The Intimate Partner Violence Assistance Program (IPVAP) Social Worker's primary responsibilities are to provide clinical evidence based services including, assessments and interventions; Veteran, family, Caregiver and staff interventions; and evaluation/consultation. The incumbent is based in the medical center and/or facility in order to support real time, in person, response to referrals.

Duties

VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU Duties include but are not limited to: Implement the Intimate Partner Violence Assistance Program specific to his/her area of assignment and insures compliance and collaboration with local facility and the VA Central Office Intimate Partner Violence Assistance Program initiatives. Participate in direct Veteran, family, Caregiver, and VA employee contacts to identify and assess risk, safety, supports and the development and application of directed clinical treatment interventions. Advises and collaborates with interdisciplinary teams throughout the medical center on intimate partner violence (IPV) issues. Creates educational tools, develops programs and implements training focused on specific IPV needs/issues. Provides education and in-service training to VAMC employees, Veterans, families and Caregivers. Provides ongoing consultation and support to colleagues regarding IPV assistance. Develops and facilitates support groups (face-to-face or VANTS telephone line) and educational programs. Distributes educational materials provided by VA, local, state and national IPV organizations. Administer information and analytical systems to evaluate and enhance the quality of service provided to Veterans, families, Caregivers and VA employees impacted by intimate partner violence. Develops and implements information systems to track service activities including visits, referrals, demographics, equipment utilization and Veteran satisfaction. Develops implements and evaluates clinical guidelines and protocols to establish appropriate utilization of services. Conduct Veteran, family, Caregiver and VA employee interventions to facilitate the identification of intimate partner violence, psychiatric illness, emotional distress and social needs as treatment issues. Professional judgment, including the knowledge of normal and abnormal behavior, is an inherent competency applied in daily interactions with clients. Provide referrals to VA medical and mental health treatment and to other VA services including VA benefits, as well as community-based social services and other non-VA entitlement programs. Serve as the major consultant for information on negotiating the complex processes Veterans, their families, caregivers and VA employees encounter when interacting with government and community agencies. Collaborate with the Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT), Mental Health and Geriatric Primary Care clinicians to provide Veteran and staff education on intimate partner violence. Coordination will include hands-on support group work involvement, and training of patient aligned care team clinical social work staff in the development and facilitation of such groups. Assist the IPVAP-C to develop a library of IPV assistance information material for distribution through the various inpatient/outpatient and specialty clinic settings. Educational material must be specific to the age group serviced in the clinic, i.e. Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson disease in the general and geriatric settings and PTSD and TBI information in the general, OEF/OIF/OND era, post-deployment and Polytrauma Center settings. Serve as a liaison between the VA and community agencies. Participates in IPV assistance activities in the local community and state to promote and recognize the role of individuals who use and/or experience IPV. Participates on state and local IPV assistance committees. Assist the IPVAP-C to coordinate the events and programs for the annual Domestic Violence Awareness Month every October that includes announcement and advertising of month long activities, mobilization of participants, educational sessions, and VA IPV Assistance programs. Perform a wide range of services and provides technical assistance to state, local, and private agencies, and universities. Technical assistance provided is based on monitoring activities and program reviews, and the development and analysis of information. In addition, the incumbent uses sound judgment in the interpretation of trends and patterns; the application of guidelines; and the recommendation of program enhancements. The incumbent performs program analysis, development, review, research, design, and contact work as possible with various agencies (public, DOD, state, etc.). Work Schedule: 8:00am - 4:30pm, Monday-Friday Telework: Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Travel: Local travel to various VA Pittsburgh Health Care System (VAPHS) sites and Community outreach events with VAPH catchment area sites. Functional Statement #: 000000 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: 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 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). Grade Determinations Social Worker, GS-0185-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. 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, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: 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: Minimum two years working with domestic violence/intimate partner violence experience preferred. References: VA HANDBOOK 5005, PART II, APPENDIX G39 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. Physical Requirements: Must be able to walk/stand for at least 8 hours a day; ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other; ability to distinguish basic colors; hearing (aid permitted); clear speech; will be outside and inside; possible excessive noise, intermittent; work closely with others. Must be able to pass drivers physical.

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

Contacts

• Address Pittsburgh VA Medical Center 1010 Delafield Road Pittsburgh, PA 15215 US
• Name: Lisa Campos
• Phone: (414) 384-2000 X47744
• Email: [email protected]