Social Worker

Veterans Health Administration • Lexington, KY

11d • Onsite

About The Position

This position provides social work services, medical case management, and discharge planning to Acute Care at the Troy Bowling Campus. The Social Worker is a member of an interdisciplinary team and is primarily responsible for completing psychosocial histories and assessments, psychosocial portions of care plans, and the Minimum Data Set (MDS).

The role includes assessment and treatment planning for Veterans and family members, individual, family, and group counseling, case management, discharge planning, and coordination with community resources. The Social Worker also provides consultation and education to Veterans, families, medical students, social work graduate students, new social workers, and other staff. The position may include orientation and coaching, serving as a field instructor for graduate students, liaison and public relations work with community resources, wellness and prevention education, and facilitating support groups. The incumbent maintains required data and statistical compilations and works to established social work practice standards and VA, medical center, and Joint Commission policies.

The position is scheduled Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with some weekends and rotating holidays. Telework is unavailable; this is not a virtual position. The full-performance level is GS-11, and selection may be at GS-9 or GS-11. The position is permanent, and relocation is 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 does not substitute for the master’s degree.
• State licensure or certification to independently practice social work at the master’s level. At GS-9, VHA may waive this requirement while the employee completes state prerequisites; licensure or certification at the independent master’s level must then be obtained within three years of appointment.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• For GS-9: meet the basic requirements and demonstrate the specified knowledge, skills, and abilities; no additional experience or licensure beyond the basic requirements is required, subject to the stated licensure exception.
• For GS-9: ability to provide Veteran-centric interventions and counseling; 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 fundamental knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities, treatment procedures, 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; alternatively, a doctoral degree in social work may substitute for the required year of professional clinical social work experience.
• For GS-11: knowledge of community resources, referrals, and service coordination; skill in independently conducting psychosocial assessments and treatment interventions across diverse backgrounds; knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities, treatment procedures, medications, and medical terminology; skill in independently implementing treatment modalities; 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-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• Must pass a pre-employment physical evaluation or examination and a background/security investigation; onboarding and application-document requirements apply.
• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must be registered with Selective Service.
• Must participate in the VA seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Must serve a one- or two-year trial period.

Nice To Haves

• Progressive clinical social work experience in a medical social work environment.
• Demonstrated expertise in psychosocial assessment, crisis intervention, discharge planning, and care coordination.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within an interdisciplinary team.
• Experience serving Veterans and familiarity with VA programs, medical social work practices, and complex transitions of care.

Responsibilities

• Conduct psychosocial assessments of Veterans and family members and determine their needs.
• Participate in interdisciplinary treatment planning and develop treatment plans based on patients’ psychosocial functioning, problems, strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and assistance needs.
• Complete psychosocial histories, psychosocial portions of care plans, and the Minimum Data Set (MDS).
• Participate in discharge planning and ensure discharge plans are executed in a timely and appropriate manner.
• Provide individual, family, and group counseling using appropriate treatment modalities and supportive, problem-solving, or crisis-intervention techniques.
• Provide medical case management and other social work services across the continuum of care.
• Educate Veterans and families about community resources, advance directives, and VA benefits.
• Provide consultation to team members, medical students, new social workers, graduate students, and other staff on social work practice, VA policies and procedures, and patients’ psychosocial needs.
• Orient and coach new social workers and social work graduate students, and serve as a field instructor for graduate students completing VHA placements when appropriate.
• Act as a liaison between VA and community resources, including marketing and public relations duties as needed.
• Provide wellness and prevention education and facilitate Veteran and family support groups as appropriate.
• Maintain data and statistical compilations required by Joint Commission, VA, and medical center policies and procedures.
• Establish and maintain effective relationships with clients, staff, and community agency representatives, and communicate effectively orally and in writing.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and 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.
• Selected applicants may qualify for annual-leave accrual credit based on prior work or military service, subject to approval.
• After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with birth, adoption, or foster-care placement.
• Eligible full-time employees may qualify after 60 days for a childcare subsidy of up to 25% of eligible childcare costs, subject to income, child eligibility, and a monthly maximum of $416.66.
• 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 can be carried into retirement.

What This Job Offers

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