Senior Social Worker (GERI-PACT)

Veterans Health Administration•Phoenix, AZ

About The Position

The Senior Social Worker practices within the GERI-PACT program in Social Work Service. The position may include administrative responsibility for clinical program development and accountability for clinical program effectiveness and modification of service patterns. Assignments may be in clinical settings with limited access to onsite supervision, such as community-based outpatient clinics or satellite outpatient clinics. The role provides clinical services to Veterans and their families or significant others, coordinates care across VA and community resources, and supports continuity of care. The Senior Social Worker may serve as an ongoing case manager, mentor and train staff and students, and contribute to program planning and development. The position includes community outreach and liaison work and participation in an on-call social worker rotation, which may require modifying the tour of duty to meet weekend patient-care needs. The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Travel throughout the medical center and community is required. The incumbent must maintain a current, unrestricted driver's license and may drive a government vehicle when necessary. A sign-on bonus and relocation assistance are not authorized.

Requirements

Master's degree in Social Work from a school fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education; a doctoral degree cannot substitute for the master's degree.
State license or certification to independently practice Social Work at the master's level for appointment or reassignment to a VHA GS-0185 Social Worker position.
State license or certification at the advanced practice level, including an advanced generalist or clinical examination, unless grandfathered under applicable state rules; California licenses must meet the stated clinical examination requirement.
Ability to provide supervision for licensure.
At least two years of experience after advanced practice clinical licensure in a specialized area of social work practice, including one year equivalent to the GS-11 grade level.
Demonstrated advanced practice skills and judgment in a specialized area of social work practice.
Skill in specialized interventions and treatment modalities, including individual, group, or family counseling or psychotherapy and advanced psychosocial or case-management practice.
Ability to incorporate complex multiple causation into differential diagnosis and treatment within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice.
Knowledge of methods to measure the effectiveness of social work practice and services, use outcome evaluations to improve treatment, and design system changes.
Ability to provide specialized consultation to colleagues and students on psychosocial treatment and to model effective social work practice.
Ability to expand clinical knowledge and write policies, procedures, or practice guidelines for the service delivery area.
Proficiency in spoken and written English.
Current, unrestricted driver's license.
U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for recruiting qualified citizens under VA policy.
Registration with Selective Service is required for males born after December 31, 1959.
Ability to complete required background/security investigation and online onboarding requirements.
Ability to meet the VA seasonal influenza vaccination requirement for health care personnel.
Ability to meet the physical demands of travel and activities involving sitting, walking, standing, bending, and carrying items such as books, papers, and files.

Nice To Haves

Certification or post-master's training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university in a specialty, including a defined curriculum or course of study and internship or equivalent supervised professional experience.

Responsibilities

Interview Veterans to establish facts about their situations, presenting problems, and the effects of those problems on their functioning and health.
Interpret and explain VA treatment and benefit programs.
Independently evaluate Veterans’ situations, reactions, and ability to cope, and reach reasoned conclusions.
Arrange transfer of inpatient and outpatient health care to appropriate VHA and community resources.
Provide independent consultation and treatment recommendations to interdisciplinary teams.
Provide clinical services to Veterans and their family members or significant others in support of treatment.
Maintain ongoing relationships with Veterans, evaluate progress toward goals, and adjust treatment plans as appropriate.
Monitor progress, maintain comprehensive documentation, support expert diagnosis and treatment of clinical disorders, and use sound discretion when adjusting treatment.
Mentor other Social Work staff, particularly entry-level staff.
Supervise Social Work graduate students and provide them with a training experience.
Conduct formal workshops and classes for staff.
Provide ongoing case management to facilitate independent community living by coordinating mental health and community care as appropriate.
Participate in program planning and development; advise the supervisor of caseload trends and recommend procedural or policy changes based on work experience.
Improve professional skills and participate in staff-development projects, seminars, institutes, and training programs of other disciplines as requested.
Maintain productivity at the established required level.
Coordinate treatment and communicate with care lines to facilitate continuity of care for Veterans.
Document social work interventions and activities in clinical records and ensure appropriate handoffs when patient care is transferred.
Participate in an on-call social worker rotation, including modifying the tour of duty to accommodate weekend patient-care needs.
Travel as necessary or assigned to provide community outreach support.
Act as a liaison between VA and community resources, including marketing and public relations duties as needed.
Perform other related duties as assigned.

Benefits

Federal employee benefits package; specific benefits depend on position eligibility.
A sign-on bonus is not authorized.
Relocation assistance is not authorized.

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