Social Worker-Caregiver Support

SummaryThis position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval - award amount (up to $200 -000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.QualificationsBasic Requirements:United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA PolicyEducationHave 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 accreditedA 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 the CSWE website to verify if that social work degree meets the accreditation standards for a Master of Social WorkLicensurePersons 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/ExceptionVHA may waive the licensure or certification requirement for persons who are otherwise qualified - pending completion of state prerequisites for licensure/certification examinationsThis exception only applies at the GS-9 grade levelFor the GS-11 grade level and above - the candidate must be licensed or certifiedAt the time of appointment - the supervisor - chief social work or social work executive will provide the unlicensed/uncertified social worker with the written requirements for licensure or certification - including the time by which the license or certification must be obtained and the consequences for not becoming licensed or certified by the deadlineFor appointments at the GS-9 grade level - 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 workerMost states require two years of post-MSW experience as a prerequisite to taking the licensure/certification exam - and VHA gives social workers one additional year to pass the licensure/certification examIn states such as California - Washington - and others where the prerequisites for licensure exceed two years - social workers must become licensed at the independent - master's level within one year of meeting the full state prerequisites for licensureFailure to Obtain License or CertificationIn all cases - social workers must actively pursue meeting state prerequisites for licensure or certification starting from the date of their appointmentFailure to become licensed or certified within the prescribed amount of time will result in removal from the GS-0185 social worker series and may result in termination of employmentLoss of Licensure or CertificationOnce licensed or certified - social workers must maintain a full - valid - and unrestricted independent license or certification to remain qualified for employmentLoss of licensure or certification will result in removal from the GS-0185 social worker series and may result in termination of employmentGrade Determinations: GS-11 Social Worker 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 levelEducationIn 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 AbilitiesIn addition to the experience above - candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (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.eacute - 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 treatmentPreferred Experience: Five (5) years experience with case management and clinical assessments in collaboration with multiple disciplinesExperience completing home visitsSpecialized experience with caregivers of VeteransReference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11The actual grade at which an applicant will be selected for this vacancy is GS-11Physical Requirements: The incumbent must be able to perform primarily light and sedentary duties with occasional moderate physical demandsThe work requires walking - standing for extended periods of time and involves sitting at a computer and in counsel and consultation with patients and/or staff.DutiesVA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU The Marion VA Health Care System is seeking a full-time Social Worker to serve as Caregiver Support within Care Management and Social Work ServiceThe incumbent develops and facilitates caregiver support groups and educational programs and distributes educational materials provided by VA - local - state - and national caregiver organizationsThe incumbent participates in direct caregiver and Veteran contacts to assess caregiver stress/burden and the development/application of directed clinical treatment interventionsThe incumbent participates in face-to-face - virtual and phone contacts with the caregiver and Veteran to complete comprehensive assessmentsThe incumbent is responsible for conducting regular home visits to Veterans and Caregivers participating in the PCAFC - responding to calls from the National Caregiver Support Line - responding to other phone calls and general inquiries regarding the CSP - and assisting with general tasks associated with the programThe incumbent collaborates with interdisciplinary teams throughout the medical center on caregiver issuesThey are responsible for creating educational tools - developing programs - and implementing training focused on specific caregiver needs/issues and providing education and in-service training to VAMC employees - Veterans - families - and caregiversThey also provide ongoing consultation and support to colleagues regarding caregiver support services and issues facing Veterans - families - and their caregiversThe incumbent demonstrates skill in communication and can develop positive - effective relationships with all CSP stakeholders including Veterans - caregivers - local - state - and federal agencies - as well as non-governmental organizationsThe incumbent provides referrals and/or consults for Veterans Affairs (VA) service - as well as community-based social service and other non-VA entitlement programsThe incumbent stays 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 VeteranThey participate in caregiver support activities in the local community and state to promote and recognize the role of the caregiver and participates on state and local caregiver support committeesThe incumbent develops and facilitates caregiver support groups and educational programs and distributes educational materials by VA - local - state - and national caregiver organizationsFurther - the incumbent assists in coordinating events and opportunities - including the annual Nation Family Caregivers Month - educational sessions - caregiver recognition events - and outreachThey assist program leadership in maintaining a data monitoring system to measure the efficacy of the program and assists in collecting and analyzing local data for reports to local management - the VISN Caregiver Support Program Lead - and the National Caregiver Support Program - Care Management and Social Work Service - Office of Patient Care ServicesThe incumbent will be required to travel to and from parent facility Community Based Outpatient Clinics - to and from patient homes - and within the communityWork Schedule: Monday-Friday - 8:00am to 4:30pm Compressed/Flexible: Not available Telework: Ad Hoc only to meet the needs of the service per supervisor's discretionVirtual: This is not a virtual positionFunctional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized