Social Worker-Medical Acute Care/Inpatient

Veterans Health Administration • Bronx, NY

4d • Onsite

About The Position

The Medical Acute Care/Inpatient Social Worker provides direct services to patients and their families under supervision. Assignments may include inpatient or outpatient specialties in Medicine, Surgery, Psychiatry, and Spinal Cord Injury, as well as specialized medical or psychiatric programs such as the Infectious Disease Clinic, hemodialysis, outpatient post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and substance abuse services. The position requires professional knowledge of social work principles and practices.

The social worker conducts psychosocial assessments, participates in treatment planning and discharge planning with other disciplines, and helps ensure discharge plans are carried out in a timely and appropriate manner. Services may include case work, individual, family, and group counseling, case management, and other services consistent with accepted standards of social work practice.

The position participates in an on-call social worker rotation, which may require modification of the tour of duty to meet patient needs on weekends. The social worker consults with other team and staff members and may supervise social work students or less experienced social workers. Other duties include addressing Advance Directives and Organ Donation according to work-area standards, participating in committee assignments as directed, and documenting interventions and activities in the patient's clinical record using CPRS, including appropriate handoffs when patient care is transferred.

The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Telework and virtual work are not available. The full-performance level is GS-11; selection may be at GS-09 through GS-11.

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 level, subject to the stated GS-9 exception and applicable deadlines.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• For GS-9: demonstrate a Veteran-centric approach; assess psychosocial functioning and needs and formulate and implement treatment plans; implement treatment modalities with individuals, families, and groups; establish effective working relationships and communicate with clients, staff, and community agencies; and demonstrate fundamental knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities, treatment procedures, common medications, and medical terminology.
• For GS-11: at least one year of post-MSW experience equivalent to GS-9 in health care or another social-work-related setting, and independent-practice-level state licensure or certification. A qualifying doctoral degree in social work may substitute for the experience requirement.
• For GS-11: demonstrate knowledge of community resources and referral coordination; skill in independently conducting psychosocial assessments and interventions; knowledge of medical and mental health conditions and treatment procedures; skill in independently implementing treatment modalities; and ability to consult with new social workers, graduate students, and other staff.
• Meet applicable pre-employment requirements, including a background/security investigation, pre-employment physical evaluation, and seasonal influenza vaccination.
• U.S. citizenship is required, subject to the stated VA policy exception for non-citizens.

Nice To Haves

• Prior work or military service may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, subject to approval.
• A doctoral degree in social work may substitute for the GS-11 one-year professional social work experience requirement.

Responsibilities

• Conduct psychosocial assessments to determine the needs of Veterans and family members.
• Participate in treatment planning with other disciplines.
• Participate in discharge planning and ensure discharge plans are executed in a timely and appropriate manner.
• Provide social work services, including case work, individual, family, and group counseling, discharge planning, and case management.
• Participate in an on-call social worker rotation, including modifying the tour of duty to accommodate patient needs on weekends.
• Act as a consultant to other team and staff members.
• Supervise social work students or less experienced social workers when appropriate, and provide coverage as needed to maintain services.
• Address Advance Directives and Organ Donation in accordance with work-area standards.
• Participate in committee assignments as directed by the supervisor or service manager.
• Document social work interventions and activities in patients' clinical records using CPRS, and ensure appropriate handoffs when patient care is transferred.

Benefits

• 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year, comprising 13–26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, and 11 paid federal holidays.
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months of employment for qualifying birth, adoption, or foster-care placement.
• 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 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.
• Competitive salary and regular salary increases; a higher step rate may be considered based on higher or unique qualifications or VA special needs.

What This Job Offers

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