Career Center

The VA Northern California Health Care System is recruiting for a Senior social worker for the Geriatrics and Extended Care service. This position would have an intermittent schedule which is less then full time and on an irregular basis. 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. 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. English Language Proficiency: Social workers must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j, this part. Grade Determinations: Senior Social Worker, GS-12 Experience/Education. The candidate 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. Senior social workers have experience that demonstrates possession of advanced practice skills and judgment. Senior social workers are experts in their specialized area of practice. Senior social workers may have certification or other post-masters training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university that includes a defined curriculum/course of study and internship or equivalent supervised professional experience in a specialty. Licensure/Certification. Senior social workers 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. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) 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. (b) Ability to incorporate complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice. (c) 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. (d) 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. (e) 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. References: VA handbook 5005 Part II Appendix G39 Physical Requirements: Light lifting and carrying, hearing(aid permitted), and reaching above shoulder. ["The social worker will evaluate practices using relevant statutes and regulations and take action to improve identified deficiencies. The social worker is responsible for and will track CLC and Purchased H&CBS programs assessments, consults, authorizations, statistics, data management, identify significant findings, problem solve, complete documentation reports pertaining to caseloads, productivity, and trainings. The incumbent must ensure that any comprehensive CLC and Purchased H&CBS programs data trackers are always up to date. The social worker will identify and develop program resources in the community, providing liaison with these providers. The social worker will complete an initial assessments of Veterans admitted to the CLC as well as initial screenings of Veterans in Purchased H&CBS programs to determine whether they meet eligibility criteria for inclusion in any Purchased H&CBS programs. The social worker will also conduct assessments of Veterans participating in other GEC programs as needed. This includes telephone contacts and telehealth visits as needed for recommendations regarding patients and family members' eligibility for continuation in the GEC Programs. The social worker will serve as a liaison between community providers and Veteran and/or family. This includes initiating services, reducing or increasing authorized hours/days, addressing conflicts between the Veteran and/or family and agency, and/or terminating services. The social worker is responsible for reviewing agencies which may be used to provide CNH, ADHC, and in-home services to Veterans. The social worker is also responsible for developing a resource file of VA and community social service programs and will refer the Veteran to needed services. The social worker is experienced in making rapid assessments and developing crisis management plans to maintain a patient in the home or for admission to acute, short term, and/or long term placements. The social worker has access to multiple resource directories in addition to previously developed resources to meet the demands of a crisis. In the event of a medical or psychiatric emergency, staff will follow the protocol established by VA NCHCS. The social worker provides education related to VA and community resources, entitlements, Advance Directives/Living Will, Life-Sustaining Treatment decisions, and will refer Veterans and/or families to any GEC programs or appropriate VA resource for identified health education needs. Work Schedule: Intermittent. Less then full time. Irregular or occasional basis, with hours or days of work not on a prearranged schedule.\nTelework: Not available\nVirtual: This is not a virtual position.\nFunctional Statement #: 00135-F\nRelocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized\nPermanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required"]