Social Worker-Home Based Primary Care (HBPC)

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

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs seeks a Clinical Social Worker to provide direct HBPC services to adult and geriatric Veterans, delivering high-quality case management, clinical treatment, advocacy, and coordination with VA and community providers.

Collaboration with an interdisciplinary team is essential to meet Veterans’ needs and optimize home-based care. Qualifications include a Master of Social Work from a CSWE-accredited program, independent licensure, and demonstrated abilities in

Qualifications

• Master's in social work from CSWE-accredited program.
• Licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's level.
• Ability to coordinate services with VA/community resources.

Responsibilities

• Screen/assess Veterans with HBPC team involvement.
• Develop treatment plans with Veteran and family.
• Refer to VA/community resources and coordinate services.
• Coordinate non-institutional and institutional referrals (HBPC, home care, etc.).
• Provide ongoing supportive counseling to Veterans and caregivers.
• Document all veteran/family contacts in the electronic record.

Skills

Veteran-centric approach

Psychosocial assessment

Crisis intervention

Coordination of services

Communication with clients/staff

Education

MSW from CSWE-accredited program

State licensure (independent practice)

Tools

Electronic medical records

Job description

Summary

Recruitment Incentive Authorized* The Clinical Social Worker provides direct services to adult and geriatric Veterans enrolled in the Home Based Primary Care (HBPC) Program/Specialty PACT with high quality case management - clinical treatment - advocacy - and to coordinate linkage with appropriate VA and community service providers / agencies as needed by the client. This is accomplished in collaboration with other members of the HBPC Team or interdisciplinary treatment teams as appropriate.

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
• English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C.
• 7403(f)
• Education
• You must possess 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
• You 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
• 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
• Driver's License
• A current - valid state-issued Driver's License is required for this position
• NOTE: We cannot accept photographs - therefore
• please do not submit a copy of your license with your application package
• If an interview is requested - you will be required to provide a copy of your current - valid state-issued Driver's License
• 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: In addition to the basic requirements for employment - the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates
• Social Worker GS-9 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 utilize a Veteran centric approach when providing interventions and counseling for Veterans - their family members - caregivers - and survivors
• 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
• 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
• In addition to the experience above - candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSA's 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 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: The work of the social worker is largely office based and in a sedentary setting
• No manual labor is required above ordinary situations
• Incumbent must be capable of using a computer given that all clinical charting is electronic.

Duties

• Duties may include but are not limited to: Screening/Assessment - The Social Worker will develop an assessment of the Veteran in collaboration with the interdisciplinary treatment team - the Veteran - and family members/significant others - whenever possible
• The goal of the assessment is to highlight the Veteran's strengths - limitations - and internal/external support and service needs to optimize the Veteran's functional status and safely maintain the Veteran in his/her home
• Within the HBPC Program the assessment will include a home visit
• The initial assessment and assessment updates will be completed as specified by the policy for the assigned work area
• Treatment Planning/Goal Setting - The Social Worker is responsible for contributing to the development of the treatment plan and setting achievable treatment goals with the Veteran - family members/significant others and other HBPC/Specialty PACT clinical staff
• Referral to service providers - Throughout the course of treatment - the Social Worker is the subject matter expert on VA and/or community resources
• The Social Worker will collaborate with other service providers in reassessing the Veteran's needs for non-institutional - institutional services/programs and entitlements
• Resource Development - The Social Worker is responsible for developing a resource file of VA and community social service programs and enhancing the content to the benefit of Veterans
• Advocacy - The Social worker understands the intimidation of bureaucracy and will act as an advocate when it serves the best interest of the Veteran and family members/significant others
• Crisis Intervention - The Social Worker is experienced in making rapid assessments and developing crisis management plans
• The Social Worker has access to multiple resource directories in addition to previously developed resources to meet the demands of a crisis
• Education/Health promotion and prevention - The Social Worker provides education related to VA and community resources - entitlements - Advance Directives/Living Will and will refer Veterans and families/significant others to the appropriate interdisciplinary team member for identified health education needs
• Coordination of non-institutional and institutional services - The Social Worker is responsible for the coordination of the referrals of non-institutional services such as HBPC - CADHC - home hospice and skilled and non-skilled homecare services in collaboration with the interdisciplinary treatment team members
• The Social Worker is also responsible for the coordination of the referrals of institutional placements in Adult Foster Homes - Medical Foster Homes - Assisted Living Programs - CNH - or VA CLC
• Supportive counseling - The Social Worker will provide the Veterans and their caregivers with ongoing supportive counseling
• Administrative responsibilities - The Social Worker will enter all Veteran/family contacts in the electronic record using appropriate formats and templates
• This information will be entered in a complete - confidential - and professional manner to ensure information on the Veteran is shared with other VA staff
• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Work Schedule: Monday-Friday - 8:00am - 4:30pm Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): 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: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 94223-A - 94224-A Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized