Social Worker -Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT)

Description:

To provide Social Work Case Management services in the community to the veteran population enrolled at the John D. Dingell VA Medical Center. Services include provision of high quality case management, clinical treatment, in-home & nursing home assessments/ clinical reviews, crisis intervention, advocacy, and coordination of linkages to other appropriate VA or community service providers and/or agencies as needed by the patient.

Requirements:

Clinical social work is provided in accordance with facility and procedure to include VHA Handbook guidelines for PACT with emphasis
on comprehensive team approach to delivery of social work services with focus on "longitudinal" preventive health care, health promotion, coordination and chronic disease management to ensure health concerns are managed as defined by the veteran. Services include inpatient/outpatient service delivery in accordance with the PACT model of care. Additionally, another major focus will be on those individuals participating in the following programs: Homemaker Home Health Aide, Veterans Directed Programs and Contract Nursing Homes to ensure timely access these services,
and the completion of a comprehensive initial assessment. This is accomplished in collaboration with members of the interdisciplinary treatment team including medical providers, nursing and supportive staff. Clinical social work is provided according to assigned work area and in accordance with facility policy and procedure to include inpatient service delivery.

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.
• 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.
• English Language Proficiency. Social workers must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Regulations.

Grade Determinations :

• 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.
• 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 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, educational, and other 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, 8 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.

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).

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 the GS-11.

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Services.