Senior Social Worker-Caregiver Support Program

Veterans Health Administration • Miami, FL

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The Miami Veterans Affairs Healthcare System is hiring a Senior Social Worker for its Caregiver Support Program (CSP). The role serves as a subject matter expert on the CSP team, providing specialized consultation on program administration and clinical matters in accordance with VHA Directive 1152. The program includes the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) and the Program of General Caregiver Support Services (PGCSS), which provide caregiver education and training, respite care, mental health services, beneficiary travel, monthly stipend payments, and access to health care through CHAMPVA for eligible participants.

The Senior Social Worker works with Veterans, caregivers, families, and interdisciplinary teams to assess caregiver stress and needs and provide clinical interventions, education, and program support. The role includes regular home visits and may involve coverage of other Caregiver Support Coordinators and the Caregiver Support Program Manager. The position is based at the Bruce W. Carter VA Medical Center and may include weekend or holiday social work coverage and emergency management response.

The schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; work schedules may vary temporarily or permanently based on facility or patient-care needs. Telework and virtual work are not available. The position is GS-12, functional statement 31984F.

Requirements

• Master's degree in social work from a school fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE); a doctoral degree cannot substitute for the master's degree.
• State licensure or certification to independently practice social work at the master's degree level.
• At least two years of experience after advanced practice clinical licensure, including at least one year equivalent to GS-11, in a specialized area of social work practice.
• Advanced-practice-level state licensure or certification, including an advanced generalist or clinical examination, unless covered by applicable grandfathering provisions; must be able to provide supervision for licensure.
• Florida LCSW applicants seeking APL Qualified Supervision Delegation must have QSCSW on licensure.
• Puerto Rico LSW applicants must be active members of the College of Social Work Professionals of Puerto Rico (CPTSPR) and provide active membership certification.
• Demonstrate skill in specialized interventions and treatment modalities, including individual, group, and/or family counseling or psychotherapy and advanced psychosocial or case management.
• Demonstrate ability to incorporate complex multiple causation into differential diagnosis and treatment within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice.
• Demonstrate knowledge of developing and implementing methods to measure social work practice and service effectiveness, use outcome evaluations to improve treatment, and design system changes.
• Demonstrate ability to provide specialized consultation and role-model effective social work practice for colleagues and students.
• Demonstrate ability to expand clinical knowledge and write policies, procedures, and/or practice guidelines for the service delivery area.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• U.S. citizenship is required, subject to the stated exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• Must pass a pre-employment physical examination and background/security investigation, and participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Must be able to drive a government car.
• Must meet the physical demands of the work, including finger use, moderate walking and standing, specified corrected near and far vision, clear speech, emotional stability, and moderate duty.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with caregiver support, working with caregivers, and conducting home visits.
• Certification or post-master's training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university, with a defined curriculum or course of study and internship or equivalent supervised professional experience in a specialty.

Responsibilities

• Support the Caregiver Support Program and ensure compliance and collaboration with local facility and VA Central Office initiatives.
• Collaborate with CSP team members to provide comprehensive health care services to Veterans and support equitable access, services, benefits, and high-quality care.
• Provide leadership, direction, orientation, coaching, in-service training, staff development, and continuing education as assigned.
• Serve on facility, VISN, national, or community committees, work groups, and task forces as appropriate.
• Perform specific program duties based on clinical and administrative needs identified by the Caregiver Support Program Manager.
• Maintain competency in all aspects of program operation and management and provide coverage for other Caregiver Support Coordinators and the Caregiver Support Program Manager.
• Participate in a Social Work Service rotation providing weekend or holiday social work services and/or emergency management response at the Bruce W. Carter VA Medical Center.
• Develop and facilitate caregiver support groups and educational programs, and distribute caregiver educational materials.
• Assess caregiver stress and burden through direct contacts with caregivers and Veterans, and develop and apply directed clinical treatment interventions.
• Provide clinical interventions to caregivers and families to address caregiver stress, psychiatric illness, emotional distress, and social needs.
• Conduct regular home visits to Veterans and caregivers participating in PCAFC and PGCSS.
• Respond to calls from the National Caregiver Support Hotline and other calls and inquiries about the CSP, and assist with general program tasks.
• Advise and collaborate with interdisciplinary teams throughout the medical center on caregiver issues.
• Create educational tools, develop programs, and implement training focused on caregiver needs and issues.
• Provide education and in-service training to VA medical center employees, Veterans, families, and caregivers.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and regular salary increases.
• 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year, including annual leave, sick leave, and 11 paid federal holidays.
• Potential credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work or military service, subject to request and approval.
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months of employment in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.
• Eligible full-time employees may qualify for a childcare subsidy after 60 days of employment, subject to family-income and other eligibility limits.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting and a federal 401(k) with up to 5% in VA contributions.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance; many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior