Summary

The Spinal Cord Injury/Disorders (SCI/D) GS-11 Social Worker is clinically responsible delivery of care for treatment services - and case management services for Veterans in the Spinal Cord Injury Service. The Social Worker provides inpatient and outpatient care to SCI/D Veterans who are admitted to the Spinal Cord Unit - as wells as those in rural and urban areas.

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- You must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f) Education: You must possess 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 the CSWE website to verify if that social work degree meets the accreditation standards for a Master of Social Work
• Licensure: Must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level
• 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
• 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: Social Worker Qualifications - GS-0185-11 GS-11 Licensure Requirement: You must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level.GS-11 Experience or Education Requirement: In addition to meeting the basic requirements - to qualify for the GS-11 - you must possess 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
• Examples of specialized experience include but are not limited to: Working under close supervision in program areas that do not require specialized knowledge or experience
• Identifying behaviors or symptoms of abuse - neglect or exploitation
• providing education on advance directives and advanced care planning
• providing social work case management
• acting as an patient/family member/caregiver advocate with community service providers/agencies
• assessing the psychosocial functioning and needs of patients and their family members
• In collaboration with the patient - family - and interdisciplinary treatment teams - identifying strengths - weaknesses - coping skills and psychosocial acuity
• Maintaining a current network of internal and external resources to educate the patient and/or family members/caregivers and assist with appropriate referrals
• -OR- 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
• In addition to the experience above - you must demonstrate the following Knowledge - Skills and Abilities: 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 - educational - and other 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: Experience within medical social work - discharge planning - care coordination - and spinal cord injuries/disorders
• 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
• Physical Requirements: See Handbook 5019

Duties

• Duties to include - but are not limited to: Obtains a complete social work assessment as a basis for the formulation of a biopsychosocial assessment and treatment goals - effectively using professional skills - objectivity and insight - particularly in those situations where significant others may be involved in the treatment process
• Deals constructively with both positive and negative reactions (such as antagonistic - indifferent or evasive Veterans) - understands conflicting values and reaches Veterans from different social backgrounds and ethnic groups
• Incumbent interviews Veterans and significant others - interprets VA guidelines and eligibility requirements and completes a comprehensive psychosocial history and assessment
• Evaluates the Veterans situation - including the Veteran's reaction to it and ability to deal with it
• Oversees and monitors a written treatment plan in accordance with pragmatic standards and procedures
• Uses professional judgment and advance practice skills to make a psychosocial diagnosis
• Assesses the risk factors including the degree to self and others - and develops a preliminary action plan - involving the Veteran and family or significant others
• Performs insightful assessment of serious complicated cases
• Interprets and explains VA treatment and benefit programs to Veterans as well as family members
• Independently oversees the development of psychosocial assessments and/or treatment plans - in coordination with interdisciplinary team members - using known available resources
• Completes the initial assessment of the Veteran's likelihood to accept different types of assistance
• VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Work Schedule: Intermittent - tour to be discussed during the interview
• Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Annual salary will be prorated based on hours worked
• When setting pay - a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade)
• Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 14098F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized