The Social Worker in this position functions as the Senior Social Worker for Southern Arizona Veterans Affairs Health Care System's Primary Care Aligned Care Team (PACT). The incumbent will serve as a lead Social Worker in PACT, providing clinical consultation to other PACT Social Workers and PACT Interdisciplinary Team (IDT) members. This position is based at the Yuma CBOC and may be expected to provide Social Work services throughout SAVAHCS.

Duties

Major duties include: Provides clinical duties to include a full range of social work within commonly accepted standards of social work practice which includes comprehensive biopsychosocial spiritual assessments, social determinants of health screenings, Advance Directives, Goals of Care, case management, crisis intervention, risk/suicide assessments, documentation, safety planning, abuse/neglect/exploitation reporting, psychoeducation, resource referrals, coordination of care within SAVAHCS and community stakeholders, discharge care planning, and other services as appropriate. Provides case management for veterans in the PACT which includes Main clinic and multiple community-based outpatient clinics (CBOC) locations to address various service needs and conditions to include but not limited to homelessness, hospice services, palliative care, nursing home care, in-home health services, food and financial resources, VA benefits, and transportation services. Formulates and implements a treatment plan including measurable, achievable goals identifying the Veterans' needs, strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and psychosocial acuity. Assesses/screens and reports any patient safety concerns in a timely manner to appropriate entities to include suicide safety planning and abuse/neglect reporting. Facilitates Veteran's self-determination and self-management through tenants of advocacy, shared and informed decision making, counseling, and health education, and engages other VHA and community services as needed and ensures that adequate follow-up care has been brokered, when appropriate. Provides education related to coping with health conditions, VA and community resources, entitlements, Advance Directives and Life Sustaining Treatment options, guardianship, insurance, and co-pay(s) information, etc., and will refer Veterans/families to the appropriate VA staff, programs, and community resources. Maintains effective professional working relationships with PACT teams, medical center staff, subject matter experts, Veteran's support systems, leadership, and community agencies in the provision of safe, appropriate, effective, Veteran-centered, timely, efficient, and equitable care and services. Maintains data and statistical compilations to comply with Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), The Joint Commission, VA and medical center policy and procedures. Provides consultation, training, and education to VA staff and/or community stakeholders on the role of PACT social work, social work practices, psychosocial resources at the VA and in the community, and research pertaining to their scope of practice. Supervises the practice of social work students, or a less experienced Social Worker. Serves the Medical Center and social work profession in a variety of capacities, such as committee, unit councils, workgroups, special assignments, or other duties as assigned that are necessary to meet program goals and VA Mission. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday; 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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. Proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f). Hold 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. Note: A doctoral degree in Social Work may NOT be substituted for the master's degree in social work. Licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level. 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: GS-12 Senior Social Worker Licensure: Senior social workers must be licensed or certified by a state at the advanced practice level which included an advanced generalist or clinical examination, unless they are grandfathered by the state in which they are licensed to practice at the advanced practice level (except for licenses issued in California, which administers its own clinical examination for advanced practice) and must be able to provide supervision for licensure. GS-12 ASWB Examination: Must have completed and passed the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) advanced generalist or clinical examination. GS-12 Senior Social Worker Experience: Must possess at least two years of experience post advanced practice clinical licensure of which, one year must be equivalent to the GS-11 grade level. Examples of specialized experience include, but are not limited to: assessing and documenting identified behaviors or symptoms of abuse, neglect, exploitation and/or intimate partner violence; use of clinical social work skills; maintaining patient privacy and confidentiality per policies, handbooks or directives; acting as an advocate with appropriate community service providers and agencies when it serves the best interest of the patient and family members/caregiver; independently assessing the psychosocial functioning and needs of patients and their family members, identifying the patient's strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and psychosocial acuity. Applicable experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment. Senior social workers are experts in their specialized area of practice. Applicable experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment. Senior social workers are experts in their specialized area of practice. GS-12 Senior Social Worker Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: In addition to meeting the licensure and experience for the GS-12 level, must possess the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: Skill in a range of specialized interventions and treatment modalities used in specialty treatment programs or with special patient populations. This includes individual, group, and/or family counseling or psychotherapy and advanced level psychosocial and/or case management. Ability to incorporate complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice. Knowledge in developing and implementing methods for measuring effectiveness of social work practice and services in the specialty area, utilizing outcome evaluations to improve treatment services and to design system changes. Ability to provide specialized consultation to colleagues and students on the psychosocial treatment of patients in the service delivery area, as well as role modeling effective social work practice skills. Ability to expand clinical knowledge in the social work profession, and to write policies, procedures, and/or practice guidelines pertaining to the service delivery area. References: VA Qualification Standards, including the Social Worker Qualification Standard, are located at VA Qualifications Standards - Office of the Chief Human Capital Officer (OCHCO). The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. Physical Requirements: VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Services. The incumbent must have a current, valid driver's license as travel to CBOCs and main hospital maybe required periodically.

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/.

You must have a valid driver's license and be able to drive a government vehicle.

Contacts

• Address Tucson VA Medical Center 3601 South Sixth Avenue Tucson, AZ 85723 US
• Name: Cherie Mennel
• Phone: 520-792-1450 X6213
• Email: [email protected]