Social Worker (PACT/Medicine)

Veterans Health Administration • Topeka, KS

8d • Onsite

About The Position

Provides medical social work services to veterans enrolled at the Eastern Kansas Health Care System VA Medical Center. Services are delivered in outpatient PACT settings and on inpatient medical and surgical units. The role provides case management, clinical treatment, advocacy, discharge planning, and coordination of referrals to appropriate VA or community providers and agencies.

The social worker assesses veterans in collaboration with interdisciplinary teams, veterans, and their families; contributes to treatment planning; educates veterans and caregivers about services and resources; and coordinates referrals in accordance with veteran preferences or those of a surrogate decision-maker. The role also provides crisis intervention, health and resource education, supportive counseling, and coordination of institutional and non-institutional services.

Administrative and team responsibilities include documenting veteran and family contacts in the electronic record, maintaining working relationships with VA employees and community stakeholders, attending relevant team and staff meetings, participating in performance improvement activities, meeting applicable performance measures, and seeking client feedback to improve services. The position is not virtual; ad-hoc telework is indicated.

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 and above; a limited exception may apply at GS-9 while completing state prerequisites.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• For GS-11: 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 state licensure or certification; alternatively, a doctoral degree in social work may substitute for the year of professional experience.
• GS-9 candidates must demonstrate ability to counsel veterans and families from diverse backgrounds; assess psychosocial needs and develop and implement treatment plans; use treatment modalities with individuals, families, and groups; establish effective working relationships and communicate with clients, staff, and community agencies; and apply fundamental knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities, treatment procedures, medications, and medical terminology.
• GS-11 candidates must demonstrate knowledge of community resources and referral coordination; independent psychosocial assessment and treatment-intervention skills with diverse populations; knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities, treatment procedures, medications, and medical terminology; independent use of treatment modalities with individuals, families, and groups; and ability to consult with new social workers, graduate students, and other staff.
• U.S. citizenship is required, subject to the stated exception for non-citizen appointments when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• Selective Service registration is required for males born after December 31, 1959.
• Must complete background/security investigation, onboarding, and application documentation requirements; acceptable identification is required for pre-employment requirements.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is required for VA health care personnel.
• Must serve a one- or two-year trial period, subject to written certification for continued employment.
• Education used to qualify must be recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and obtained from an accredited institution; foreign education requires a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency and transcript.

Responsibilities

• Assess veterans' strengths, limitations, support systems, and service needs in collaboration with interdisciplinary teams, veterans, and family members.
• Participate in treatment planning and goal setting with PACT and inpatient teams, as clinically appropriate.
• Reassess veterans' needs with service providers; educate veterans and caregivers about available services and assist with appropriate referrals.
• Use and maintain VA and community social service resource information and refer veterans to needed services.
• Advocate for veterans and families when appropriate, while encouraging self-advocacy and independence when feasible.
• Conduct rapid assessments and develop crisis management plans, including plans for mental health inpatient admission when appropriate.
• Educate veterans and families about VA and community resources, entitlements, and advance directives or living wills; refer health education needs to appropriate team members.
• Coordinate institutional and non-institutional services with veterans, families, and care teams, considering the veteran's preferred option.
• Provide supportive counseling to veterans and caregivers addressing the psychosocial effects of chronic, disabling, or catastrophic illness.
• Enter veteran and family contacts in the electronic record using appropriate formats and templates.
• Maintain positive working relationships with VA employees, volunteers, consumers, stakeholders, and community agencies.
• Attend interdisciplinary treatment team, Social Work staff, and other appropriate committee meetings; perform other duties as required.
• Participate in performance improvement processes, comply with applicable performance measures, and obtain and use client feedback to enhance services.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and regular salary increases; a higher step may be considered for higher or unique qualifications or VA special 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.
• After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave for birth, adoption, or foster-care placement.
• Eligible full-time employees may qualify for a child care subsidy after 60 days of employment, subject to income and other eligibility limits.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting and federal 401(k), with VA contributions of up to 5%.
• 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