Summary

Serves as a coordinator for the Home Health Aide (HHA) and Home Respite Programs as well as providing support to other home health care programs. Provides a full range of social work services for Veterans admitted into the program(s). Services include provision of high-quality case management - clinical treatment - advocacy - and coordination of linkages to other appropriate VA or community service providers and/or agencies as needed by the patient.

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
• Master's degree in social work (MSW) 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 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 master's degree in social work
• Licensure
• Must have license or certification by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level
• **Exception - For assignments at the GS-9 level - VHA may waive the licensure or certification requirement for persons who are otherwise qualified - pending completion of state prerequisites for licensure/certification examinations
• VHA social workers who are not licensed or certified at the time of appointment must become licensed or certified at the independent - master's level within three years of their appointment as a social worker
• Grade Determinations: GS-09 Experience: None beyond the basic requirements listed above
• Candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Ability to utilize a Veteran centric approach when providing interventions and counseling for Veterans - their family members - caregivers - and survivors
• 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
• 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
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients - staff - and representatives of community agencies
• 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
• GS-11 Experience/Education: Candidates must possess at least 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
• or a Doctoral degree
• Additionally - candidates must demonstrate the following KSA's: Knowledge of community resources - how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services - and ability to coordinate services
• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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: Geriatrics and extended care - home care
• The full performance level of this vacancy is SG-11
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-9 to GS-11
• Physical Requirements: Work is sedentary but also demands standing - walking - bending - twisting - and carrying light items.

Duties

• Clinical Functions: Serves as a professional social worker assigned to the GEC Home Health Department within the Social Work Service
• Actively works as a member of the home health team to facilitate timely clinical review and authorization process for HHA and home respite referrals and renewals for Veterans from a large geographic area
• Works collaboratively with the Veteran - family members - significant others - PACT - mental health - and specialty services to convey the treatment
• Conducts clinical case management services to address the social determinants of health of the Veteran - often at a time when the Veteran is experiencing crisis
• Provides interventions such as brief counseling and patient centered solution focused counseling to Veterans and/or their families and caregivers
• Assess and provides interventions that overcome the obstacles to treatment and/or follow through with recommended treatments
• Case management occurs in tandem with other health professionals and programs both internal and external
• Participates in program planning - identifies program deficiencies - takes corrective action - and keeps the GEC Social Work Supervisor informed of all pertinent activities
• Establishes and maintains systematic and effective working relationships with personnel of the Medical Center and community agencies relative to areas of assignment to exchange information - arrange referral - resolve problems in service delivery or develop new resources
• Provide consultation - education - training - and technical assistance regarding the latest program developments and changes - to medical center staff and community-based service providers
• Monitor and coordinate authorizations for Veterans with ongoing care needs - utilizing a proactive approach to monitor reports in the Home Health Database - Consult Tracking Manager
• Administrative Functions: Administratively responsible for consult management - timely completion - and associated documentation per VA national policy
• The incumbent will identify existing barriers to Veterans accessing care and address through leadership channels to identify potential tests and steps of change to advocate for improvement of systems issues
• May attend community meetings - workgroups - trainings - and programs as indicated
• Complete appropriate documentation - review - and follow-up on Veteran or agency complaints regarding home health services
• Serve on committees - work groups - and task forces at the facility
• Perform all work functions related to care coordination and community resources as it relates to Veterans and their families
• Complete a scope of practice prior to interacting with any patients without clinical supervision
• Work Schedule: Monday through Friday - 08:00 a.m
• - 4:30 p.m
• Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases
• When setting pay - a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of 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: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized