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Social Worker (Community Care)

Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Health Administration
West Palm Beach VA Medical Center
This job announcement has closed

Summary

West Palm Beach is looking for Community Care Social Worker who will have full responsibility for the provision of Social Work service to Veterans and their families in assigned segments of the Non-Institutional and Community Care Programs, which includes the Homemaker/Home Health Aide (HHA) Program, Home Respite Care, Community Adult Day Health Care (CADHC), and the Community Nursing Home Program (CNH).

Overview

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Job canceled
Open & closing dates
06/11/2022 to 07/01/2022
Salary
$70,545 to - $91,704 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 11
Location
West Palm Beach, FL
1 vacancy
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Not required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Temporary - Not To Exceed 1 year
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
11
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
CBTC-11529388-22-KAM
Control number
659636600

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Open to Current, VA Employees Nationwide, West Palm Beach VAHCS Employees will be given priority consideration.

Videos

Duties

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VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU

The Community Care Social Worker duties may include the Veteran Directed Home and Community Based Services Program (VDHCBS) if the facility elects to develop these program service. They will also be responsible for supporting social work functions throughout the Community Care Programs to include Home Based Primary Care (HBPC)) Community Residential Care (CRC).

Duties include but not limited to:

  • Provides back up to the Homemaker/Home Health Aide (HHA) Program services by answering requests for service/consults, which includes assessment of the appropriateness of clients, referral, and placement of Veterans in the program, and serving as liaison with the community health care agencies or community partners providing VA care, when the NIC Social Worker is on leave.
  • As part of the providing coverage for the NIC Social Worker, they arrange community health agencies' nursing evaluations and Plans of Treatment.
  • Social Worker maintains contact with the VA community health care agencies to resolve patient/program issues, as needed or directed by the Supervisor.
  • Coordinates re-certifications/extensions for CADHC services and CNH services, with back up coverage support for HHA and Respite services.
  • Initiates post-authorization planning by assisting with Veterans Benefits application and providing community resource referrals.
  • Participates in assessing the Veterans' and caregivers' "· satisfaction with services provided by the CADHC and CNH services.
  • Regularly participates in the Extended Care Advisory Committee for quality assurance for all Non-Institutional and Community Care Programs.
  • Makes routine CADHC and CNH visits to assess the Veteran's adjustment and continued need for services.
  • Assists Veteran and families concerning the personal/social implications of long-term or terminal illness.
  • Consults with facility administrators with respect to the quality of care provided and participates in planning to address Veteran's needs.
  • Assists patients in obtaining financial resources including referrals to community resources and Veterans Benefits for the purpose of post-authorization planning.
  • Provides supportive counseling to the caregivers of Veterans attending day care.
  • Independently performs care finding functions and outreach, identifying and screening patients for psychosocial needs.
  • Must possess the knowledge and ability to independently implement treatment modalities, provide counseling or psychotherapy for individuals, families and groups.
  • Independently conducts psychosocial assessments.
  • Develops treatment plans in collaboration with the Veteran/family and with the interdisciplinary treatment team.
  • Possesses the skills to offer psychosocial interventions and measures outcomes to interventions in the time frame recommended by accrediting bodies.
  • Able to coordinate community-based services, including information and referral for additional services from other VA programs, other governmental programs and community agency programs.
  • Independently Identify high-risk patients and provides care management services.
  • Provides crisis intervention services, seeking to address the cause as well 'as the presenting complaint, coordinates family conferences and serves as liaison to family members.
  • Has working knowledge and experience in use of medical and mental health diagnosis, disabilities and treatment procedures.
  • Provides timely and accurate information both verbally and written for reports to the Community Programs Supervisor, and others as indicated in the program requirements.
  • Maintains program census, to include useful data for tracking program services and quality of services provided.
  • Maintains a calendar of when inspections are due and coordinates and schedules inspections and completes final report.
  • Functions as a professional representative of his/her program and social work to CNH Administrators, local hospitals, Ombudsman, VBA, colleagues, students, other agencies, and the public.

Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, with rotating tours of duty as needed.
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement: Community Care Social Worker
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
  • Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
  • Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
  • You may be required to serve a probationary period.
  • Subject to background/security investigation.
  • Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
  • Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
  • Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
  • Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

Qualifications

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.
  • English Language Proficiency: Candidates 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 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.
  • 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/.
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: In addition to meeting the basic requirements stated above, the following qualifications criteria must be met in determining the appropriate grade assignment of candidates.

GS-11 Social Workercandidates must have the following:
  • Experience/Licensure: The candidate must have at least one (1) years of experience postmaster social work 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
  • 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.

While we no longer require essay-style responses to our Knowledge's Skills, Abilities, and Other Characteristics (KSAOs), you must be able to demonstrate that you possess the (below) competencies which are necessary to perform the work of the position. Please ensure your resume/CV/application contains sufficient information to support the level of experience/education/training; otherwise, we will not be able to award you credit for the experience/education/training you claim. These are the KSA's for this subject position:
    1. Knowledge of community resources, how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services, and ability to coordinate services.
    1. 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.
    1. 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.
    1. 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.
    1. 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.

References: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005/120, Part II, Appendix G39, Social Worker Qualification Standard.

Physical Requirements: The physical demands of the work require use of fingers; moderate walking and standing; near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; far vision correctable in on eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other; hearing aid permitted; clear speech; emotional stability; moderate duty. Ability to drive a government car.

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.

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.

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Additional information

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process.

To ensure compliance with an applicable preliminary nationwide injunction, which may be supplemented, modified, or vacated, depending on the course of ongoing litigation, the Federal Government will take no action to implement or enforce the COVID-19 vaccination requirement pursuant to Executive Order 14043 on Requiring Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccination for Federal Employees. Therefore, to the extent a VA job announcement includes language requiring applicants to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 pursuant to Executive Order 14043, that requirement does not currently apply to this Job Announcement. VA may request information regarding your vaccination status, if selected, for the purposes of implementing other workplace safety protocols, such as masking, physical distancing, testing, travel, and quarantine.

Due to COVID-19, VA is currently in an expanded telework posture. If selected, you may be expected to temporarily telework, even if your home is located outside the local commuting area. Once employees are permitted to return to the office, you will be expected to report to the duty station listed on this announcement. Management officials will provide information about returning to the official, pre-pandemic worksite, when applicable. At that time, you may be eligible to request to continue to telework depending upon the terms of your organization's telework policy and the duties of the position.

If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, résumé, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

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