The Social Worker-Home Based Primary Care position is located in the Home Based Primary Care Program (HBPC) section of Extended Care Service at the Battle Creek VAMC serving the Benton Harbor/Kalamazoo catchment area. They provide high quality case management, psychosocial support, advocacy, and linkage with appropriate VA and community service providers/agencies as needed. To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 09/15/2023. 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/. 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. 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. Grandfathering Provision: 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). All persons employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education and licensure or certification that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service. Additional details outlined below. 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: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met. Grade Requirements: Social Worker, 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. 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: Home Care experience. 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-09 to GS-11. Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary, with occasional requirements to lift office supplies up to approximately 10 pounds. The work may require using appropriate technique to physically restrain clients who present a danger to self or others. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand and walk. Specific vision abilities required by this job function include but are not limited to close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. The employee is required to maintain a valid driver's license for facility driving privileges. Work is typically performed in a clinical setting that involves everyday risks or discomforts which require safety precautions typical of hospitals, offices and meeting rooms. Some work is performed in a setting away from the office where the environment cannot be controlled. There may be occasional risk of physical harm that may require special precautions and training ["Duties include, but are not limited to: Developing the treatment plan and setting achievable treatment goals with the veteran/family in collaboration with the HBPC interdisciplinary treatment team members Developing a resource file of VA and community social service programs and will refer the veteran to needed services. Collaborating with other service providers in reassessing the Veteran's needs for non-institutional, institutional services/programs and entitlements. 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. Act as an advocate when it serves the best interest of the Veteran/family. Provide education related to VA and community resources, entitlements, Advance Directives/Living Will and will refer Veterans/families to the appropriate interdisciplinary team member for identified health education needs. Coordinating referrals of non-institutional services such as ADHC/CADHC, home hospice, skilled and non-skilled homecare services in collaboration with the interdisciplinary treatment team members. The social worker is also responsible for the coordination of the referrals of institutional placements in Community Residential Care, Assisted Living Programs, or a community nursing home. Entering all Veteran/family contacts in the electronic record using appropriate formats and templates. Attend all meetings (weekly interdisciplinary treatment team meetings, Social Work staff meetings, Rehab and Extended Care staff meetings, assigned committees, etc.) and perform other duties as required by Extended Care and the Home Based Primary Care. Other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30a.m. - 4:00p.m. Compressed/Flexible: Available to highly qualified individual Telework: Available; Ad-hoc eligible. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 91371-0 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized. PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized. Financial Disclosure Report: Not require."]
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.