Social Worker (Home Based Primary Care)

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

Benefits offered by this job

Paid Time Off

Health & life insurance

Telework eligible

Retirement benefits

Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs seeks a Social Worker for the Home-Based Primary Care (HBPC) program. The role delivers psychosocial assessments, case management, and counseling to Veterans and their families in the home setting.

Responsibilities include care plan development, coordination with VA and community services, and participation in an interdisciplinary team. Requires MSW and state licensure with knowledge of medical and mental health terminology.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited program.
• Licensed or certified to independently practice social work at the master's level.
• U.S. citizenship requirement; compliance with state licensure prerequisites.

Responsibilities

• Deliver high-quality psychosocial assessments and develop care plans.
• Provide individual, group, and family counseling.
• Coordinate with VA and community services for linkage to needed resources.
• Offer crisis intervention and emergency planning when appropriate.
• Supervise social work trainees or students as applicable.
• Maintain therapeutic relationships with Veterans and their families.

Skills

Counseling skills

Psychosocial assessment

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Crisis intervention

Communication with Veterans & families

Education

Master's in social work

Job description

Summary

Social Worker provides Veterans in the Home-Based Primary Care (HBPC) Program with high quality case management - clinical treatment - advocacy - and coordinate linkage with appropriate VA and community service providers and agencies as needed by the client. Services include psychosocial assessment of Veteran and family needs; individual - group and family counseling; caregiver burden assessments and intervention - and casework services for the purpose of addressing identified needs.

Summary

Social Worker provides Veterans in the Home-Based Primary Care (HBPC) Program with high quality case management - clinical treatment - advocacy - and coordinate linkage with appropriate VA and community service providers and agencies as needed by the client. Services include psychosocial assessment of Veteran and family needs; individual - group and family counseling; caregiver burden assessments and intervention - and casework services for the purpose of addressing identified needs.

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 to the CSWE website to verify if that social work degree meets the accreditation standards for a Master 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
• For appointments at the GS-9 grade level - 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
• Most states require two years of post-MSW experience as a prerequisite to taking the licensure/certification exam - and VHA gives social workers one additional year to pass the licensure/certification exam
• In states such as California - Washington - and others where the prerequisites for licensure exceed two years - social workers must become licensed at the independent - master's level within one year of meeting the full state prerequisites for licensure
• 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
• Loss of Licensure or Certification
• Once licensed or certified - social workers must maintain a full - valid - and unrestricted independent license or certification to remain qualified for employment
• Loss of licensure or certification will result in removal from the GS-0185 social worker series and may result in termination of employment
• Grandfather Provision
• Detailed in Education section of announcement
• 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)
• Grade Determinations: GS-09 Social Worker 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: Ability to work with Veterans and family members from various socioeconomic - cultural - ethnic - educational - and other diversified backgrounds utilizing counseling skills
• 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 Social Worker 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
• 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: 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: Detailed in Education section of announcement
• 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-09
• 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: Light lifting (under 15 pounds)
• light carrying (under 15 pounds)
• straight pulling (1 hour)
• pushing (1 hour)
• walking (2 hours)
• standing (2 hours)
• ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously
• far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and in the other to 20/40
• hearing (hearing aid permitted)
• working closely with others
• working alone.

Duties

• VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU The incumbent is assigned to the Home-Based Primary Care (HBPC) program and reports directly to the Social Work Supervisor - under the administration of the Chief of Care Management and Social Work Service
• The incumbent has primary responsibility for delivering high-quality - professional clinical social work services to Veterans and their caregiver(s) as the Home-Based Primary Care (HBPC) Social Worker
• The incumbent is responsible for the initial and ongoing psychosocial assessment of the Veteran - care plan development - and provision of social work services in the Veteran's home environment
• The HBPC Social Worker provides a wide range of psychosocial interventions - which may include individual and family counseling - discharge planning for HBPC patients - and active participation in the interdisciplinary treatment team within the HBPC program
• Duties include - but are not limited to: Completes thorough psychosocial assessments - incorporating pertinent information across all required areas of functioning and highlighting the Veteran's strengths - limitations - internal/external supports - and service needs
• Uses this information to determine appropriate diagnoses and other treatment-related conclusions in order to optimize the Veteran's functional status and safely maintain the Veteran in his/her home
• Provides psychosocial and/or DSM diagnoses to determine the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and/or their families - utilizing these assessments to facilitate the Veteran's maximum use of treatment for attainment of the highest possible and practicable level of independence
• Provides emergency and crisis interventions - including conducting rapid assessments - developing crisis management plans - and delivering interventions appropriate to the level of need
• Provides counseling through individual - group - and/or family interventions when clinically indicated and appropriate
• Provides consultation to other treatment team members and staff regarding the psychosocial needs of Veterans and/or their families or caregivers
• Establishes and maintains effective therapeutic relationships with Veterans and/or their families
• Utilizes knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses - disabilities - and treatment procedures-including acute - chronic - and traumatic illnesses
• common medications and their effects/side effects
• and medical terminology-to support effective treatment planning and provision of interventions
• Provides consultation and education to Veterans and their families regarding community resources - VA benefits and specialty programs - and advance directives
• Provides case management services to Veterans and their families throughout the continuum of care
• Participates in multidisciplinary team meetings - providing input into care plans - including psychosocial needs - interventions - and expected outcomes
• Supervises social work trainees - other appropriate students - or less experienced staff - as appropriate
• Provides clinical services to Veterans in a variety of formats - including face-to-face visits - VA Video Connect (VVC) - secure messaging - and telephone contacts - as clinically appropriate
• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 8:00am - 4:30pm Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized 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: Position may be eligible for ad-hoc Telework - at managers discretion
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 000000