT Social Work and Contract Nursing Home staff as needed. The PACT SW retains sole responsibility for sending Veteran's clinical to the CNH and securing respite bed offer based on the Veteran's individual care needs. Approximate 80% of the incumbent will be within the CNH with 20% delegated to respite.

Duties

VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU Major duties may include, but are not limited to: The incumbent will participate in the screening of Veterans for participation in the VA respite program to include seeking non-institutional care such as Community Adult Daycare Healthcare or in-home respite as needed. The incumbent will review the file and ensure all documentation is completed in both the institutional and non-institutional setting or agency as appropriate once the Primary Care Team secures a bed offer. The incumbent will review CPRS to confirm all appropriate documentation is available to preclude delay in admission due to missing or lack of documentation; provides case management to Veterans admitted to VA contract nursing homes with a focus on providing oversight and document visits per established policy, and document visits/interactions according to the service level and medical center policies. Throughout treatment and enrollment, the incumbent is the subject matter expert on VA and/or community resources. He/She collaborates with PACT and other service providers in reassessing the Veteran's need for continual respite care or discharge from the program. The Incumbent is responsible for using the current social work resource file of VA and community social services programs and enhancing the content to the benefit of Veterans. The incumbent will refer the Veteran to needed services, maintains communication with GEC administrative and VISN staff members, while keeping abreast of national information/guidance regarding the involved programs. The incumbent will act as an advocate while serving the best interest of the Veteran/family. The incumbent will act as an advocate for the VA and the need for services in specific geographical areas. At all-time the incumbent will present the VA in the community. The incumbent will process alleged abuse cases according to established VA and community policy, and ensures that the Chief of Social Work Services or designee is kept informed of any concerns with either patients or community facilities. The incumbent provides education related to VA and community resources, entitlements, health care planning, and will refer veterans/families to appropriate interdisciplinary team members for identified health education needs. The incumbent will provide Veterans and their caregivers with ongoing supportive counseling. The purpose of such counseling is to deal with the psychosocial impacting of chronic/disabling illnesses (ex), such as on-set of catastrophic illness and/ terminal illness, need for non-institutional care or incumbent will assist Veterans/families in coping and dealing with loss and grief experienced in disability, terminal illness, and death. The Social Worker will establish and maintain positive working relationships with employees, volunteers, consumers and stakeholders within the VA and outside community agencies. The incumbent will attend all meetings (interdisciplinary treatment team meeting, Social Work Services staff meetings, GEC Meetings, etc.) and perform other duties as required. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday | 0800-1630 Telework: 100% Telework Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 54756F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

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 Master 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/. English Language Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).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). Social Worker, 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 and demonstrate the following: a) Ability to work with Veterans and family members from various socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other diversified backgrounds utilizing counseling skills. b) 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. (c) 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. (d) Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients, staff, and representatives of community agencies. (e) 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 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. NOTE: For appointment licensure or certification at this level please refer to paragraph 3c. 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. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: a) Knowledge of community resources, how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services, and ability to coordinate services. b) 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. c) 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. d) 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. e) 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 HANDBOOK 5005/120 PART II APPENDIX G39. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-9 to GS-11. Physical Requirements: Traveling throughout the medical center and the community is required, as is performing activities involving sitting, walking, and standing, bending and carrying such items as books, papers, and files. May be necessary for the incumbent to travel into the community where he/she conducts interviews with the Veterans, their families, representatives of community health and welfare agencies and law enforcement agencies. Must possess current driver's license and drive a government vehicle in carrying out professional duties when deemed necessary.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript (with a conferred date) 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 Columbia VA Health Care System 6439 Garners Ferry Road Columbia, SC 29209 US
• Name: Greta Kirby
• Email: [email protected]