Summary

The Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) is a comprehensive team which delivers primary care to Veteran patients in a longitudinal rather than episodic fashion and which has as its focus: prevention; health promotion - coordination - and chronic disease management. The social worker in this Veteran-centric approach often functions as a care coordinator with a panel(s) of veterans to ensure that health care meets the needs - as defined by the Veteran.

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:

• The basic requirements for employment as a VHA social worker are prescribed by statute in 38 U.S.C. § 7402(b)(9) - as amended by section 205 of Public Law 106-419 - enacted November 1 - 2000
• To qualify for appointment as a social worker in VHA - all applicants must meet the following: Citizenship:
• Be a citizen of the United States
• (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3 - section A - paragraph 3g this part)
• English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f)
• 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
• At the time of appointment - the supervisor - chief social work or social work executive will provide the unlicensed/uncertified social worker with the written requirements for licensure or certification - including the time by which the license or certification must be obtained and the consequences for not becoming licensed or certified by the deadline
• For appointments at the GS-9 grade level - VHA social workers who are not licensed or certified at the time of appointment must become licensed or certified at the independent - master's level within three years of their appointment as a social worker
• Most states require two years of post-MSW experience as a prerequisite to taking the licensure/certification exam - and VHA gives social workers one additional year to pass the licensure/certification exam
• In states such as California - Washington - and others where the prerequisites for licensure exceed two years - social workers must become licensed at the independent - master's level within one year of meeting the full state prerequisites for licensure Grandfathering Provision
• All persons employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date (9/10/2019) 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
• Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment - the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates
• GS-9 Experience - Education - and Licensure
• None beyond the basic requirements
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Ability to work with Veterans and family members from various socioeconomic - cultural - ethnic - educational - and other diversified backgrounds utilizing counseling skills
• Ability to assess the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and their family members - and to formulate and implement a treatment plan - identifying the Veterans problems - strengths - weaknesses - coping skills - and assistance needed
• Ability to implement treatment modalities in working with individuals - families - and groups to achieve treatment goals
• This requires judgment and skill in utilizing supportive - problem solving - or crisis intervention techniques
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients - staff - and representatives of community agencies
• Fundamental knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses - disabilities - and treatment procedures
• This includes acute - chronic - and traumatic illnesses/injuries
• common medications and their effects/side effects
• and medical terminology
• 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
• NOTE: For appointment licensure or certification at this level please refer to paragraph 3c
• OR Education: In addition to meeting basic requirements - 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
• 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
• 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: Medical social work - complex case management - 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
• 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 sedentary
• Typically - the employee sits comfortably while working
• However - there may be some light exertion required when walking
• standing - bending or climbing stairs - carrying of light items such as papers - books - small objects - or driving an automobile
• No special physical demands are required to perform the work
• Ability to complete a Basic Life Support (BLS) course is a position requirement.

Duties

• Incumbent is a professional social worker assigned to the Primary Care- Patient Aligned Care Team
• The incumbent must use a high level of skill in assessing and treating the complicated psychosocial problems of Veterans and their families/significant others
• The incumbent will provide PACT Social Work Services to veterans in assigned region using various modalities including face to face - virtual and telephone services
• The incumbent will provide panel coverage as needed and will be required to hold a valid driver's license
• The incumbent will provide psychosocial services under supervision
• Social Work responsibilities include - the assessment - under supervision - of psychosocial problems that cause distress - often impacting the health condition and creating barriers to care
• These stressors can include adjustment to the current medical condition - untreated or under-treated mental health or substance abuse condition - economic instability - legal problems - and inadequate housing and transportation
• Referrals typically originate from any member of the interdisciplinary team - from Veterans and/or their families who call or walk-in for assistance - and from community professionals
• The incumbent - under supervision - must complete thorough assessments to determine the underlying causes of the presenting problem - the interpersonal and environmental factors impacting the problem - and its affect on the patient's ability and desire to comply with the treatment recommendations by the multidisciplinary team
• The social worker will help the patient and family to understand the contributing factors to the problem(s) - will discuss with them the pros and cons of possible short-term and long-term solutions - encouraging them to make positive and lasting changes to reduce stressors
• The social worker will coordinate with VA staff and community agencies to assist in problem solving - as needed
• Case management with members of the outpatient interdisciplinary team is provided in order to coordinate a collaborative effort to meet the agreed upon goals for a Veteran's treatment needs and include liaison with community professionals regarding needed services for Veterans and/or their families
• Services include but are not limited to interventions to increase access to care - including transportation assistance and advanced directives - economic assistance - including assistance with medical bills - financial aid services and strategies to increase income (employment - vocational rehabilitation - VA benefits - disability) - and/or reduce expenses - find the appropriate housing for the patient's level of need (affordable independent housing - homeless shelters - group and family care homes - Veterans Homes - assisted living - nursing homes - respite care - hospice care) and order necessary services to assist with functional decline
• The incumbent must be able to maintain effective therapeutic relationships with Veterans in the Primary Care Clinic and/or their families
• The incumbent is able to independently work with Veterans and their families who are experiencing a wide range of complicated medical - psychiatric - emotional - behavioral - financial - legal and psychosocial problems
• Effective social work in the Patient Centered Medical Home context often occurs over a series of several visits and may involve the need of the social worker to visit the veteran in their home
• Must - under supervision - complete thorough psychosocial assessments to determine the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and/or their families
• The incumbent must be able to utilize this assessment in facilitating the Veteran's maximum use of treatment for attainment of the highest level of independence that is possible and practicable
• Must actively participate as a member of the interdisciplinary treatment team and actively participate through collaboration with Veterans and family as well as interdisciplinary treatment team members in the development and implementation of treatment goals and interventions
• The incumbent has experience in medical and mental health diagnoses - disabilities - and treatment procedures - including acute - chronic and traumatic illnesses - substance abuse disorders - common medications and their effects/side effects - and medical terminology
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8am-4:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 554-53711-A & 554-53710-A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Total Rewards: Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf Social Work: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Social-Worker-Career-Flyer.pdf