Senior Social Worker (PACT)

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Bakersfield (CA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking a Senior Social Worker for its Community Based Outpatient Clinic in Bakersfield, CA. The role supports Veterans in Primary Care on the Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) with a focus on prevention, health promotion, coordination, and chronic disease management.

The position emphasizes advanced clinical social work practice, case management, and collaboration with an interdisciplinary team to enhance Veterans’ outcomes in a community setting.

Qualifications

• Must have an MSW from a CSWE-accredited school.
• Licensed or certified by a state to independently practice at the advanced level.
• Citizenship: US citizen.
• English proficiency in speaking and writing as required for direct patient care.

Responsibilities

• Serve as Case Manager and Care Coordinator for primary care panels.
• Assess and treat psychosocial problems of Veterans and families.
• Proactively reach out to high-risk Veterans and provide case management to prevent crises.
• Provide education and training related to referrals and services.
• Develop treatment plans and conduct comprehensive assessments.
• Deliver individual, group, and family interventions; crisis intervention as needed.

Skills

Case management

Care coordination

Psychosocial assessment

Crisis intervention

Education

MSW from CSWE-accredited program

Licensed social worker

Job description

Summary

Greater Los Angeles Health Care System is recruiting for a Senior Social Worker for its Community Based Outpatient Clinic in Bakersfield - California. The social worker will provide services to Veterans in Primary Care on the Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT). This is a comprehensive team which delivers primary care to veteran patients in a longitudinal fashion - and focuses on prevention - health promotion - coordination and chronic disease management.

Summary

Greater Los Angeles Health Care System is recruiting for a Senior Social Worker for its Community Based Outpatient Clinic in Bakersfield - California. The social worker will provide services to Veterans in Primary Care on the Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT). This is a comprehensive team which delivers primary care to veteran patients in a longitudinal fashion - and focuses on prevention - health promotion - coordination and chronic disease management.

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

• Citizenship: Must be a citizen of the United States 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
• Education: Must 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
• Note: 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 accreditation standards for a masters of social work
• Licensure: Candidates must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work 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 they must be able to provide supervision for licensure
• Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements stated above - the following qualification criteria must be met for each grade
• The candidate's qualifications must clearly demonstrate the level of competence required for the grade
• Experience: Must have at least two years of experience post advanced practice clinical licensure and should be in a specialized area of social work practice of which - one year must be equivalent to the GS-11 grade level
• Senior social workers have experience that demonstrates possession of advanced practice skills and judgment and are experts in their specialized area of practice
• Senior social workers may have certification or other post-masters training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university that includes a defined curriculum/course of study and internship or equivalent supervised professional experience in a specialty
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above - candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: 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
• Preferred Experience: Experience working in a medical setting is highly preferred Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Performance Level: The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12 Physical Requirements: Light lifting (under 15 pounds)
• light carrying (under 15 pounds)
• reaching above shoulder
• use of fingers
• both hands required
• walking
• standing
• hearing (aid permitted).

Duties

• The Social Worker functions as a Case Manager and Care Coordinator to primary care panels and ensures that health care provided meets the needs defined by the Veterans
• Duties include - but are not limited to: Assesses and treats the complicated psychosocial problems of Veterans - families and significant other
• Reaches out to Veterans with high risk cohort's issues and offers case management in a proactive effort designed to prevent psychosocial crises
• Provides education and training related to the referral process and services provided
• The primary focus is on the acuity level and case management with an understanding for reduction in the acuity level using evidence-based practice that is continuous - accessible and integrated
• Provides assessment of psychosocial problems that cause distress - can include adjustment to the current medical condition and/or functional status - untreated or under-treated mental health or substance abuse condition - economic instability - legal problems - and inadequate social supports - housing and transportation
• Assists Veteran and family to understand the contributing factors to their problem(s) - will discuss with them the pros and cons of possible short-term and long-term solutions - encouraging them to make positive and lasting changes to reduce stressors Makes referrals for assistance to community agencies and will participate in coordinating with VA programs/staff and community agencies to assist in problem solving as needed
• Engages in case management services with members of the outpatient interdisciplinary team to meet the agreed upon treatment goals
• Conducts comprehensive assessments of Veterans and develops treatment plans that are sensitive to Veterans' diverse needs and abilities
• Independently performs a full range of clinical services including Individual - Group and Family interventions
• Provides on and off site crisis intervention and outreach (individual sessions - assist and coordinate hospitalizations in conjunction with the physician when required - coordination of treatment with collaterals (family - housing programs - nursing homes - mental health etc.) to maximize the successful stabilization and integration of Veterans in the community both in crisis and non-crisis situations
• Develops and implements methods for measuring effectiveness of social work practice and services in specialty areas - utilizing outcome evaluations to improve treatment services
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m
• - 4:30 p.m
• Telework: Ad hoc telework as determined by agency policy and supervisor discretion Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not Authorized