The Community Living Center Social Worker provides a vast array of professional services to the veteran population residing in the VA Maryland Health Care System's Community Living Centers (CLC). Services include provision of high quality case management - clinical treatment - advocacy - supportive services to veterans and/or their family members/significant others - and coordination of linkages to other appropriate VA or community service providers / agencies - as needed - by the client.
Summary
The Community Living Center Social Worker provides a vast array of professional services to the veteran population residing in the VA Maryland Health Care System's Community Living Centers (CLC). Services include provision of high quality case management - clinical treatment - advocacy - supportive services to veterans and/or their family members/significant others - and coordination of linkages to other appropriate VA or community service providers / agencies - as needed - by the client.
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 tohttp://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 tohttp://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.] English Language Proficiency
- Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C.
- 7403(f)
- Physical Requirements
- See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 - Employee Occupational Health Services
- Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment - the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates
- 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 utilize a Veteran centric approach when providing interventions and counseling for Veterans - their family members - caregivers - and survivors
- (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
- Social Worker - 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
- NOTE: 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
- 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 - educational - and other 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: Uses initiative and resourcefulness in deviating from traditional methods or trends and patterns to develop new methods - criteria - and proposed new policies
- 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
- The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-09 to GS-11.
Duties
- VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU Duties include but not limited to: The incumbent must use a high level of skill in assessing and treating the complicated psychosocial problems of veterans as they transition from the Community Living Center (CLC) to appropriate placement alternatives
- This is accomplished in collaboration with members of the assigned interdisciplinary treatment team(s) - as appropriate
- The social worker will develop a psychosocial assessment of the veteran in collaboration with the interdisciplinary treatment team - the veteran - family members and significant others
- Demonstrates and understanding of the range of treatment and skills needed for all adult patients including geriatric patients related to their physical limitations - psychological needs - substance abuse issues and age associated illnesses and conditions
- The Social Worker is responsible for contributing to the development of the treatment plan and setting achievable treatment goals with the veteran and family members/caregiver
- The initial psychosocial assessment - as well as reassessments - will be completed - as specified by the policy for the assigned work area
- In addition - a resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) is completed on each resident scheduled for an initial or quarterly Interdisciplinary Treatment Team review
- The ITT meets weekly to review those Veterans that are scheduled for review
- Review dates depend upon date of original admission to the CLC
- Residents are also reviewed for significant changes in their treatment plan
- The Social Worker is responsible for developing knowledge regarding VA and community social service programs and utilizing this knowledge to the benefit of veterans
- The Social Worker will refer the veteran to needed services
- The Social Worker understands the intimidation of bureaucracy and will act as an advocate when it serves the best interest of the veteran and family members/caregiver
- When appropriate and feasible - the Social Worker will educate and encourage the veteran to advocate on his/her own behalf - thus fostering a sense of independence and empowerment
- The Social Worker is experienced in making rapid assessments and developing crisis management plans
- The Social Worker has access to multiple resource directories in addition to previously developed resources to meet the demands of a crisis
- In the event of a medical or psychiatric emergency - staff will follow the protocol of his/her respective unit and the facility at the Perry Point or BRECC site
- Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8am-4:30pm Virtual: This is not a virtual position
- Functional Statement #: 26794F & 26795F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: No Permanent Change of Station (PCS): No