Senior Social Worker - Community Based Outpatient Clinic

Veterans Health Administration•Everett, WA

About The Position

The Senior Social Worker provides a range of social work services to Veterans assigned to a Primary Care Provider in a specialty clinic or program. Services include psychosocial assessments, treatment planning, short-term solution-focused counseling for individuals and families who may be in crisis, education and referrals for resources and benefits, and case management. The role works independently with Veterans and caregivers in a community setting and coordinates care with other disciplines and care lines to support continuity of care. The position is scheduled Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Compressed or flexible scheduling may be authorized, and ad hoc telework is available. This is not a virtual position. The position is permanent, at the GS-12 full-performance level, and is in the Excepted Service.

Requirements

U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for appointments when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
Proficiency in spoken and written English.
A 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 licensure or certification at the advanced practice level, including an advanced generalist or clinical examination, subject to the stated grandfathering provisions; must be able 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.
Advanced practice skills and judgment in a specialized area of social work practice.
Skill in specialized interventions and treatment modalities, including individual, group, and/or family counseling or psychotherapy and advanced psychosocial or case management.
Ability to incorporate complex multiple causation into differential diagnosis and treatment within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice.
Knowledge of developing and implementing methods to measure the effectiveness of social work practice and services, using 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, and/or practice guidelines related to the service delivery area.
Must pass a pre-employment physical evaluation.
Must complete a background/security investigation and the online onboarding process.
Must participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
Must satisfy application and pre-employment identification requirements.
Must serve a one- or two-year trial period, with continued employment subject to written certification that it advances the public interest.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Conduct psychosocial assessments to determine the needs of Veterans and family members.
Participate with other disciplines in treatment planning and discharge planning, and ensure discharge plans are carried out in a timely and appropriate manner.
Provide individual, family, and group counseling as appropriate, including short-term, solution-focused counseling.
Educate and consult with Veterans and families about community resources, advance directives, and VA benefits.
Serve as a consultant to team and staff members, and educate medical teams and providers on social work practice and VA policies and procedures.
Act as a liaison between VA and community resources, including marketing and public relations duties as needed.
Provide case management to Veterans and families throughout the continuum of care as needed.
Deliver social work services within accepted practice standards, including casework, counseling, discharge planning, and other appropriate services.
Address advance directives and organ donation in accordance with work-area standards.
Provide wellness and prevention education and facilitate patient and family support groups as appropriate.
Supervise social work students or serve as a lead and mentor to less experienced social workers as appropriate.
Coordinate treatment and communicate with care lines to facilitate continuity of care for Veterans.
Participate in committee assignments as deemed necessary by the service manager.
Maintain data and statistical compilations to comply with JCAHO, VA, and medical center policies and procedures.
Assist patients and significant others with coping with loss and grief related to disability, terminal illness, and death.
Document social work interventions and activities in patients’ clinical records using CPRS and/or Reports of Contact.
Ensure appropriate handoffs when Veterans transfer care.
Work independently with Veterans and caregivers in a community setting.
Perform other duties as assigned.