Clarification from the agency

This announcement is open to the Public if you are a Department of Veteran Affairs employee, Current, former Health Professional Trainee, or other Federal employee all others please apply to job announcement number: CBSU-12729379-25-KC

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The Inpatient Med/Surg Social Worker assigned to inpatient medicine/surgery will provide medical, social work intervention services to Veterans, family members and caregivers. The Inpatient Med/Surg Social Worker provides medical and behavioral social work services for Veterans admitted inpatient. Services often involve care coordination and consultation with medical, nursing, and social work staff in other care areas to which Veterans are referred, consulted, and/or also treated and/or also co-managed. Examples include, but are not limited to primary care, mental health, homeless services, specialty medicine, neurology, operative care, or acute care. The incumbent works closely with members of associated inpatient and outpatient interdisciplinary treatment teams. The incumbent assesses and provides appropriate social work care treatment options, interventions, discharge, and placement options. The incumbent providers assessment, evaluation, treatment, and reporting for cases of suspected or reported abuse, neglect or financial exploitation which present or are identified.

The incumbent conductus psychosocial screens and/or assessment of the Veteran in collaboration with the interdisciplinary team, the Veteran, family members and significant others. The purpose of the assessment is to understand the Veterans; situation, presenting problems and their causes, and the impact of such problems on the Veterans level of functioning and health as part of a comprehensive assessment that highlights Veterans strengths, limitations, high risk factors, acuity level and internal/external support and service needs to optimize the Veterans functional status. The incumbent completes behavioral health clinical reminders for patients. The incumbent conducts clinical reminders during clinic visits and, as needed, by telephone. The incumbent promotes patient, family, and team interactions and problem solving by actively participating in interdisciplinary meetings to facilitate collaboration and the achievement of identified goals; acts as a consultant to other members of the interdisciplinary team in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of patient care; collaborates to develop and implement programs (e.g. high risk registry) to improve the care of patients with complex physical and behavioral problems.

The incumbent screens patients for alternate level of care options and provides education to patients, caregivers, and staff on those options for care. The incumbent facilitates discharge planning for patients, ensures that all patients that are not assigned to a PACT are provided education as to that process, The incumbent collaborates with social work, Rehab and Long- Term Care, Primary Care, and nursing service to facilitate acute rehabilitation admission, transfer to a skilled nursing facility, initiation or resumption of skilled or nonskilled homemaker/home health services, respite, and/or referral to other VA and/or community programs. The incumbent reviews options and services with patients and families, including costs, alternatives, risks, and benefits.

The incumbent will educate the Veteran, family, and the team of all the available options and will collaborate with the Veteran and family on preferred options. The incumbent works closely with Veterans to identify and support their preferences in the care and personal treatment goals, and offers resources and support tailored to the uniquely expressed needs and desires of the Veteran, The incumbent serves as the key link for education and psychosocial support.

The incumbent coordinates appropriate after-care and needed follow-up services following a Veteran's treatment, The incumbent coordinates with interdisciplinary team members the Veteran and caregivers to proactively address discharge and after-care needs, to include, but not limited to home care services supplies, equipment, medications, and related patient care needs and services.

The incumbent provides health and psychosocial education services to the Veteran, family, and/or caregivers. Education services include, but are not limited to disease education, health promotion and sell-care interventions, VA and community resources, benefits and entitlements and Advance Health Care planning (Advance Directive, Living Wills, Power of Attorney for Health Care and related documents such as financial power of attorney).

Additional Duties as Assigned: The incumbent accepts additional and special assignments that are related to specialty area (emergency department), program goals, social work service initiatives and for service of the medical center.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM or negotiated with supervisor
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 554-53518-A 554-53519-A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized

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. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• 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).

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: The basic requirements for employment as a VHA social worker are prescribed by statute in 38 U.S.C. § 7402(b)(9), as amended by section 205 of Public Law 106-419, enacted November 1, 2000. To qualify for appointment as a social worker in VHA, all applicants must meet the following:

• Citizenship: . Be a citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g this part).
• 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/.
  • Exception: VHA may waive the licensure or certification requirement for persons who are otherwise qualified, pending completion of state prerequisites for licensure/certification examinations. This exception only applies at the GS-9 grade level. For the GS-11 grade level and above, the candidate must be licensed or certified. At 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 deadline.
    • For 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 worker. Most 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 exam. In 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 licensure
• Grandfathering Provision. All persons employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date (9/10/2019) 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.

Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.

GS-9Experience, Education, and Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

• Ability to work with Veterans and family members from various socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other diversified backgrounds utilizing counseling skills.
• Ability 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 needed.
• Ability to implement treatment modalities in working with individuals, families, and groups to achieve treatment goals. This requires judgment and skill in utilizing supportive, problem solving, or crisis intervention techniques.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients, staff, and representatives of community agencies.
• Fundamental knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities, and treatment procedures. This includes acute, chronic, and traumatic illnesses/injuries; common medications and their effects/side effects; and medical terminology.

GS-11 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.

• NOTE: For appointment licensure or certification at this level please refer to paragraph 3c.

OR

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.

• 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, cultural, ethnic, educational and other diversified 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, 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.

Preferred Experience: Medical social work

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 in the range of GS-09 to GS-11.

Physical Requirements: Title 38 or Hybrid Title 38 Occupation official qualification standards of the position as stated in VA Directive and Handbook
5019, Employee Occupational Health Services

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, resume, 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.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

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.