The Social Worker performs a wide range of activities within the inpatient and outpatient geriatric and palliative care consults including case management, consultation, referrals, and education. The Social Worker supports all activities within their scope of practice to ensure the clients and their families/significant others are cared for across the continuum of care.

Duties

VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU Incumbent is an integral part of the palliative care consult team. The incumbent will participate in the education of staff on palliative care. Incumbent will complete consults as appropriate. The incumbent will participate and facilitate efficient and appropriate delivery of care across episodes of care within various care settings including the palliative care unit. Responsibilities include presenting the program and contemplating the extension of services. Services are provided to Veterans with one of the primary goals of treatment being comfort care. Education and consultation is provided to other staff of Wilmington VAMC as well as to other VA's and community health care providers/institutions that are providing care for these patients. The Social Worker provides a full range of professional Social Work services to and on behalf of Veterans and their families served by the palliative care team. Duties for the position may include but are not limited to: Completes psychosocial assessments which are focused on substance abuse, individual and family histories as well as financial, vocational, housing and other related social needs. Works with patients to develop an individualized treatment plan. Provides broad-based case management services for assigned patients. Case management responsibilities include serving as the primary therapist who coordinates treatment team activity as well as developing individualized treatment plans, making appropriate medical center and community agency referrals and summarizing all phases of rehabilitation. Performs individual therapy as indicated by psychosocial histories and treatment plan. Provides consultation to the multidisciplinary treatment team and other professionals who require professional social work expertise in problem resolution. Contacts appropriate community based human service agencies for patients in an effort to relieve the social stressors which may lead to a relapse of substance abuse. Provides documentation of assessments and intervention with patients including use of appropriate material in the problem list, treatment plan and progress notes. Maintains data and statistical compilations to comply with The Joint Commission, VA and medical center policy and procedures. Participates in medical center and departmental committees as requested. Accepts special projects which enhance the medical center and service missions. The incumbent will address Advance Directives in accordance with the standards of their work area. The incumbent will as appropriate, supervise the practice of Social Work students. The incumbent will document Social Work interventions and activities in patient's clinical record utilizing CPRS and ensure appropriate hand off when transferring of patient care. Provides supportive and bereavement counseling to patients and their families. Possesses the skills to implement complimentary modalities such as relaxation and visualization techniques. Works collaboratively with the palliative care team to provide a full range of interdisciplinary services to patients and families. Periodically evaluates trends in cases referred, delays in service, coverage, and time factors in relation to caseload. May be involved in grant writing, data collection, and publications related to the palliative care program. Establishes and maintains effective therapeutic relationships with Veterans and their families. Incumbent is able to independently work with patients and families who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric, medical and social problems utilizing individual, group and family counseling and therapy skills. The Social Worker documents in the patient's medical record in accordance with Social Work and medical center policies, and the requirements of Joint Commission. This may include a Social Work screening and/or development of a biopsychosocial assessment and treatment plan within the time frame required The Social Worker will fulfill ethical responsibilities to Veterans, colleagues and VA in accordance with NASW Code of Ethics, VHA Code of Ethics, and local Ethics policies, which includes but is not limited to compliance with all laws and regulations related to confidentiality and release of information, and protecting Veterans' personal identifying information. General knowledge of Veterans' benefits and services relating to special programs, service connected compensation, non-service connected pension. Facilitates referrals based upon Veterans needs and eligibility. Performs other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm; Subject to change to meet the needs of the Agency Telework: Maybe authorized at the discretion of the supervisor Functional Statement #: Social Worker Palliative Care/Bereavement & Geriatrics 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. English Language Proficiency: In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. You must be proficient in basic written and spoken English to perform the duties of this position. Education: Must 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 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-185 series in VHA must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level. Exception: VHA may waive the licensure or certification requirement for persons who are otherwise qualified, pending completion of state prerequisites for licensure/certification examinations. This exception only applies at the GS-9 grade level. For the GS-11 grade level, the candidate must be licensed or certified. Grade Determinations:GS-9:Experience, Education, and Licensure: None beyond the basic requirements. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): 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 Experience and Licensure: 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 the 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. In addition to the experience above, candidates must demonstrate all of the following Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (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: Hospice/Palliative experience References: VA Handbook 5005/120, Part II, Appendix G39, dated September 10, 2019 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-09 to GS-11. Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary. It may require some lifting (10-20 lbs.) occasionally. Reaching above shoulder; Frequent keyboarding (4-7 hours per day); Sitting (4-7 hours per day); Walking up to 6 hours per day); Standing (up to 8 hours per day); Infrequent climbing/descending of stairs; Some bending; Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously.

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 Wilmington VA Medical Center 1601 Kirkwood Highway Wilmington, DE 19805 US
• Name: Heather Shipp
• Phone: (302) 333-6713
• Email: [email protected]