Social Worker

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs seeks a Social Worker assigned to the Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) to join an interdisciplinary primary care unit.

The role provides psychosocial assessment, case management, and clinical social work services to Veterans and their families in a patient-centered environment. Responsibilities include coordinating referrals, offering brief counseling, and supporting care planning within primary care teams.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited program.
• Must be licensed or certified to independently practice social work at the MSW level (GS-0185).
• Eligibility requirements include U.S. citizenship and licensure prerequisites.

Responsibilities

• Conduct biopsychosocial assessments to identify needs and barriers to care.
• Provide brief, evidence-based interventions and short-term counseling in primary care.
• Coordinate referrals to specialty mental health and community resources.
• Participate in interdisciplinary PACT team activities and care planning.
• Document services in compliance with VHA and Joint Commission standards.

Skills

Psychosocial assessment

Case management

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Clinical social work

Education

MSW from CSWE-accredited school

Job description

Summary

The Social Worker assigned to the Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) functions as a member of the interdisciplinary primary care team - providing psychosocial assessment - case management - and clinical social work services to Veterans and their families.

Summary

The Social Worker assigned to the Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) functions as a member of the interdisciplinary primary care team - providing psychosocial assessment - case management - and clinical social work services to Veterans and their families.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

• The basic requirements for employment as a VHA social worker are prescribed by statute in 38 U.S.C.
• 7402(b)(9) - as amended by section 205 of Public Law 106-419 - enacted November 1 - 2000
• To qualify for appointment as a social worker in VHA - all applicants must meet the following: 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 to http://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 to http://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
• Failure to Obtain License or Certification
• In all cases - social workers must actively pursue meeting state prerequisites for licensure or certification starting from the date of their appointment
• Failure to become licensed or certified within the prescribed amount of time will result in removal from the GS-0185 social worker series and may result in termination of employment
• Physical Requirements
• See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 - Employee Occupational Health Services
• English Language Proficiency
• Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C.
• 7403(f)
• 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)
• Preferred Experience: Mental health experience - LSW or LCSW
• Experience with the geriatric population (educational experience
• work experience within geriatric setting such as hospital - skilled nursing facility - memory care center) - specialty area of study - trainings on older adults
• 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 (1) Experience - Education - and Licensure
• None beyond the basic requirements
• (2) 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 (1) 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~ (2) 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
• (3) 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
• 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
• Physical Requirements: Limited travels throughout the VA Medical Center and the Veteran's Multi-Service Center are required - such as is performing activities involving sitting - walking - and standing - bending and carrying such items as books - papers - and files.

Duties

• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Major duties include but are not limited to: Conducting biopsychosocial assessments to identify psychosocial needs - risk factors - and barriers to care Providing brief - evidence-based interventions and short-term counseling within the primary care setting Screening for and responding to high-risk situations - including suicide risk - homelessness - intimate partner violence - and abuse/neglect Coordinating referrals to specialty mental health - VA benefits - community resources - and other support services Facilitating access to VA and community-based long-term care - housing - and financial assistance programs Participating in interdisciplinary PACT team huddles and care planning Providing case management for Veterans with complex psychosocial needs - chronic illness - or high utilization of services Documenting all services in accordance with VHA and Joint Commission standards Participating in quality improvement initiatives and program development activities Additional duties as assigned
• Preferred Experience - medical setting and assignment code Primary Care
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 4:30 pm Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases 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