Skip to main content
U.S. flag

Social Worker Dialysis

Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Health Administration
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This Social Worker is assigned to the Dialysis Unit in the Department of Hospital & Specialty Medicine and will be collaborating with the Dialysis Social Work Program Coordinator. This multidisciplinary clinic includes medical, nursing, and administrative specialties in dialysis.

Overview

Help
Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
08/04/2022 to 08/25/2022
Salary
$58,560 to - $92,104 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 9 - 11
Location
Portland, OR
1 vacancy
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Not required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
11
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Announcement number
CBSV-11592812-22-LJ
Control number
669650300

This job is open to

Help

Clarification from the agency

Applicants will be referred in the following order: Current Permanent Portland VA Health Care System Employees; Current Permanent VA Employees Nationwide; Current Permanent Federal Employees Other Agencies; Veterans and the Public

Videos

Duties

Help

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

Duties include but are not limited to:

  • Provides a range of psychosocial and behavioral interventions as a member of the multidisciplinary clinic; serving as a point of contact for communications; providing ongoing case management for Veterans who dialyze at the Portland VA Medical Center Dialysis Unit
  • Conducts psychosocial screens and/or assessments of the Veteran in collaboration with the interdisciplinary treatment team, the Veteran, family members, and significant others. The initial assessment will be completed as specified by the patient-care policy for the assigned work area, to include the Kidney Disease Quality of Life Instrument (KDQOL). After the initial patient assessment, reassessments may also be required as defined in policy.
  • Completes behavioral health clinical reminders for patients in assigned specialty clinics and conducts clinical reminders during clinic visits and, as needed, by telephone as clinic visit follow-ups. May also provide clinical support to non-assigned specialty clinics for behavioral health clinical reminders.
  • Uses knowledge and mastery of theories and modalities required for the treatment of complex medical, behavioral, and psychosocial health care needs of Veterans in the above assigned clinics and specialty care programs. Works closely with Veterans to identify and support their preferences in care and personal treatment goals, and offers resources and support tailored to the uniquely expressed needs and desires of the Veteran.
  • Incorporates multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment, including making psychosocial and psychiatric diagnoses within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice and has the ability to determine priority for services and provide specialized treatment services.
  • Provides individual and group psychotherapeutic and supportive treatments for Veterans. Uses a range of evidenced-based psychotherapeutic interventions with special emphasis given to motivational interviewing, cognitive-behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, and chronic disease management group interventions. Individual and group therapy interventions will include time limited and on-going services.
  • Participates in the creation of the Veteran's treatment plan, with special attention to the psychosocial elements of the treatment plan and identifies needed psychosocial interventions.
  • Uses knowledge and mastery of theories and modalities required for the complex medical, behavioral, and psychosocial health care case management and care coordination needs of needs of Veterans. transportation.
  • Serves as the subject matter expert on VA and community resources related to the needs of the Veteran, family, and/or caregiver.
  • Collaborates with other providers in ongoing reassessment of the Veteran's health care needs and treatment planning.
  • Communicates test results to patients and coordinates appropriate after-care and needed follow-up services following a Veteran's specialty treatment.
  • Coordinates with interdisciplinary team members, the Veteran and caregivers to proactively address discharge needs, to include, but not limited to home care services, supplies, equipment, medications, and related patient care needs and services.
  • Assists in identifying the health education needs of Veterans and their families or caregivers and works with the interdisciplinary team to develop a plan to address health education needs. Education services include, but are not limited to, disease education, diagnosis and treatment options, acute symptom management, chronic disease management, medication, health promotion and self-care interventions, VA and community resources, benefits and entitlements, and Advance Health Care Planning (Advanced Directives, Living Wills, Power of Attorney for Health Care, and related documents).

Work Schedule: Monday to Friday, 9:30am to 6:00pm
Telework: Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Help

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.
  • Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit e-verify.gov

Qualifications

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

Social Worker, GS-9:
(1) Experience, Education, and Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements.
(2) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
(a) Ability to work with Veterans and family members from various socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other diversified backgrounds utilizing counseling skills.
(b) 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.
(c) 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.
(d) Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients, staff, and representatives of community agencies.
(e) 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.

Social Worker, GS-11:
(1) 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.OR
(2) 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.
(3) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In 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.e. acute, 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 treatment.

References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/120 PART II APPENDIX G39

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-9 to GS-11.

Physical Requirements: Use of fingers, Walking (less than 1 hour), Hearing (aid permitted), Vision, Mental and emotional stability required

Environmental Factors: Working closely with others

Education

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.

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.

Your session is about to expire!

Your USAJOBS session will expire due to inactivity in 8 minutes. Any unsaved data will be lost if you allow the session to expire. Click the button below to continue your session.