Senior Social Worker (Pact)

Veterans Health Administration • Zephyrhills, FL

3d • Onsite

About The Position

James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital is hiring a Senior Social Worker for the Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) at its Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) in Zephyrhills, Florida. The role provides specialized social work treatment for veterans with complex physical and/or mental illness, using advanced knowledge of relevant theories, modalities, assessment, diagnosis, and treatment. The position requires adherence to the National Association of Social Work Code of Ethics, local social work policies and procedures, and maintenance of an unrestricted, unsuspended license to practice social work.

The Senior Social Worker assesses veterans and their families, determines the priority and intensity of services, provides specialized interventions and case management, and coordinates care and discharge planning. The role also contributes expertise to interdisciplinary teams, consults with colleagues and students, mentors and teaches staff, and may provide licensure or specialty-certification supervision. Additional work includes program analysis and development, measuring outcomes and improving services, documentation in accordance with applicable standards, accreditation participation, and coordination with public, Department of Defense, state, and other agencies as appropriate.

The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, with rotating tours of duty as needed. Telework is not available, and the position is not virtual. A government vehicle may be required for some positions; when required, the incumbent must maintain a valid driver's license and pass Occupational Health screening. The position is in the Excepted Service and requires a one- or two-year trial period.

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.
• At least two years of experience after advanced-practice clinical licensure, including one year equivalent to the GS-11 grade level, in a specialized area of social-work practice.
• State licensure or certification at the advanced-practice level, including an advanced generalist or clinical examination, subject to stated grandfathering exceptions; must be able to provide supervision for licensure.
• For applicants with a Florida LCSW, QSCSW must be on licensure to qualify for APL Qualified Supervision Delegation.
• For applicants with a Puerto Rico LSW, active membership in the College of Social Work Professionals of Puerto Rico (CPTSPR) and proof of active membership are required.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• U.S. citizenship, except that non-citizens may be appointed when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• Demonstrated skill in specialized interventions and treatment modalities, including individual, group, and/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 developing and implementing methods to measure social-work effectiveness, using outcome evaluations to improve services, and designing system changes.
• Ability to provide specialized consultation to colleagues and students and to model effective social-work practice.
• Ability to expand clinical knowledge and write policies, procedures, and/or practice guidelines for the service delivery area.
• Ability to meet the physical demands of the position, which may include carrying people and equipment, walking long distances over difficult terrain, running, climbing, working long hours in primitive or arduous conditions, standing for long periods, and bending and stooping.
• Must pass a pre-employment physical examination and maintain CDT physical readiness.
• Must participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program for VA health-care personnel.
• Must complete background and security screening and the online onboarding process, and provide acceptable identification for pre-employment requirements.
• Must sign a Memorandum of Understanding concerning deployment responsibilities before accepting a final employment offer.
• Must serve a one- or two-year trial period.
• When use of a government vehicle is required, must have and maintain a valid driver's license and pass Occupational Health screening.
• Must complete all application requirements described in the announcement's Required Documents section.

Nice To Haves

• At least three years of medical social-work experience, including inpatient and outpatient care.
• Certification or post-master's training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university in a specialty area, with a defined curriculum or course of study and internship or equivalent supervised professional experience.

Responsibilities

• Determine priority for services and provide specialized treatment services.
• Complete biopsychosocial assessments and provide interventions based on assessment findings.
• Provide specialized interventions and treatment modalities, including individual, group, and/or family counseling and advanced psychosocial or case-management interventions.
• Develop and implement methods for measuring the effectiveness of social work practice and services, use outcome evaluations to improve services, and design changes based on empirical findings.
• Consult with colleagues and students on psychosocial treatment and model effective social work practice.
• Teach and mentor staff and students in the specialty area and provide supervision for licensure or specialty certifications.
• Perform program analysis, development, review, research, design, and contact work with agencies as appropriate.
• Organize work, set priorities, meet deadlines, and evaluate assigned program areas.
• Follow service-line agreements, standard operating procedures, documentation templates, and documentation standards established by accrediting bodies and funding sources.
• Assess the extent and intensity of social work treatment required by individuals and their families.
• Provide documentation for interdisciplinary discharge-planning teams and potential placement or aftercare programs and facilities.
• Maintain clinical contact with patients, families, and collateral providers before admission, during program participation, and after discharge, as required by policies and directives.
• Provide individualized care coordination and discharge planning that reflects patients' strengths, needs, abilities, and preferences, including through patient interactions, interdisciplinary team meetings, and family and collateral contacts.
• Advise the supervisor and interdisciplinary team about treatment goals, priorities, disposition options, and progress.
• Help ensure access to VA or community care by completing required documents, including 1010s and advance directives.
• Participate in accreditation surveys and ensure practice, unit/service, and facility standards are followed, including infection-control and safety requirements.
• Attend assigned supervisory meetings, individual meetings, team huddles, and social-work and matrix staff meetings.
• Maintain an unrestricted, unsuspended social-work license and adhere to professional ethics and applicable local policies and procedures.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and regular salary increases.
• Federal health insurance.
• Federal vision insurance.
• Federal dental insurance.
• Federal term life insurance.
• Federal long-term care insurance; many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement.
• Comprehensive federal employee benefits package for eligible employees and their families.

What This Job Offers

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