The SW Case Manager in this position is located in the Case Management Division, Managed Care Department, Directorate of Resources at the James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center (FHCC). The position is assigned independent responsibility for the coordination of all services required for an organized, multi-disciplinary team approach to high-risk Prime enrollees/inpatients and assures quality, comprehensive, cost-effective care. The SW Case Manager provides care for Active Duty Members.

Duties

With administrative oversight by the Division Officer and Department Head, the Social Worker Case Manager provides independent social work expertise in assessment, data collection, and analysis. Assesses the patient's clinical and psychosocial status, diagnosis and current treatment plan. Coordinates the myriad of medical treatments, referrals, and education. Assesses the needs of patient/family/significant other's related to diagnosis, treatment options, psychosocial impact, and discharge planning. Specifically, the incumbent must: (1) expertly assess the medical and psychosocial needs of new patients; (2) identify the optimal range of treatments individualized to each patient; (3) assure that the highest possible quality of treatment and related health services are provided in a timely manner; and (4) develop, monitor, evaluate and revise the multiple protocols, procedures and practices as needed to successfully manage the area of specialization (following Case Management Society of America (CMSA) and Navy Bureau of Medicine (BUMED) guidelines related to Case Management). PRACTICE (Practice, Ethics, Resource Utilization): Provides social work advice and consultation in person and via telephone/email to patients/family members/significant others. In collaboration with the multidisciplinary team, sets patient-centered goals for individual patients/families/significant others. Uses critical pathways/algorithms, databases, and other available resources to develop a comprehensive multidisciplinary plan of care. Plans and provides care to children, adult and geriatric patients considering cultural, psychosocial and spiritual needs. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT (Education, Career Development, Performance): Plans for personal growth as related to professional goals based on self-assessment, evaluation, and feedback. Assumes responsibility for acquiring knowledge and experience to meet goals. Actively participates in professional organizations. Conducts training in clinical case management for professional and paraprofessional personnel within the department and the FHCC. COLLABORATION (Collaboration, Collegiality): Collaborates with the health care team, community agencies, and other providers within and outside the command to ensure continuity of the patient's care through all health care settings. Promotes effective communication among health care team members, including the patient, family, and significant others. Participates in team meetings as needed. Integrates recommendations of the multidisciplinary team members into a single plan of care. SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY (Quality of Care, Research): Participates in Performance Evaluation and Improvement (PE & I) activities by evaluating patient care systems that may include standards, protocols, and documentation for efficiency, safety, and quality. Incorporates evaluative data in the provision of ongoing case management services. Documents patient's progress on clinical pathways/algorithms. Plans care based on patient needs and health care needs, at home and in the health care setting. Utilizes Social Work interpretations to alert physicians to significant changes or abnormalities and provide medical information about the patient's condition, medical history and specialized treatment plan or protocol to other professionals. Applies critical thinking and analytical skills to identify barriers for care delivery. Utilizes creativity and innovation and recommends changes that will improve patient care and/or clinic efficiency, or decrease costs associated with care delivery. Serves as a resource to physicians, nurses and other professional personnel at other medical treatment facilities used as referral sources for patients. Shares experience, knowledge and skills. Work Schedule: 7:00am to 3:30pm Monday to Friday Telework: Ad Hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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. Minimum Education/Experience Requirements: Citizen of the U.S., Territory or Commonwealth Current, unrestricted clinical social work (LCSW) license from any state or US Territory OR RN license, Possesses a Master's Degree from a Council on Social Work Education accredited school of social work. Possesses qualifications for self-regulated practice in the form of the highest level of state licensing at an independent clinical practice level (LCSW). 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 3 accreditation standards for a masters of social work. Current BLS/CPR certification required. Current case management certification (CCM) OR equivalent experience preferred. Must complete certification (CCM) or equivalent C-ASWCM National Association of Social Workers or National Academy of Certified Care Managers (NACCM): Care Manager Certified (CMC) within 2 years of hire, if not completed previously, At least TWO years of Social Work experience in medical-surgical, critical care, oncological and/or ambulatory care is preferred. Knowledge of and ability to use computer skills to enter patient data and to extract information and generate reports from sophisticated computer software packages. Professional knowledge of social work theory and practice in order to differentiate between disease process, adverse events and practices which are outside the standard of care. Knowledge of sources for patient care data, Examples are: medical records via AHLTA/CHCS and CIS, DSM-IV-TR (current update), consults, and computerized data. Writing skills to produce clear and concise reports and correspondence. Verbal skills to communicate clearly/ precisely and professionally, Ability to organize and track numerous and varied administrative details. Skill to assess needs and goals of the department in order to plan and implement daily activities to meet those needs. Current in all requirements on clinical and documentation protocols, infection control, safety, security, Joint Commission, HIPPA, PE & I and Risk Management with periodic renewal as required, English language proficiency Evidence of skills in leadership, creativity, integrity, initiative and communications are additional qualifications, Knowledge of civilian/military policies. 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/. 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. Grade Determinations: 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. For appointment licensure or certification at this level please refer to paragraph 3c. 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. This is the full performance level. Social workers at this level are licensed or certified to independently practice social work. Incumbents are assigned to all program areas, including but not limited to: inpatient or outpatient medicine, surgery, mental health, neurology, rehabilitation medicine, and geriatrics. AND 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: LCSW with at least two years of Case management experience. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Services.

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/.

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.

Contacts

• Address Captain James A Lovell Federal Health Care Center 3001 Green Bay Road North Chicago, IL 60064 US
• Name: William Mott
• Phone: (443) 540-2159
• Email: [email protected]