"Alerted.org

Summary The Senior Social Worker of the Emergency Department for the Phoenix VA Healthcare System provides services in the Emergency Department (ED) and is assigned to provide support and assessment of psychosocial functioning and factors impacting Veteran overall heath and functioning. Additionally, this position may also assist on the inpatient units to meet the Social Work needs of Veterans admitted to the acute setting. This may be a float for a shift or longer assignment, depending on the needs. Responsibilities Social Work: VA Careers- Social Work Major duties include, but are not limited to: The Sr. Social Worker of emergency department social work services is experienced in making rapid assessments and developing crisis management plans. The incumbent has knowledge of multiple resources to meet the demands of a crisis. The incumbent will assess for completion of suicide risk screening and assessments that include the assessment of suicidal/homicidal thoughts and behaviors. The incumbent may also be consulted regarding allegations of abuse and neglect and will follow the established protocols including reporting and educating interdisciplinary team members on mandatory reporting to Elder and Child Protective Service agencies as necessary and clinically appropriate. Acts as the subject matter expert on VA and community resources. The incumbent will collaborate with other service providers to ensure Veterans receive appropriate services. The incumbent is responsible for educating the Veteran and/or caregiver of available services and assisting them in establishing appropriate referrals based on the Veterans preference or that of their surrogate decision-maker. The incumbent will enter all Veteran/family contacts in the electronic record system using appropriate formats and templates and are to enter consults and make assessments based on their Advanced level of licensure. The Sr. Social Worker practices at an advanced level and has specialized knowledge of practice typically related to chronically ill, and at risk patients. Social Work Services in the ED includes WHEN (weekend, holiday, evening, night) coverage. The incumbent will adhere to the NASW Code of Ethics, all local social work policies, and maintain an unrestricted, unsuspended license to practice social work. Must be able to provide supervision for licensure. Assist in meeting the social work needs on the inpatient units as needed. This will include psychosocial assessment and discharge planning. To provide the opportunity for professional growth and ensure competency of social work services across the continuum, social workers may be asked to cross train in other Social Work Service areas when functions are aligned with the current position of the incumbent. Perform other duties as assigned Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Requirements Conditions of Employment 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: 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/. 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). Preferred Experience: Must possess current driver's license Grade Determinations: Senior Social Worker, GS-12 (1) 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. (2) 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. (3) 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. SOCIAL WORKER QUALIFICATION STANDARD GS-0185 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-12 Physical Requirements: Traveling throughout the medical center and the community is required, as is performing activities involving sitting, walking, and standing, bending and carrying such items as books, papers, and files. In carrying out responsibilities it may be necessary for the incumbent to travel into the community where he/she conducts interviews with the Veterans, their families, representatives of community health and welfare agencies and law enforcement agencies. The incumbent must possess current driver's license and drive a government vehicle in carrying out professional duties when deemed necessary. 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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html. Additional Information This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment. 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. Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members. If you are unable to apply online view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.