Social Worker (Inpatient Acute Medicine)

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Nashville (TN); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

US Department of Veterans Affairs (TVHS) seeks a Social Worker at the GS-11 level to manage and coordinate social work services for Veterans and their families within inpatient acute medicine, surgical units, and ICU. The role includes discharge planning, clinical treatment, advocacy, and linking Veterans to VA or community resources.

Applicants must have an MSW and state licensure or certification to practice independently. English proficiency is required, and U.S.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of community resources, how to make appropriate referrals and coordinate services.
• Skill in conducting psychosocial assessments and treatment interventions.
• Knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses and treatment procedures.
• Ability to provide consultation to new social workers and staff about psychosocial needs.

Responsibilities

• Manage, coordinate and provide social work services to Veterans and families.
• Provide discharge planning and clinical treatment.
• Advocate for Veterans and coordinate links to VA or community resources.
• Reference to licensure and ongoing requirements as applicable.

Skills

Community resources

Psychosocial assessments

Medical/mental health knowledge

Treatment modalities

Consultation

Education

MSW (Master of Social Work)

Job description

Responsible for the management, coordination and provision of social work services to Veterans and their families enrolled at the Tennessee Valley Healthcare System (TVHS) on the inpatient acute medicine, surgical and intensive care units (ICU). Services include provision of high-quality case management, discharge planning, clinical treatment, advocacy, and coordination of linkages to other VA or community service resources and/or agencies as needed by the Veteran and/or caregiver. 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: 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/

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-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 basic qualifications and 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.

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

.

Work is typically performed in a clinical setting that exposes the incumbent to the communicable diseases common of the client population. The incumbent may be required to work an irregular tour and/or weekends as the need arises.