Social Worker

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Detroit (MI); On-site; USD 68,000 - 92,000; Full time

Job summary

The Johns D. Dingell VA Medical Center in Detroit, MI seeks an intermittent Social Worker (GS-11) to provide as-needed coverage across programs serving veterans, including PACT, Homemaker Home Health Aide, and Veteran Directed Programs. This is not a full-time role and requires flexibility in providing care to diverse veteran populations.

Qualifications include U.S. citizenship, an MSW from an accredited CSWE school, state licensure, and strong English proficiency.

Qualifications

• Must be a U.S. citizen.
• Master's degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited school.
• Licensed or certified to independently practice social work at the master's level.
• May qualify under Grandfathering Provision for current VA employees.
• Proficient in spoken and written English.

Skills

Community resources knowledge

Psychosocial assessments

Treatment planning

Independent practice

Education

MSW CSWE-accredited

Job description

This intermittent position provides as needed social work coverage to multiple programs for the veteran population enrolled at the John D. Dingell VA Medical Center. The primary focus will be those individuals participating in the following programs: PACT, Homemaker Home Health Aide and Veteran Directed Programs. Please note, this is not a full-time position.

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.

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.

Grandfathering Provision.

May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).

English Language Proficiency.

Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).

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-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.

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.

• 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, educational, and other 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.

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.

Sedentary and ambulation (walking) throughout the medical center and in the community according to the demands of daily tasks. Light carrying, less than 15 pounds-may be required as part of duties related to storing or moving files. Working around moving objects or vehicles required as part of daily ambulating within the medical center around patients who use motorized scooters and wheelchairs. Working alone duties require working alone at intervals during the day (i.e., documenting progress notes, completing phone calls, etc). Reaching above shoulder- may be required during daily task to access files located in overhead cabinets. Walking-required approximately 3-4 hours daily associated with walking from assigned office to outpatient clinics and other medical center departments as needed to complete duties of the position. Standing-required approximately 3-4 hours daily associated with walking from assigned office to outpatient clinical and other departments withing the medical center as needed to complete duties of the positions and filling patient records as needed.