Social Worker (PACT)

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

Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Las Cruces, NM seeks a Social Worker to provide comprehensive psychosocial assessments and case management for Veterans and families facing complex medical, psychiatric, and social challenges.

Responsibilities include coordinating multidisciplinary care, developing treatment plans, and connecting clients with VA resources and technologies. Eligibility requires an MSW, state licensure, and the ability to work with diverse populations.

Qualifications

• Requires MSW from CSWE-accredited program.
• Must be licensed/certified to independently practice social work at the MSW level.
• GS-9: may waive licensure requirement for qualified candidates (3-year licensure goal).
• GS-11: requires licensure/certification or doctoral substitution.
• Must be proficient in English (spoken and written).

Responsibilities

• Perform comprehensive biopsychosocial assessments for Veterans and families.
• Develop and implement treatment plans to maximize independence.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to set goals and interventions.
• Serve as liaison to VA and community resources for coordinated care.
• Teach and connect Veterans to VA technologies (My HealtheVet, secure messaging, telehealth).
• Provide consultation on psychosocial needs and impact on care and adherence.

Skills

Counseling skills

Psychosocial assessment

Crisis intervention

Communication with clients & agencies

Medical/mental health knowledge

Education

Master's degree in Social Work

Tools

My HealtheVet

Job description

Summary

The Primary Purpose of the Position is to provide a variety of assessments and case management services with individual Veterans and families who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric - medical and social problems.

Qualifications

Health Profession Trainees (HPT's) 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. All applicants pending license requirements may be referred and selected at the GS-9 level (must become fully licensed at the independent level within 3 years of appointment).

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: For GS-9: Experience - Education - and Licensure
• None beyond the basic requirements
• ALL KSAs
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs in your resume: (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
• For GS-11: Experience and Licensure or Education
• 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
• ALL KSAs
• In addition to the experience above - candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs in your resume: (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) 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
• Preferred Experience: 1-2+ years' post-MSW experience (preference given to those with direct care working with adults - especially Veterans - older adults - or those with complex medical/psychosocial needs)
• Experience conducting psychosocial assessments - risk screenings - and collaborative care planning in a multi-disciplinary environment
• Familiar with community resources - VA benefits - social determinants of health - and developing care plans
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively on interdisciplinary teams (nurses - physicians - pharmacists) - and effective communication abilities across professions
• 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-9 to GS-11.Physical Requirements: A pre-placement examination will be required to be able to determine if the incumbent is able to safely operate a Government Vehicle
• The work is sedentary
• Some work may require movement between offices - hospitals - warehouses - and similar areas for meetings and to conduct work
• Work may also require walking/standing - in conjunctions with travel to and attendance at meetings and/or conferences away from the work site
• Incumbent may carry and lift light items weighing less than 15 pounds.
• Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Duties

• Duties include but are not limited to: The incumbent is able to work with Veterans and their families who are experiencing a wide range of complicated medical - psychiatric - emotional - behavioral - financial - legal - and biopsychosocial problems
• Complete comprehensive biopsychosocial assessments to determine the biopsychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and/or their families
• The incumbent must be able to utilize this assessment in facilitating the Veteran's maximum use of treatment for attainment of the highest level of independence that is possible
• Actively participate as a member of the multidisciplinary treatment team and engages through collaboration with Veterans and family
• Social Worker advises multidisciplinary treatment team members in the development and implementation of treatment goals and interventions
• Possess a working knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses - disabilities - and treatment procedures - including acute - chronic - and traumatic illnesses - substance abuse disorders - common medications and their effects/side effects - and medical terminology
• Serve as a liaison between Veterans and/or their families and VA and community resources to ensure thorough delivery of services
• Possess knowledge and ability to implement treatment modalities and evidence-based practices
• The Social Worker must be able to teach and connect Veterans to the effective use of VA sponsored technologies to facilitate care including my health e vet - secure message - tables - VVC - telehealth - apps and other VA sponsored technology
• Provide consultation to other treatment team and staff members regarding biopsychosocial needs of Veteran's and/or their families
• Social Worker advises on the impact of the identified social drivers of health and biopsychosocial problems on the Veteran's health care plan and compliance with treatment
• Have knowledge of the signs and symptoms of abuse - neglect - exploitation - human trafficking and other experiences that may require mandatory reporting to law enforcement and safety considerations
• Social Workers collaborate with other internal and external experts to advise on MST - IPV - VJO - APS - and CPS and provide continuity of care and support to Veterans and their families to ensure safety
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday
• 0800 - 1645 Telework: Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized