The VA Southern Arizona Network is recruiting for a Senior Social Worker. The incumbent will provide direct services to Veterans enrolled in the Home Based Primary Care (HBPC). Patients served under the HBPC Program typically are those who have impaired mobility due to disability or functional limitation, inability to cope with the clinic environment due to cognitive, physical or psychiatric impairment, and the need for frequent coordinated interventions from multiple disciplines.
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). Licensure: Candidate must be licensed or certified by a state at the advanced practice level which included an advanced generalist or clinical examination, unless they are grandfathered by the state in which they are licensed to practice at the advanced practice level (except for licenses issued in California, which administers its own clinical examination for advanced practice) and they must be able to provide supervision for licensure. Education: Master's degree in social work (MSW) 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 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 master's degree in social work. 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: In addition to the basic requirements, applicants must have at least two years of experience post advanced practice clinical licensure and should be in a specialized area of social work practice of which, one year must be equivalent to the GS-11 grade level. In addition to the experience above, candidates must demonstrate all of the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). Skill in a range of specialized interventions and treatment modalities used in specialty treatment programs or with special patient populations. This includes individual, group, and/or family counseling or psychotherapy and advanced level psychosocial and/or case management. Ability to incorporate complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice. Knowledge in developing and implementing methods for measuring effectiveness of social work practice and services in the specialty area, utilizing outcome evaluations to improve treatment services and to design system changes. Ability to provide specialized consultation to colleagues and students on the psychosocial treatment of patients in the service delivery area, as well as role modeling effective social work practice skills. Ability to expand clinical knowledge in the social work profession, and to write policies, procedures, and/or practice guidelines pertaining to the service delivery area. Preferred Experience: Experience working with individuals experiencing homelessness, and with building community partnerships. 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-12. Physical Requirements: Work is sedentary but also demands standing, walking, bending, twisting, and carrying light items.
Major duties include: Provide direct services to Veterans enrolled in the Home Based Primary Care (HBPC) Program at the Southern Arizona VA Health Care System (SAVAHCS) ranging from young adults to geriatric Veterans. Practice at the advanced level and has specialized knowledge of practices typically related to terminal, chronically ill/injured, legally blind, mentally or physically disabled, and/or elderly patients. Serve as a subject matter expert to colleagues, providing professional opinions and support for psychosocial treatment of these complex populations when consulted. Provide a comprehensive psychosocial assessment and integrates it into an overall plan of care in collaboration with the interdisciplinary treatment team, the Veteran, family members and significant others, whenever possible. Coordinate community-based services, including information and referral for additional services from other VA programs, other government programs and community agency programs. identify and prioritize high-risk patients and provides case management services. Establish and maintain effective therapeutic relationships with Veterans and their families. Provide initial and annual caregiver burden assessment and provides individual counseling, resources, respite and general caregiver support as needed on a case by case basis. Provide consultation services to other staff regarding the psychosocial needs of Veterans and the impact of psychosocial problems on health care and adherence to treatment plan Enter all Veteran/family contacts in the electronic record using appropriate formats and templates. Review, update and write policies, procedures, and/or practice guidelines pertaining to the specialty population or specialty treatment program based on experience and evidence based practice research. Establish a continuing effective therapeutic relationship with the client, evaluating progress towards goals, performing follow-up after referral or if the client misses a counseling session, and adjusts treatment plan if results are inadequate. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday; 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized