The Inpatient Medical Acute Social Worker provides social work services to veterans receiving inpatient care at the Durham VA Health Care System on an Inpatient Medicine Team. In collaboration with interdisciplinary medical team, the Social Worker evaluates the veteran's presenting psychosocial problems and facilitates access to the resources that can most appropriately minimize the veteran's psychosocial stressors.

Duties

VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf Social Work: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Social-Worker-Career-Flyer.pdf The Social Worker provides routine consultation/education to the medicine teams on social work practices and VA policy and procedures. The Social Worker evaluates psychosocial needs and applies social work interventions. The Social Worker develops independent judgment and initiative in carrying out social work functions and applying social work values and ethics to complex situations. Functions or scope of assigned duties include but are not limited to: Screening/Assessment - In conjunction with the interdisciplinary medical team, the Social Worker screens and assesses the veteran's psychosocial needs and barriers in order to facilitate their access to appropriate VA and community resources. Through collaborative relationships with the veteran, their family/caregiver and other VA programs and VA staff, the social worker coordinates and compiles information vital to the process of setting appropriate treatment goals and time frames for achieving those goals. Assessment information may include, but is not limited to: Marital/family/social status Employment/financial status Use of entitlement programs Legal problems/issues Concerning behaviors and mental health needs Impact of medical problems on psychosocial functioning Strengths/Limitations Treatment Planning/Goal Setting - From screening/assessment information, the Social Worker determines realistic goals with the veteran, including such factors as: the appropriate type of intervention and/or level of care. the setting conducive to providing such intervention or care. the need for caregiver support to allow for the least restrictive level of care. transportation options/barriers the steps to obtaining resources (VA or community) that make the achievement of goals possible. Referral to Service Providers - To facilitate the continuity of a veteran's recovery, the Social Worker will arrange referrals to needed VA and/or community resources (e.g., home health care, assisted living facilities, extended care facilities/nursing homes, services available through area agencies on aging, community support groups, hospice care, community-based extended care). The Social Worker will collaborate with other service providers in re-assessing the veteran's needs during the eligibility determination process, coordinating access to information needed for the referral. Additionally, the Social Worker will educate the veteran and/or caregiver about the available services and their shared responsibility in accessing such services. The veteran's preferences or that of their surrogate decision-maker will be considered throughout the referral and care coordination process. Advocacy - The Social Worker will advocate for veterans to ensure that they have access to all needed care and resources within VA and in the community. By supporting the veteran's choices in complex decisions and by guiding the veteran through complicated enrollment procedures and bureaucratic processes, the Social Worker facilitates the best possible outcome for the veteran. When appropriate and feasible, the Social Worker will educate and encourage the veteran and their family/caregiver to advocate on their own behalf, fostering independence and empowerment. Other responsibilities - The Social Worker will enter all veteran/family contacts in the electronic medical record using appropriate formats and templates. 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. The Social Worker will establish and maintain positive working relationships with employees, volunteers, patients/consumers and other stakeholders within the VA and in outside community agencies. The Social Worker will participate in activities that solicit feedback from patients and work to enhance patient/customer satisfaction under supervision. The Social Worker will attend all appropriate staff meetings (interdisciplinary treatment team meetings, social work staff meetings, other committees as appropriate or as assigned) and perform other duties as required to meet the mission of the program or the VA in general. Work Schedule: Sunday-Friday; 8:30a.m.- 5:00p.m. (one weekday off) Compressed/Flexible:Available Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Telework: Ad-Hoc Telework may be available at the discretion of the Service Chief or equivalent Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 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) 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 and above, the candidate must be licensed or certified. At the time of appointment, the supervisor, chief social work or social work executive will provide the unlicensed/uncertified social worker with the written requirements for licensure or certification, including the time by which the license or certification must be obtained and the consequences for not becoming licensed or certified by the deadline. 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-9 Experience, Education, and Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (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. Entry Level Assignments. Individuals assigned as GS-9 grade level social workers are considered to be at the entry level and are closely supervised, as they are not yet functioning at the independent practice level conferred by independent licensure or certification. Social workers at the GS-9 entry level are typically assigned to program areas that do not require specialized knowledge or experience. Duties may include but are not limited to: identifying behaviors or symptoms of abuse, neglect or exploitation; providing education on advance directives and advanced care planning; providing 6 social work case management; acting as an advocate with appropriate VA and community service providers/agencies when it serves the best interest of the Veteran and family members/caregiver; assessing the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and their family members identifying the Veteran's strengths, weaknesses, coping skills and psychosocial acuity, in collaboration with the Veteran, family, and interdisciplinary treatment teams; maintaining a current network of internal and external resources to educate the Veteran and/or family members/caregivers and assist with the appropriate referrals. Since social workers at this level are not practicing at an independent level, they should not be assigned to program areas where independent practice is required, such as in a CBOC, unless there is a licensed social worker in the program area who can provide supervision for practice. GS-9 social workers provide psychosocial services in the assigned area under supervision. Social Worker, GS-11Experience 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. 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. Preferred Experience: Inpatient discharge planning preferred References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/120 PART II APPENDIX G39 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS11 Physical Requirements: Must be in overall good health, able to sit at a desk working at a computer, engage in light to moderate physical activity including sitting, walking, bending, and carrying supplies. The Social Worker 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 Social Worker 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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Contacts

• Address Durham VA Medical Center 508 Fulton Street Durham, NC 27705 US
• Name: Brian Watt
• Phone: (906) 396-7485
• Email: [email protected]