This position is located within Eastern Oklahoma VA Healthcare System in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The Social Worker Associate helps to enable patients and their families to function at their fullest potential, and to enhance their quality of life through the development of personal, familial, social, medical, economic resources and facilitates linkage between patient and family with VA and community support systems which allows patients to remain in their homes.

Duties

***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION*** The major duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to: Assesses and identifies appropriate community and VA resources, and facilitate utilization of these resources by the Veteran, families, and non-patients; Assists Veteran patients with use of video technology; Assists patients and families by providing appropriate referrals, for problems that are tangible and overt in nature i.e., inability to meet mortgage payments, to difficulties, and employment problems; Assist patients and families by making appropriate referrals, for problems that are intangible in nature i.e., marital conflict, family dysfunction, chronic mental illness and substance use disorders; Provides on-going support to patients to maximize their coping and adjustment, to illness, injury, treatment, living demands, one by-product of which is to avoid or forestall readmission to the medical center; Assists our Veteran patients in understanding medical protocol and VA benefits; Identifies unmet needs within the community and assist in developing these needed resources; Performs other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized Telework: VA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process. Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required

Requirements

Qualifications

GS-8: To qualify for this position, applicant(s) must possess all of the following qualifications: 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 in order to meet the requirements of this position. -AND- BASIC EDUCATION REQUIREMENT: Bachelor's or higher degree from an accredited college or university in major fields of study such as: social welfare, sociology, psychology, public administration, philosophy, education, anthropology, history, economics and/or English. NOTE: You must submit a copy of your transcript with your application. Education cannot be credited without documentation. -AND- VALID DRIVER'S LICENSE: A current, valid State issued motor vehicle operator's license. ( We can not accept photos, Driver's license will be verified at the interview.)-AND- SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: At least two years of experience as a social welfare worker or social work assistant in a voluntary, public, social, or health agency that is equivalent to the next lower grade in the Federal service. At least one year of this experience must have been in a medical setting. Examples of specialized experience would typically include: providing assistance and service support as prescribed by social workers in conjunction with patients' treatment plans; interviewing patients; handling referrals to social and health facilities; obtaining and compiling data; organizing mental health and medical treatment needs; and assisting with local, state or federal benefits and referrals for food, shelter, transportation, etc. NOTE: Your experience must be fully documented in your resume and must include job title, duties, month and year start/end dates AND hours worked per week. You will be rated on the following Competencies as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position: Team Work Oral Communication Patient Care Psychology Teamwork IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application to meet the basic education requirement for this position. There is no educational substitution at this grade level. 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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

There is no educational substitution at this grade level.

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 VA Eastern Oklahoma Health Care System 1011 Honor Heights Drive Muskogee, OK 74401 US
• Name: VHA National Recruitment Center
• Phone: (844)456-5208
• Email: [email protected]