The Cardiology Hub and Spoke Network Social Worker provides social work services to Veterans receiving care in the context of the Cardiology Hub and Spoke Network. Provides clinical psychosocial and case management services at an advanced practice level to eligible Veterans with a variety of cardiovascular disease diagnoses. This position will require travel to multiple duty stations within the Cardiology Hub and Spoke Network.

Duties

Screening/Assessment-Independently evaluates the Veteran's situation, including environmental responses, and uses advanced practice skills to complete treatment plans in conjunction with psychosocial diagnosis. Risk factors are addressed, and a preliminary disposition plan is documented. Perform assessment of serious and complicated cases involving psychiatric illness, catastrophic medical conditions, dementia, and other high-risk diagnoses. Treatment Planning/Goal Setting-Independently develops psychosocial treatment plans in accordance with resulting interdisciplinary team meetings including goals for psychosocial clinical treatment based on the initial assessment of the Veteran. Uses advanced practice skills to advise and recommend appropriate actions related to the comprehensive treatment plan. Update treatment plan as needed. Referral to Service Providers-Facilitate the continuity of a Veteran's recovery, will arrange referrals to needed VA and/or community resources. Collaborate with other service providers in re-assessing the Veteran's needs during the eligibility determination process and coordinating access to information needed for the referral. Educate the Veteran and/or caregiver about available services. Resource Usage/Development-As a subject matter expert on the services and resources available to Veterans with cardiovascular disease through both VA and the community, will monitor patterns of resource availability, identifying unmet needs and the resultant impact on the Veteran's health status and psychosocial functioning. Communicate with appropriate stakeholders to encourage the development of new and innovative resources. Advocacy-Advocate for Veterans to ensure that they have access to all needed care and resources within VA and in the community. By availing the Veteran of their choices in complex decisions and by guiding the Veteran through complicated enrollment procedures and bureaucratic processes to facilitate the best possible outcome for the Veteran. Crisis Intervention-Assist in mitigating any medical or psychiatric crises arising in presenting Veterans, within the scope of social work practice, and participate in developing crisis management and safety plans to minimize the event of future crises. Education/Health Promotion and Prevention-Provide education about VA and community resources, entitlement programs, health insurance options, VA benefits and Advance Directives/Living Will, and completing as requested. Refer Veterans and their families/caregivers to the appropriate team member for identified health education needs. Supportive counseling-Provide the Veteran and their family/caregivers with time-limited, supportive counseling to include guidance, emotional support, and management of lifestyle changes. Encourages Veterans, families, caregivers, significant others and assists as needed to cope with various critical situations through the problem-solving process, evaluating viable options, and provides appropriate resources to help maintain optimal health and quality of life. Administrative/Non-Patient Care Responsibilities-Enter all Veteran/family contacts in the electronic health record. This information will be entered in a complete, confidential, timely and professional manner to promote relevant and effective communication with other VA employees about the Veteran's care. Participate in team meetings as required, completing documentation as required. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of existing pay, higher or unique qualifications, or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade). Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience. Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child. Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66. Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Ad-Hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. 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 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 SW Licensure Summary by State. Loss of Licensure or Certification. Once licensed or certified, social workers must maintain a full, valid, and unrestricted independent license or certification to remain qualified for employment. Loss of licensure or certification will result in removal from the GS-0185 social worker series and may result in termination of employment. English Language Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). Grade Determinations: Social Worker (Program Coordinator) GS-13 Experience Requirement: You must possess one year of experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level. Examples of specialized experience include, but are not limited to: Serving as the sole practitioner in a specialty program and typically provide direct patient care services in the program area; oversees the daily operation of the program, develop policies and procedures for program operation, and prepare reports and statistics; may be responsible for the program's budget, developing and monitoring staff compliance with practice, standards and guidelines on documentation, workload, data entry, ethical practice and service delivery; provides analysis and evaluation of clinical program data and computerized programs to identify system-wide trends and needs to enhance the quality of service. Experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment, demonstrating progressively more professional competency. Licensure/Certification. Individuals assigned as social worker program coordinator must be licensed or certified at the advanced practice level, and must be able to provide supervision for licensure. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, you must demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: Skill in coordinating and implementing one or more specialty program(s), across the facility. Skill in local policy and practice development, procedures, and/or practice guidelines for the program as prescribed by the program handbook or national directive. Skill in organizing work, setting priorities, meeting multiple deadlines, and evaluating assigned program area(s). Ability to collaborate with internal and external partners to further program goals and enhance patient centered care. Ability to provide the full range of supervisory duties including assignment of work to be performed; performance evaluations; and selection of staff, training, and recommendation of awards, advancements, and when appropriate, disciplinary action. Ability to oversee the fiscal matters of the functions supervised (including fund controls, contracts, and equipment expenditures), forecast resource and equipment needs, and administer the allocated budget. Knowledge of organizational structure and impact on program operations. Preferred Experience: Experience with independently providing clinical psychosocial and case management services at an advanced practice level to eligible Veterans with cardiovascular disease diagnoses including ischemic heart disease, atrial fibrillation/atrial flutter, aortic stenosis, and congestive heart failure. References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, AppendixG39. Social Worker Qualification Standards dated September 10, 2019 Physical Requirements: Work, divided between office and clinical settings, is primarily sedentary. May require prolonged standing, moderate walking, and manual dexterity. Requires carrying light items, such as books, files, or laptop computer.

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 Ann Arbor VA Medical Center 2215 Fuller Road Ann Arbor, MI 48105 US
• Name: Jessica Kidd
• Phone: 734-596-3177
• Email: [email protected]