Summary

Incumbent is a professional social worker assigned to the Home Care Coordination (HCC) Program as a member of the interdisciplinary treatment team that is responsible for clinical Social Work practice in the area or program to which assigned. This is to include promotion of Social Work services as a key component of treatment and directing/coordinating clinical and psychosocial services. Services will be provided both via telephone contact and in the homes of veterans enrolled in HCC.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

• 1
• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
• 2
• English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f)
• 3
• Education: Candidates must 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
• 4
• 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/
• Grandfathering Provision: 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)
• The following is the standard grandfathering policy for all title 38 hybrid qualification standards
• Please carefully review the qualification standard to determine the specific education and/or licensure/certification/registration requirements that apply to this occupation
• All persons employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title - series and grade held - including positive education and licensure or certification that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation
• For employees who do not meet all of the basic requirements in this standard - but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it - the following provisions apply: Such employees in an occupation that requires a licensure or certification - may be reassigned - promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level - or changed to lower grade within the occupation - but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions
• Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed - on a temporary or permanent basis - until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard
• Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation - who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all of the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation
• If an employee who was retained in an occupation listed in 38 U.S.C. § 7401(3) under this provision leaves that occupation - the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation
• NOTE: If social workers covered under the grandfathering provision of the 1991 Federal law regarding licensure or certification of VHA social workers leave the GS0185 social work series - they lose the grandfathering protection
• If they choose to return at a later date to the GS-0185 series - they must be licensed or certified to qualify for employment as a social worker
• Grade Determinations: Social Worker (Program Coordinator) - GS-12 Experience and Education
• One year of experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level
• Experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment - demonstrating progressively more professional competency
• Candidate may have certification or other post-master's degree training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university that includes a defined curriculum/course of study and internship - or equivalent supervised professional experience
• Licensure/Certification
• Individuals assigned as social worker program coordinator must be licensed or certified at the advanced practice level - and must be able to provide supervision for licensure
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of program coordination and administration which includes consultation - negotiation - and monitoring
• (b) Knowledge and ability to write policies - procedures - and/or practice guidelines for the program
• (c) Ability to supervise multidisciplinary staff assigned to the program
• (d) Skill in organizing work - setting priorities - meeting multiple deadlines - and evaluating assigned program area(s)
• (e) Ability to provide training - orientation - and guidance within clinical practice Preferred Experience: Experience with VA and in Home Care is preferred
• 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-12
• Physical Requirements: Involves considerable amount of standing - walking - stooping - bending - reaching - lifting and turning
• Requires carrying or lifting of objects weighting up to 25lbs. - but occasionally may require work that involves pushing or lifting in excess of 25 lbs
• and going up and down flights of stairs
• The position requires long periods of driving - with varying road conditions - as well as weather conditions
• Requires use of hands for actions such as typing - simple grasping - fine manipulation and repetitive actions
• Requires the ability to frequently respond to multiple demands and priorities
• Has potential for exposure to infectious diseases - hazardous waste - and chemicals
• Emotional and mental stability
• Ability to effectively perform.

Duties

• VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU VA Careers - Licensed Clinical Social Worker: https://youtube.com/embed/U_xC25QsN0w VA Careers - Microbiology/Molecular Medical Technologist: Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Major Duties include but are not limited to the following: Responsible for assessment - planning - and provision of case management services in the HCC Program
• The incumbent must use a high level of skill in assessing and treating the complicated psychosocial problems of veterans
• Conduct assessments of psychosocial problems often at a time when the veteran is experiencing crisis and include the provision of short-term - solution focused counseling with veterans and/or their families
• Complete thorough assessments to determine the presenting problem - to determine in-home factors impacting the problem - and to determine obstacles to treatment and/or follow through with recommended treatments
• Consult with members of the interdisciplinary team to coordinate a collaborative effort to meet the agreed upon goals for a veteran's treatment needs and include serve as a liaison with community professionals regarding needed services for veterans and/or their families
• Independently completes thorough psychosocial assessments - including psychosocial diagnosis and high risk assessments - to determine the psychosocial 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 and practicable
• Actively participates as a member of the interdisciplinary treatment team and actively participates through collaboration with veterans and family as well as interdisciplinary treatment team members in the development and implementation of treatment goals and interventions
• Uses a working knowledge and experience in use 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
• Facilitates action for community placements through collaboration with veterans and their families as well as interdisciplinary treatment team members to ensure that appropriate community placements are completed in a timely manner
• Community placements can involve - but are not limited to - referrals to contract nursing homes - Community Living Centers - residential care homes - inpatient and outpatient hospice services
• Represents the program in contacts with other agencies and the public
• Work Schedule: M-F 8-4:30 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: Ad Hoc only as service policy Functional Statement #: 09738-F