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Responsible for addressing the psychosocial needs of Vets who present to the Emergency Department. This includes assessing for urgent & emergent needs, resource provision & referral, & care coordination. Also responsible for the Medical Companion Program which provides transportation & supervision to Veterans post anesthesia/sedation procedures when a responsible caregiver is not available to provide such support. Has good basic knowledge of the Medical Center, VA & community resources. 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). Education: Must 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. Grade Determinations: Social Worker, GS-9 Experience, Education, and Licensure: None beyond the basic requirements. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA's): In addition to the basic 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. 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. 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 (KSA's): 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. 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-9 to GS-11. Physical Requirements: Must be in overall good health, able to sit at a desk working at a computer, engage in light to moderate physical activity including sitting, walking, bending, and carrying supplies. Social Workers must be able to perform primarily light and sedentary duties with occasionally moderate physical demands, exercise patience, and control emotions, with reasonable accommodation, if necessary, without endangering the health and safety of the social worker or others. This position also requires close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; extensive reading; and repetitive motions of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers. ["VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU *** This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until September 29, 2023. The initial cutoff date for referral of eligible applications will be July 28, 2023. Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as needed basis until positions are filled. *** Actively participates in the treatment planning process with other disciplines. Ensures that discharge plans are executed in a manner that is timely and appropriate. Maintains comprehensive written patient progress notes, outcomes, and discharge planning services in collaboration with the treatment team, in the patient's clinical record, to ensure an appropriate hand-off when patient care is moved through the continuum of care. Identifies the patient's problems, strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and assistance needed. Implements the written treatment program standard operating procedures developed by the Social Work Service that are based on empirical and theoretical rationale and are consistent with patient rights. Provides short term solution focused counseling with individuals and families who may be in crisis utilizing individual , group, and family counseling skills. Utilizes treatment modalities to assist patients and their significant others with coping and dealing with the loss and grief experienced when diagnosed with a disability, chronic disease or terminal illness. Coordinates treatment and communicate with the service lines to facilitate continuity of care for Veterans. Maintains open, productive communication with community partners and other stakeholders. Assists in procuring appropriate level of care placements for Veterans utilizing the ED. This will include Long Term Care (LTC) facilities, psychiatric placements, Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNF) and other placements as needed. Demonstrate in-depth knowledge of different payment options for admission to VA and community facilities. Acts as a liaison between VA and community resources, to include marketing and public relations as needed. Is knowledge of appropriate non-institutional options for care to avoid unnecessary admissions of patients who do not meet clinical necessity for acute hospitalization. Coordinates care between the Veteran, the community partners, the Community Care service line, and the VA. Arranges for a hotel room for the Veteran and coordinate with the home health company for 24-hour rotating shift of companions at the hotel for Veterans that live more than 50 miles from the VASLCHCS main campus. Performs billing reconciliation, monthly, with the home health agency and the hotel contractor. Verifies that payment authorization is provided to the home health agency prior to the scheduled visit. Conducts work activities independently utilizing educational training, clinical experience, VA policies, and The Joint Commission standards in administering direct services. Completes periodic program planning evaluations and reviews recommending and implementing new programs and/or modifications/expansion of existing programs, as indicated. Works closely with other VASLCHCS programs and services to ensure coordination between entities is facilitated and direct care, referral, and follow up provided for enrolled Veterans is contiguous and based on a continuum of services. In addition, acts as a consultant to other staff/team members as needed. Provides consultation services to other staff, including medical residents, regarding the psychosocial needs of Veterans and the impact of psychosocial problems on health care and adherence to the treatment plan. Provides consultation/education to Veterans and families on wellness/prevention, community resources, advance directives, and VA benefits. Provides consultation/education to other staff, including medical residents, on social work practices and VA policies and procedures. Conducts training for staff, students, and community providers regarding VA programs; will provide education, information and be a liaison between community resources and Veterans; and will provide technical assistance and educational sessions to community organizations as needed. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8AM to 4:30PM Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position Functional Statement #: 57565-O, 57566-O Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]

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