Summary

The Southern Arizona VA Health Care System (SAVAHCS) is currently seeking a social worker to join the Acute Care Coordination (CC) team. The inpatient medicine setting offers a dynamic and fast-paced work environment - where interdisciplinary collaboration is essential to accomplish time-sensitive tasks. Ensuring the safe - timely - and efficient discharge of inpatient Veterans is a critical component of SAVAHCS operations.

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
• Master's degree in social work (MSW) 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 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 master's degree in social work
• Licensure
• Must have license or certification by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level
• **Exception - For assignments at the GS-9 level - VHA may waive the licensure or certification requirement for persons who are otherwise qualified - pending completion of state prerequisites for licensure/certification examinations
• 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
• Grade Determinations GS-09 Experience: None beyond the basic requirements listed above
• Candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Ability to utilize a Veteran centric approach when providing interventions and counseling for Veterans - their family members - caregivers - and survivors
• 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/Education: Candidates must possess at least 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
• or a Doctoral degree
• Additionally - candidates must demonstrate the following KSA's: 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
• Reference: VA Handbook 5005 - Part II - Appendix G39 - Social Worker Qualification Standard 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: Work is sedentary but also demands standing - walking - bending - twisting - and carrying light items.

Duties

• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional As a member of the inpatient/acute care team - the CC SW performs social work and case management duties aligned with professional standards
• Key responsibilities include conducting biopsychosocial assessments - health screenings - advance directives - goals of care - crisis and risk assessments - safety planning - abuse reporting - psychoeducation - discharge planning - and other relevant services
• Report patient safety concerns - including suicide and abuse/neglect - promptly to appropriate parties
• Develop safe - timely discharge plans - collaborating with patients - their decision-makers - the multidisciplinary team - and community resources to ensure continuity of care
• Facilitate patient self-determination through advocacy - education - and counseling
• coordinate discharge to home or necessary facilities
• Provide education on health management - VA and community resources - entitlements - advance directives - guardianship - insurance - and co-pays
• refer veterans and families to suitable VA and community services
• Maintain professional relationships with medical center staff - subject matter experts - veteran support systems - leadership - and community agencies to ensure safe - effective - patient-centered care
• Stay current on whole health - culturally sensitive approaches - and evidence-based practices tailored to patient needs
• Document social work activities accurately - timely - and comprehensively - per policies
• Provide training and consultation to VA staff on social work practices and resources - and ensure compliance with all regulations - policies - and accreditation standards
• Engage in quality improvement initiatives - participate in organizational processes - and communicate pertinent activities to supervisors
• Pursue ongoing professional development - attend meetings and huddles - and - when appropriate - supervise students or less experienced social workers - seeking supervision from licensed clinical staff as needed
• Contribute to the hospital's mission through committee work - workgroups - special projects - and other duties that support program goals and VA priorities
• Work Schedule: Monday through Friday - 07:30 a.m
• - 4:00 p.m
• Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases
• When setting pay - a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade)
• Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on prior [work experience] or military service experience
• Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment - up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth - adoption - or foster care placement of a child
• Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment - full time employees with a total family income below $144 -000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized