Social Worker

Department of Veterans Affairs•Columbia, MO

59d•Onsite

About The Position

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application. The Social Work function is to be responsible for the implementation of Medical Social Work services to the veteran population enrolled at the Harry S Truman Veterans Memorial Hospital including Community Base Outpatient Clinics (CBOC). Duties and skills needed to be successful in this position include, but are not limited to: Screening/Assessment - Social Worker maintains responsibility for psychosocial assessment, case management, and other collaboration with the interdisciplinary treatment team (s), the veteran, family members or significant others. Progress notes are reviewed from other interdisciplinary team providers to accurately determine the strengths and limitations of each veteran. The assessment highlights the veteran's strengths, limitations, and internal/external supports and service needs in order to optimize the veteran's functional status Incumbent assesses at-risk factors and develops a preliminary disposition plan involving veteran, family members or significant others.-Incumbent independently uses advance practice skills to make a psychosocial diagnosis of needs based on the assessment. Advance practice skills are applied to perform insightful assessment of serious and complicated cases involving psychiatric illness, catastrophic medical conditions, dementia, and other high-risk diagnoses. Incumbent demonstrates an understanding of the range of treatment and skills needed for all adult patients including geriatric patients related to their physical limitations, psychological needs and age associated illnesses and conditions. The incumbent must have an understanding of the problems of advancing age and respect for the diversification of the aging veteran population, being sensitive to human growth and development, age-appropriate needs and concerns of the geriatric veteran and be able to provide current and advanced techniques to the treatment of this veteran population. Incumbent will review all data, subjective and objective, and make a clinical assessment of identifying needs and strengths. Effective use of professional skill, clinical training and experience will be used for the purpose of interpreting data to identify viable treatment options and need for services. Treatment Planning/Goal Setting - The Social worker is responsible for developing the treatment plan with the assigned team and setting achievable treatment goals with the veteran, family or significant other. Incumbent participates with the interdisciplinary team in the assignment of veterans to treatment teams and programs and may consult with other specialists in planning treatment for veterans with co-morbidities. The plan will be updated and documented when there is a change in the veteran's condition or needs. Referral to service providers - Social Worker is the subject matter expert on VA and/or community resources. Incumbent is responsible for educating the veteran and/or caregiver of the available services and assisting them in establishing the appropriate referrals based on the veteran's preference or that of his surrogate decision-maker. Incumbent collaborates with other service providers in reassessing the veteran's needs. Resource Usage/Development - Social Worker maintains responsibility for using the current Social Work resource file of VA and community social service programs to educate and implement benefits for the veteran. Incumbent refers the veteran to needed services. Advocacy - Social Worker understands the bureaucracy and will act as an advocate when it serves the best interest of the veteran, family or significant other. Incumbent will educate and encourage the veteran, family or significant other to advocate on their own behalf, thus fostering a sense of independence and empowerment. Crisis Intervention - Social Worker uses advance practice skills in making rapid assessments and developing crisis management plans. Coordination of non-institutional and institutional services - Social worker will review the progress notes from other providers to accurately determine the strengths and limitations of each veteran. Supportive counseling - Social worker provides the veterans and their caregivers with ongoing supportive counseling or short-term solution focused counseling.

Requirements

Social Worker maintains responsibility for psychosocial assessment, case management, and other collaboration with the interdisciplinary treatment team (s), the veteran, family members or significant others.
Incumbent assesses at-risk factors and develops a preliminary disposition plan involving veteran, family members or significant others.
Incumbent independently uses advance practice skills to make a psychosocial diagnosis of needs based on the assessment.
Incumbent demonstrates an understanding of the range of treatment and skills needed for all adult patients including geriatric patients related to their physical limitations, psychological needs and age associated illnesses and conditions.
Incumbent will review all data, subjective and objective, and make a clinical assessment of identifying needs and strengths.
The Social worker is responsible for developing the treatment plan with the assigned team and setting achievable treatment goals with the veteran, family or significant other.
Social Worker is the subject matter expert on VA and/or community resources.
Social Worker maintains responsibility for using the current Social Work resource file of VA and community social service programs to educate and implement benefits for the veteran.
Social Worker understands the bureaucracy and will act as an advocate when it serves the best interest of the veteran, family or significant other.
Social Worker uses advance practice skills in making rapid assessments and developing crisis management plans.
Social worker will review the progress notes from other providers to accurately determine the strengths and limitations of each veteran.
Social worker provides the veterans and their caregivers with ongoing supportive counseling or short-term solution focused counseling.