Social Worker (Home-Based Primary Care)

Veterans Health Administration; Las Cruces (NM); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The Veterans Health Administration is seeking a Social Worker to join the Home Based Primary Care interdisciplinary treatment team in a patient-centered role. The incumbent will assess psychosocial functioning, collaborate with the care team, and support veterans and their families in maintaining or improving quality of life at home.

Applicants must have a CSWE-accredited MSW, be eligible for licensure, and demonstrate strong counseling and teamwork skills.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited program.
• Licensure/certification required to independently practice social work.
• Proficient in English, both written and spoken.

Responsibilities

• Provide initial and ongoing psychosocial assessments of patients and caregivers.
• Actively participate in Home Based Primary Care interdisciplinary team meetings.
• Share observations to enhance quality of life for patients in the home setting.

Skills

Counseling skills

Psychosocial assessment

Treatment planning

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Communication with clients & families

Education

Master's degree in Social Work (CSWE-accredited)

Doctoral degree not a substitute for MSW

Job description

The EPVAHCS is looking for a Social Worker to be an active participant in the Home Based Primary Care interdisciplinary treatment team. The incumbent will work with patients who have a variety of medical and psychosocial needs to improve or maintain psychosocial functioning, provide initial and ongoing assessments of the patient and caregiver(s) and actively participates in interdisciplinary treatment team meetings, sharing observations aimed at enhancing quality of life in the home setting.

Health Profession Trainee's pending the completion of educational requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. 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. 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. *Exception - For assignments at the GS-9 level, VHA may waive the licensure or certification requirement for persons who are otherwise qualified, pending completion of state prerequisites for licensure/certification examinations. 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. 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).

Grade Determinations:

Social Worker, GS-9 Experience, Education, and Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements.

In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

• (a) Ability to work with Veterans and family members from various socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other diversified backgrounds utilizing counseling skills.
• (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. 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.

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, cultural, ethnic, educational and other diversified 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) Ski