Social Worker-Rehabilitation and Extended Care/Home Based Primary Care

Veterans Health Administration • Davenport, IA

10d • Onsite

About The Position

This position provides social work services to Veterans and their families through the Home-Based Primary Care (HBPC) program and the Community Nursing Home Program (CNH), and may support other Rehabilitation and Extended Care (REC) areas based on workload. Services are delivered in the Veteran’s home, which may be a private residence, Medical Foster Home, Assisted Living facility, or another location the Veteran designates as home. The role serves Veterans with life-limiting or debilitating illnesses who may need a higher level of care in the future. It requires independent clinical practice and advanced social work skills across a variety of care settings, in accordance with established standards, policies, procedures, and interdisciplinary care plans. The position includes community travel within the ICVAHCS area; telework and virtual work are not available.

The social worker assesses Veterans’ and families’ needs, provides counseling and practical support, coordinates care, and connects patients with community resources such as financial assistance, transportation, and support groups. The role provides specialized mental health support for concerns including depression, anxiety, cognitive decline, adjustment disorders, disability, terminal illness, and bereavement. The incumbent collaborates in treatment planning, provides case management across the continuum of care, and offers consultation and education on community resources, advance directives, and VA benefits. The position also involves advising colleagues and community providers, liaising with VA and community organizations, and providing wellness and prevention education.

The position is scheduled Monday through Friday, either 7:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m. or 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. The full performance level and actual selection grade are GS-12. The position requires a master’s degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited school and state licensure or certification to independently practice at the master’s level. Senior Social Worker requirements include advanced-practice licensure or certification and qualifying post-licensure experience.

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 the Senior Social Worker GS-12 grade: at least two years of experience after advanced-practice clinical licensure, including one year equivalent to GS-11, in a specialized area of social work practice.
• For GS-12: advanced-practice state licensure or certification, including an advanced generalist or clinical examination, subject to stated grandfathering provisions; ability to provide licensure supervision in the state of practice.
• Demonstrated skill in specialized interventions and treatment modalities, including individual, group, and/or family counseling or psychotherapy and advanced psychosocial or case management.
• Ability to incorporate complex multiple causation into differential diagnosis and treatment within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice.
• Knowledge of developing and implementing methods to measure the effectiveness of social work practice and services, use outcome evaluations to improve services, and design system changes.
• Ability to provide specialized consultation to colleagues and students and model effective social work practice.
• Ability to expand clinical knowledge and write policies, procedures, or practice guidelines for the service delivery area.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• Current, valid state-issued driver’s license and passing a pre-employment driving physical examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Successful completion of background/security investigation and required onboarding and application documentation.
• Completion of a one- or two-year trial period, with continued employment subject to written certification that it advances the public interest.
• Submission of a transcript with the application.

Nice To Haves

• Certification or post-master’s training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university in a specialty area, including a defined curriculum or course of study and internship or equivalent supervised professional experience.
• Written demonstration of the required knowledge, skills, and abilities in the application package is strongly recommended.

Responsibilities

• Meet with Veterans and their families or caregivers to assess needs and develop support.
• Provide social work services in Veterans’ homes and other designated home settings, with required travel within the community and ICVAHCS area.
• Conduct comprehensive psychosocial assessments independently.
• Participate in interdisciplinary treatment planning and ensure psychosocial needs are considered.
• Provide individual and family counseling and specialized mental health support, including support for anxiety, depression, cognitive decline, adjustment disorders, disability, terminal illness, and death.
• Coordinate care and provide case management throughout the continuum of care.
• Connect Veterans and families with community resources, including financial assistance, transportation, and support groups.
• Educate Veterans and families about community resources, advance directives, and VA benefits.
• Provide consultation and guidance to staff, team members, care facilities, and other health care providers regarding patient needs and applicable VA rules and regulations.
• Serve as a liaison between VA and community resources and perform marketing and public relations duties when needed.
• Provide wellness and prevention education.
• Apply established standards, policies, procedures, and interdisciplinary plans of care.

Benefits

• 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.
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months of employment in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.
• Eligible full-time employees may qualify for a childcare subsidy after 60 days of employment, subject to income, child eligibility, and monthly maximum limits.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting and 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.
• Potential credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior federal employment or military service, subject to approval.

What This Job Offers

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