Social Worker- Personal Care Services Program-Amended

Veterans Health Administration • Orlando, FL

11d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Personal Care Services (PCS) Social Worker works within Social Work Service at the Orlando VA Healthcare System, providing services to Veterans receiving non-institutional care. The role reassesses Veterans’ continued need for VA-authorized community care, resolves requests to change assigned agencies, and reviews requests for additional services. The Social Worker serves as a liaison between VA and community home health agencies and independently documents, reviews, and follows up on complaints within the PCS Programs.

Working with the GEC Social Work Supervisor and PCS Coordinators, the incumbent organizes and prepares PCS Program reports for the Medical Center Director, VISN Liaison, and Central Office. The role builds relationships with agency and community providers and monitors Veterans’ care plans for service reauthorization in accordance with the SEOC. The Social Worker evaluates their practice through peer review, case conferences, research studies, or other organized means; records Veteran and family contacts in the electronic medical record; attends assigned meetings; and contributes to clinical reminders and facility performance measures within the scope of Social Work practice and privileges.

The work schedule is Monday through Friday, with schedules of 7:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m. or 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Ad-hoc telework is available; this is not a virtual position. Recruitment or relocation incentives and permanent change-of-station assistance are not authorized.

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.
• For GS-11 appointment, at least one year of post-MSW experience equivalent to GS-9 in health care or another social-work-related setting, plus independent-practice-level licensure or certification; alternatively, a doctoral degree in social work may substitute for the one year of professional social work experience in a clinical setting.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Knowledge of community resources, appropriate referrals to community and government agencies, and service coordination.
• Ability to independently conduct psychosocial assessments and treatment interventions with people from diverse backgrounds.
• Knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities, treatment procedures, common medications and their effects or side effects, and medical terminology to formulate treatment plans.
• Ability to independently implement treatment modalities with individuals, families, and groups experiencing psychiatric, medical, and social problems.
• Ability to provide consultation to new social workers, social work graduate students, and other staff about patients’ psychosocial needs and the effects of psychosocial problems on health care and treatment compliance.
• Must be a U.S. citizen, except that non-citizens may be appointed when recruiting qualified citizens is not possible under VA policy.
• Must meet applicable background/security investigation and onboarding requirements and complete the application requirements stated in the announcement.
• Must participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program; may be required to undergo annual TB screening or testing.
• Must serve a one- or two-year trial period.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in case management, hospital discharge planning, skilled home care, skilled nursing facilities, medical social work, work with geriatric populations, care coordination, or community partnerships.
• Ability to communicate effectively with peers, Veterans, and families.
• Organizational skills and ability to work independently.

Responsibilities

• Reassess Veterans’ need for continuation of VA-authorized care in the community.
• Resolve requests to change assigned agencies and review requests for additional services.
• Act as a liaison between VA and community home health agencies.
• Independently document, review, and follow up on complaints within the PCS Programs.
• Organize and prepare PCS Program reports with the GEC Social Work Supervisor and PCS Coordinators for the Medical Center Director, VISN Liaison, and Central Office.
• Establish rapport with agency and community providers and monitor Veterans’ care plans for service reauthorization per SEOC.
• Evaluate professional practice through peer review, case conferences, research studies, or other organized means.
• Enter Veteran and family contacts in the electronic medical record using appropriate formats and templates.
• Participate in assigned individual team huddles, Interdisciplinary Team meetings, committees, Social Worker meetings, and matrix staffing meetings.
• Contribute to clinical reminders within Social Work scope of practice and/or privileges and to assigned facility performance measures.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and regular salary increases; a higher step rate may be considered for higher or unique qualifications or VA special needs.
• 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year, consisting of 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 birth, adoption, or foster care placement.
• Eligible full-time employees may qualify for a childcare subsidy after 60 days of employment, subject to family-income, child-eligibility, and subsidy 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: Mid Level