Social Worker (Inpatient Acute Medicine)

Veterans Health Administration • Nashville, TN

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The Social Worker manages, coordinates, and provides social work services to Veterans and their families enrolled at the Tennessee Valley Healthcare System (TVHS), primarily on inpatient acute medicine, surgical, and intensive care units. Social workers support patient flow and movement, are cross-trained to provide inpatient coverage across units, and assist with discharge planning for medically complex Veterans.

The role provides a full range of social work services within accepted professional standards, including assessment, counseling, treatment planning, case management, discharge planning, patient and family education, and coordination with healthcare teams and community resources. The position also includes consultation, supervision of students or less experienced social workers, committee participation, and clinical documentation and reporting.

The full performance level is GS-11; selection may be made at GS-9 through GS-11. The work schedule is 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Telework and virtual work are not available. Physical demands are generally minor and sedentary, though occasional travel and routine movement such as walking, standing, bending, stooping, climbing stairs, and carrying light items may be required. The work can involve emotional stress when supporting Veterans and their families or caregivers.

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.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• Licensure or certification by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level. The licensure requirement may be waived at GS-9 for otherwise qualified candidates pending completion of state prerequisites; GS-11 candidates must be licensed or certified.
• For GS-11, at least one year of post-MSW experience equivalent to GS-9 in healthcare or another social-work-related setting, plus independent-practice-level state licensure or certification; alternatively, a doctoral degree in social work may substitute for the required year of professional social work experience in a clinical setting.
• Ability to work with Veterans and families from diverse socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other backgrounds using counseling skills.
• Ability to assess psychosocial functioning and needs and formulate and implement treatment plans that identify problems, strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and needed assistance.
• Ability to implement treatment modalities with individuals, families, and groups, using supportive, problem-solving, or crisis-intervention techniques as appropriate.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients, staff, and community agency representatives.
• Fundamental knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities, treatment procedures, common medications and their effects or side effects, and medical terminology.
• For GS-11, knowledge of community resources and the ability to make appropriate referrals and coordinate services.
• For GS-11, skill in independently conducting psychosocial assessments and treatment interventions for people from diverse backgrounds.
• For GS-11, knowledge of medical and mental health conditions and treatment procedures sufficient to formulate treatment plans.
• For GS-11, skill in independently implementing treatment modalities with individuals, families, and groups experiencing psychiatric, medical, and social problems.
• For GS-11, ability to provide consultation to new social workers, graduate students, and other staff about patients' psychosocial needs and the effect of psychosocial problems on healthcare and treatment compliance.
• Must be a U.S. citizen, subject to the stated exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• Must meet applicable Selective Service registration requirements for males born after December 31, 1959.
• Must undergo a background/security investigation, complete online onboarding and pre-employment requirements, and pass a pre-employment physical examination.
• Must participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program for VA healthcare personnel.
• Must serve a one- or two-year trial period, subject to written certification for continued employment.
• Physical activity may include sitting, standing, walking, bending, stooping, climbing stairs, carrying light items, and occasional travel.

Nice To Haves

• For GS-11, a doctoral degree in social work may substitute for the required year of professional social work experience in a clinical setting.

Responsibilities

• Assist with patient flow and movement in the facility and provide inpatient coverage across units as needed.
• Conduct psychosocial assessments and high-risk screenings to determine the needs of Veterans and family members.
• Participate in treatment planning with other disciplines.
• Participate in discharge planning and ensure plans are carried out in a timely and appropriate manner.
• Provide individual and family counseling as appropriate.
• Educate Veterans and families about community resources, advance directives, and VA benefits.
• Consult with other team and staff members and educate medical residents on social work practice and VA policy and procedures.
• Serve 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.
• Provide casework, individual, family, and group counseling, discharge planning, case management, and other appropriate social work services.
• Address advance directives and organ donation in accordance with work-area standards.
• Provide patient education tailored to the Veteran's needs.
• Supervise social work students or less experienced social workers.
• Coordinate treatment and communicate with care lines to support continuity of care.
• Participate in committee assignments as deemed necessary by the service manager.
• Maintain data and statistical compilations to comply with Joint Commission, VA, and medical center policies and procedures.
• Assist patients and significant others with coping with disability, terminal illness, death, loss, and grief.
• Document social work interventions and activities in the patient's clinical record using CPRS and ensure appropriate handoff when transferring patient care.
• Maintain workload productivity within the stated range of 85% to 135%.

Benefits

• Competitive salary with regular salary increases; a higher step rate may be considered based on higher or unique qualifications or VA needs.
• 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year, including 13–26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, and 11 paid federal holidays.
• Eligible employees may receive credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work or military service, subject to approval.
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months of employment, in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster placement of a child.
• Eligible full-time employees may qualify for a childcare subsidy after 60 days of employment, subject to 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 may be carried into retirement.

What This Job Offers

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