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Social Worker (Home Based Primary Care)

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

Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.

Overview

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Job canceled
Open & closing dates
05/31/2023 to 06/13/2023
Salary
$77,032 to - $100,138 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 11
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Walla Walla, WA
1 vacancy
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
75% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
None
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
CBSV-11989522-23-HBJ
Control number
728748000

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Open to U.S. Citizens. In accordance with Office of the Chief Human Capital Officer (OCHCO) Bulletin, Annual Determination of Staffing Shortages dated 09/30/2022, Veteran's Preference will not be applied to this occupation.

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Duties

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"RECRUITMENT/RELOCATION INCENTIVES MAY BE AUTHORIZED"

Duties will vary based on grade. At the GS-11 full performance level for this assignment, the incumbent provides veterans in the Home Based Primary Care (HBPC) Program with high quality case management, clinical treatment, advocacy, and coordinate linkage with appropriate VA and community service providers and agencies as needed by the client. Duties will include:

  • Screening Assessment: Develop an assessment of the veteran in collaboration with the interdisciplinary treatment team, the veteran, family members, and significant others, whenever possible.
  • Treatment Planning Goal Setting: Responsible for developing the treatment plan and setting achievable goals with the veteran and family in collaboration with the HBPC interdisciplinary treatment team members.
  • Follows policies and procedures developed by Home & Community Based Services (HCBS), HBPC, and the Medical Center that are consistent with patient rights and the maintenance of the patient progress notes, outcomes, discharge, planning, and the patient's treatment plan.
  • Referral to Service Providers: the Social Worker is a subject matter expert on VA and/or community resource throughout the course of treatment. Social Worker will collaborate with other service providers in reassessing the veteran's needs for non-institutional, institutional service programs and entitlements.
  • Responsible for educating the veteran and/or caregiver of the available services and assisting them in establishing the appropriate referrals based on the veteran's preference or that of his surrogate decision-maker.
  • Resource Development: Responsible for developing a resource file of VA and community social service programs and will refer the veteran to needed services.
  • Advocacy: When appropriate and feasible, social worker will educate and encourage the veteran/family to advocate on their own behalf, thus fostering a sense of independence and empowerment.
  • Crisis Intervention: Experienced in making rapid assessments and developing crisis management plans to maintain patient in the home, for admission to acute, short term, and/or long term placements.
  • Social Worker provides education related to VA and community resources, entitlements, Advanced Directives/Living Wills, Durable Power of Attorney, Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment, and will refer veterans/families to the appropriate interdisciplinary team member for identified health education needs.
  • Facilitates Complex Care Reviews or Care/Family conference as needed to collaborate and plan for complex needs of veterans with the interdisciplinary team, other professionals and services, and/or family.
  • Responsible for the coordination of referrals of non-institutional services such as Adult Day Health Care (ADHC) or Community ADHC, home hospice, skilled and non-skilled homecare services in collaboration with the interdisciplinary treatment team members.
  • Provides the veterans and their caregivers with ongoing supportive counseling.
  • May participate as a member of HBPC QA team. May include data collections and analysis, formulating plans to improve systems and re-evaluation of plan success.
  • Social worker may be requested to conduct Community Nursing Home visits to assess the psychosocial needs of veterans in the community nursing home, and adequacy of care/services provided.
Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00AM-4:30PM
Compressed/Flexible: Available
Telework: Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be authorized
EDRP Authorized: Please contact the VISN 20 EDRP Coordinator @ V20CompensationTeam@va.gov
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): 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. TRANSCRIPTS WITH CONFER DATE REQUIRED
  • 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/.
    • For the GS-11 grade level and above, the candidate must be licensed or certified.
  • Loss of Licensure or Certification. Once licensed or certified, social workers must maintain a full, valid, and unrestricted independent license or certification to remain qualified for employment. Loss of licensure or certification will result in removal from the GS-0185 social worker series and may result in termination of employment.
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:

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. 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. TRANSCRIPS WITH CONFER DATE REQUIRED

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, 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: None

References: VHA Handbook 5005, 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-11.

Physical Requirements: use of fingers, both hands required, ability to see computer screen, hearing (aid may be permitted), working closely with others, working alone, operation of a crane, truck, tractor, or motor vehicle.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript with confer date 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

Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

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.

As required by Executive Order 14043, Federal employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 regardless of the employee's duty location or work arrangement (e.g., telework, remote work, etc.), subject to such exceptions as required by law. 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 exception from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process.

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.

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.

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