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. 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. 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/. Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Services. English Language Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. ? 7403(f). Grade Determinations: GS-12 Experience and Education. One year of experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level. Experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment, demonstrating progressively more professional competency. Candidate may have certification or other post-master's degree training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university that includes a defined curriculum/course of study and internship, or equivalent supervised professional experience. Licensure/Certification. Individuals assigned as social worker program coordinator must be licensed or certified at the advanced practice level, and must be able to provide supervision for licensure. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of program coordination and administration which includes consultation, negotiation, and monitoring. (b) Knowledge and ability to write policies, procedures, and/or practice guidelines for the program. (c) Ability to supervise multidisciplinary staff assigned to the program. (d) Skill in organizing work, setting priorities, meeting multiple deadlines, and evaluating assigned program area(s). (e) Ability to provide training, orientation, and guidance within clinical practice. References: VA Handbook 5005/120, Part II, Appendix G39The full performance level of this vacancy is 12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-12. Physical Requirements: According to VA Directive and handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Services. ["VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU The Social Work Coordinator practices within the inpatient Palliative Care Unit and the outpatient Hematology/Oncology Clinic and serves a patient population with highly complex health and mental health problems. The Social Worker is assigned clinical and administrative social work responsibilities for clinical program development, implementation, and effectiveness related to social work services provided to the identified patient populations. As a Social Work Coordinator, the incumbent has experience that demonstrates possession of advanced practice skills and judgment and must be licensed at the advanced practice level. The incumbent requires specialized knowledge of issues related to end of life and palliative care, including various end of life diagnoses, impacts, treatments, and medications, as well as their side effects. The required knowledge also includes knowing the bio psychosocial issues that the Veterans are facing who are in this treatment process, and the best practice social work interventions to use to serve these Veteran's throughout the continuum of care. The incumbent demonstrates an ability to expand clinical knowledge in the profession, provide consultation and guidance to colleagues, role model effective social work practice skills, teach or provide orientation to less experienced Social Workers, develop innovations in practice interventions, and provide clinical supervision for social work licensure or certification. Other duties may include, but are not limited to: Facilitates communications between Veteran/Family and multidisciplinary treatment team members. Coordinates family meetings which include end of life planning/preferences, feelings and preferences regarding treatment options, effects of treatment options on family, work, and community systems. Independently assesses veteran/family needs and completes bio-psychosocial assessments of veteran's/families with complex physical and mental illness including those who have a diagnosis of cancer or end of life disease. They will also assess for social barriers and help resolve these barriers that may prevent access to necessary treatment. Performs at an advanced level to provide individual, group, and family counseling and intensive case management interventions while incorporating complex multiple causation in the treatment of veteran patients. Provides counseling and education to Veteran and family members in coping with the many emotions that arise following diagnosis, treatment, and possible end of life. Accesses the Veteran/Family's understanding of his/her diagnosis, proposed treatments, and possible outcomes. Provides education and referrals as appropriate to VA, state, and community resources including VA Service Connection Disability, Social Security, and support groups. Develops, assesses, and facilities Bereavement Support Program by setting goals, continually reassessing Veteran/Family/Program needs, and adjusting program goals according to assessment outcomes. Coordinates and completes discharge planning considering the specialized needs of the population and advocating for Veteran/Family's preferences. Coordinates and completes outpatient placements including needed transitions for Veterans from home to higher level of care. Assists Veteran's in completing Advance Directives for Healthcare. The incumbent offers consultation to colleagues and students on the psychosocial treatment of patients treated in specialty areas, rendering professional opinions based on experience, expertise, and role modeling effective social work practice skills. Maintains data and statistical compilations and information to provide reports for theVISN, Palliative Care, and Oncology/Hematology programs. The incumbent develops and implements methods for measuring effectiveness of social work practice and services in the Palliative Care specialty area, utilizing outcome evaluations to improve treatment services. The incumbent is able to demonstrate the ability to design changes based on empirical findings. When assigned a social work student, incumbent will supervise training activities of the student and will adhere to VHA Handbook 1400.0 Supervision of Associated Health Trainees and VISN Documentation Policy 10N2-115-08. Serves as a mentor to other Social Workers and staff, particularly those at the entry level. Provides clinical supervision for unlicensed Social Workers and for Social Work associates. Is viewed by Social Workers and interdisciplinary team members as a senior clinician with advanced practice skills and expertise in the special area of practice. Work Schedule: FT, Monday thru Friday, 7:30a-4:00p Telework: Not Available Functional Statement #: PD545480 EDRP Authorized: Contact Timothy Kiddoo, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance at Timothy.kiddoo@va.gov .Learn more Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]
The Veterans Health Administration is America’s largest integrated health care system, providing care at 1,298 health care facilities, including 171 medical centers and 1,113 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics), serving 9 million enrolled Veterans each year.
