Social Worker (Program of General Caregiver Support Services)

SummaryThe Caregiver Support Program Social Worker is assigned to the Caregiver Support Program with primary responsibilities to provide clinical evidence-based services and interventions; provide caregiver - Veteran and staff education on caregiver issues; engage in community outreach and resource development; continuous quality-improvement activities - and evaluation/consultation.QualificationsApplicants 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 RequirementsUnited States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA PolicyEnglish Language ProficiencyCandidates 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 accreditedNOTE: A doctoral degree in social work may not be substituted for the master's degree in social workVerification 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 workLicensure: 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 levelCurrent state requirements may be found by going to http://vaww.va.gov/OHRM/T38Hybrid/ExceptionFor 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 examinationsVHA 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 workerMay 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 candidatesSocial Worker GS-09 Experience - Education - and LicensureNone beyond the basic requirementsDemonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and AbilitiesIn 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 survivorsAbility 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 neededAbility to implement treatment modalities in working with individuals - families - and groups to achieve treatment goalsThis requires judgment and skill in utilizing supportive - problem solving - or crisis intervention techniquesAbility to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients - staff - and representatives of community agenciesFundamental knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses - disabilities - and treatment proceduresThis includes acute - chronic - and traumatic illnesses/injuriescommon medications and their effects/side effectsand medical terminologyGrade Determinations: Social Worker GS-11 Experience and LicensureAppointment 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 levelOR EducationIn 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 settingDemonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and AbilitiesIn addition to the 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 servicesSkill in independently conducting psychosocial assessments and treatment interventions to a wide variety of individuals from various socio-economic - educational - and other backgroundsKnowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses - disabilities and treatment procedures (i.eacute - chronic and traumatic illnesses/injuries - common medications and their effects/side effects - and medical terminology) to formulate a treatment planSkill in independently implementing different treatment modalities in working with individuals - families - and groups who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric - 8 medical - and social problems to achieve treatment goalsAbility 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 GS11The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS9 to GS11Physical Requirements: The Social Worker must be in overall good health - able to sit at a desk working at a computer - engage in light to moderate physical activity including sitting - walking - bending - and carrying suppliesThe Social Worker must be able to perform primarily light and sedentary duties with occasionally moderate physical demands - exercise patience - and control emotions - with reasonable accommodation if necessary - without endangering the health and safety of the social worker or othersPosition requires walking throughout the clinic and/or Medical Center - standing for extended periods of time - and involves sitting at a computer and in counsel and consultation with Veterans and interdisciplinary teamsPosition requires travel into the community to meet with community agencies and partners who assist and support to the Caregiver Support program - its Veterans and caregiversThis position also requires close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data and figurestranscribingviewing a computer terminalextensive readingand repetitive motions of the wrists - hands - and/or fingers.DutiesVA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Duties- The Program of General Caregiver Support Services (PGCSS) Social Worker assists in the day-to-day operations of the Caregiver Support Program and ensures compliance and collaboration with local facility and the VA Central Office Caregiver Support Program (CSP) initiativesThe Social Worker participates in direct caregiver and Veteran contacts to identify and assess caregiver stress/burden and the development and application of directed clinical treatment interventionsThey conduct caregiver and family clinical interventions to facilitate the identification of caregiver stress - psychiatric illness - emotional distress and social needs as treatment issuesProfessional judgment - including the knowledge of normal and abnormal behavior - is an inherent competency applied in daily interactions with caregivers and the Veterans they care forThe Social Worker is involved in responding to calls from the National Caregiver Support Hotline and general inquiries regarding the Caregiver program - is the primary staff member responsible for triaging and responding to CSP specific walk ins and for assisting with general tasks associated with the programThe Social Worker creates educational tools - develops programs and implements training focused on specific caregiver needs/issuesThey provide education and in-service training to VAMC employees - Veterans - families and caregiversThey provide ongoing consultation and support to colleagues regarding caregiver supportThey will develop and facilitate caregiver support groups (face-to-face or virtual) and educational programsThe Social Worker provides referrals to VA medical and mental health treatment and to other VA services including VA benefits - community-based social services and other non-VA entitlement programsIf appropriate - they provide referrals or in some cases facilitates direct admission of a Veteran to other VA programs including but not limited to the Community Residential Care Program - Respite Program - Community Health Care Coordination Program - Hospice - Home Based Primary Care - Telehealth and the Community Nursing Home ProgramAs a PGCSS Social Worker - they stay informed regarding current federal and state legislation directed at assisting caregivers to continue to provide caregiving in an environment that is safe for both themselves and the VeteranThe Social Worker will maintain a knowledge base of current theory and treatment modalities by reading professional journals - attending conferences - clinic seminars and teleconferences - and materials distributed through VA and private sector sourcesThey serve as a consultant for navigating the complex processes caregivers - Veterans - and families encounter when interacting with government and community agenciesThe Social Worker will collaborate with the VA Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) - mental health - and geriatric primary care clinicians to provide Veteran and staff education on caregiver issuesCoordination will include hands-on support group work involvement - and training of patient aligned care team clinical social work staff in the development and facilitation of such groupsWork Schedule: 8:00 am to 4:30 pm - Monday through Friday Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): 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) 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 childChild 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 $416.66Retirement: 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 positionFunctional Statement #:94433-0 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized