Summary
John J. Pershing Veterans Affairs Medical Center (JJP VAMC) is a level-3 complexity medical center comprised of a 38-bed community living center (CLC) and 10 acute medicine beds. The CLC provides long-term care, short-stay continuing care, short-stay rehabilitation, short-stay skilled nursing, respite, and end of life care. Primary Care, Urgent Care, Ambulatory Specialty Care, Mental Health, Telehealth, and Community Health/Home Care are offered by this facility.
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Duties
John J. Pershing is committed to Diversity and Inclusion. Together, we strive to create and maintain a working and learning environment that promotes professional growth and teamwork. We offer an inclusive, equitable, and welcoming environment where we celebrate our individual differences and unite as a team toward a common goal of providing outstanding service to our Nation's Veterans.
Major Duties and Responsibilities:
Incumbent serves as a core member of the HBPC treatment team. This social worker is assigned to Home Based Primary Care (HBPC)/Patient Care Services with responsibility to provide direct services for adult and geriatric Veterans and their families for the HBPC Program, which includes visits to the home. The incumbent provides Veterans in the HBPC Program with high quality case management, clinical treatment, advocacy, and to coordinate linkage with appropriate VA and community service providers/agencies, as need by the client. This social worker works independently with limited access to direct social work supervision as they provide expert level psychosocial intervention and case management. This is accomplished in collaboration with other members of the HBPC Team or other interdisciplinary treatment teams, as appropriate i.e., Specialty Clinics, Primary Care, Long-term care etc.
GS-9
- The incumbent will conduct a comprehensive psychosocial assessment to determine needs of Veterans and family members.
- The incumbent possesses expert skills for making rapid assessments and developing crisis management plans to maintain patients in the home, for admission to acute, short term and/or long term placements.
- The incumbent is a core participant in the treatment planning process with other disciplines. It is the responsibility of the social worker, working within the interdisciplinary treatment team to develop a treatment plan with the Veteran based on the assessment.
- The incumbent will participate in discharge planning with other disciplines and will be responsible for ensuring that discharge plans are executed in a manner that is timely and appropriate.
- The incumbent will provide education related to VA and community resources, entitlements, Advance Directives/Living Will and will refer veterans/families to appropriate interdisciplinary team member for identified health education needs and is responsible for developing a resource file of VA and community social service programs and will refer the Veteran to needed services.
- The incumbent will independently act as an advocate when it serves the best interest of the Veteran or family. When appropriate and feasible, the incumbent will educate and encourage the veteran/family to advocate on their behalf, fostering a sense of independence and empowerment.
GS-11
- The incumbent will conduct a comprehensive psychosocial assessment to determine needs of Veterans and family members.
- The incumbent possesses expert skills for making rapid assessments and developing crisis management plans to maintain patients in the home, for admission to acute, short term and/or long term placements.
- The incumbent is a core participant in the treatment planning process with other disciplines. It is the responsibility of the social worker, working within the interdisciplinary treatment team to develop a treatment plan with the Veteran based on the assessment.
- The incumbent will participate in discharge planning with other disciplines and will be responsible for ensuring that discharge plans are executed in a manner that is timely and appropriate.
- The incumbent will provide education related to VA and community resources, entitlements, Advance Directives/Living Will and will refer veterans/families to appropriate interdisciplinary team member for identified health education needs and is responsible for developing a resource file of VA and community social service programs and will refer the Veteran to needed services.
- The incumbent will independently act as an advocate when it serves the best interest of the Veteran or family. When appropriate and feasible, the incumbent will educate and encourage the veteran/family to advocate on their behalf, fostering a sense of independence and empowerment
- The incumbent is able to independently coordinate community-based services, including information and referral for additional services from other VA programs, other government programs, and community agencies.
- The incumbent will independently provide a full range of social work services within commonly accepted standards of social work practice which includes case work, individual, family and group counseling, discharge planning, case management throughout the continuum of care, and other services as appropriate..
Work Schedule: Monday- Friday 8:00am-4:30pm
Telework: Adhoc Telework Only
Travel Required - Yes, Between West Plains, Poplar Bluff, and Paragould.
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required
Virtual: This is
NOT a virtual position.
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Requirements
Conditions of Employment
- You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
- All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
- Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
- Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
- You may be required to serve a probationary period.
- Subject to background/security investigation.
- Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
- Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
- Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
- Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.
Qualifications
John J. Pershing is committed to Diversity and Inclusion. Together, we strive to create and maintain a working and learning environment that promotes professional growth and teamwork. We offer an inclusive, equitable, and welcoming environment where we celebrate our individual differences and unite as a team toward a common goal of providing outstanding service to our Nation's Veterans.
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.- 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.- 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.
- (a) 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.
- (b) A social worker who does not yet have a license that allows independent practice must be supervised by a licensed independent practitioner of the same discipline who is a VA staff member and who has access to the electronic health record.
- English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C.
- 7403(f).
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:
Social Worker, 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.
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. 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: Minimum 2 year of experience as a Social Work is preferred.
Reference: VA Handbook 5005/120, PART II, APPENDIX G39, SOCIAL WORKER QUALIFICATION STANDARD GS-0185 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-9 to GS-11
Physical Requirements: This position is mostly sedentary and requires walking, kneeling, bending, standing, and light lifting.
Education
IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.
Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.
Additional information
Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.
During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.
This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.
VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.
Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process.
If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.
Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.
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John J Pershing VA Medical Center
1500 North Westwood Boulevard
Poplar Bluff, MO 63901
US
