Social Worker

Veterans Health Administration•Queens, NY

9d•Onsite

About The Position

The Social Worker position is at the St. Albans VA Community Living Center in Queens, New York, and may be assigned anywhere in the continuum of care throughout NYHHS. The role provides services to adult and geriatric patients and a wide range of client populations. Social work practice includes direct services to individuals, groups, families, and couples; multidisciplinary treatment-team work and coordination; community outreach and resource development; staff training; research; and student supervision. The social worker selects, integrates, and adapts practice theories and intervention models to each client’s biopsychosocial situation, working under supervision according to the employee’s needs and assignments. The social worker conducts interviews and assessments, develops and implements treatment plans, evaluates goals, follows up, and contributes to program development. The role requires collaboration with other disciplines, VA staff, community agencies, and schools of social work to coordinate services and support optimal resolutions of biopsychosocial problems. The social worker maintains clinical records and administrative reports in accordance with applicable standards, participates in staff meetings and development activities, and adapts to changing priorities while upholding professional ethics and NYHHS and VHA standards of behavior. The position is full-time, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Telework is not available, and the position is not virtual. The vacancy’s full performance level is GS-11; selection may be at GS-9 through GS-11. GS-9 workers are closely supervised and are not yet practicing independently, while GS-11 workers are licensed or certified for independent practice. A master’s degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited school and state licensure or certification for independent practice are basic requirements, subject to the stated GS-9 licensure exception. GS-11 also requires one year of post-MSW experience equivalent to GS-9 in health care or another social-work-related setting, unless a doctoral degree in social work substitutes for that experience.

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, except that a GS-9 appointment may be made under the stated exception while the employee completes state requirements.
For GS-11, at least one year of post-MSW experience equivalent to GS-9 in health care or another social-work-related setting, or a doctoral degree in social work in substitution for that experience.
For GS-11, licensure or certification at the independent practice level is required.
Proficiency in spoken and written English.
Ability to use a Veteran-centric approach in interventions and counseling for Veterans, family members, caregivers, and survivors.
Ability to assess psychosocial functioning and needs and formulate and implement treatment plans.
Ability to implement treatment modalities with individuals, families, and groups, including supportive, problem-solving, and crisis-intervention techniques.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients, staff, and community-agency representatives.
Knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities, treatment procedures, common medications and their effects or side effects, and medical terminology.
For GS-11, knowledge of community resources and the ability to make referrals and coordinate services.
For GS-11, skill in independently conducting psychosocial assessments and treatment interventions with people from varied backgrounds.
For GS-11, skill in independently implementing treatment modalities for individuals, families, and groups experiencing psychiatric, medical, and social problems.
For GS-11, ability to consult with new social workers, graduate students, and other staff about patients’ psychosocial needs and their effects on health care and treatment compliance.
U.S. citizenship is required, subject to the stated policy exception for non-citizens.
Males born after December 31, 1959, must meet Selective Service registration requirements.
Must pass a pre-employment physical examination or health assessment, and a background/security investigation.
Must complete the online onboarding process and required application documents; 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, during which continued employment is evaluated.

Nice To Haves

Experience in hospice or palliative care.
Experience with nursing-home populations or settings.
Experience working with geriatric populations.

Responsibilities

Provide direct social work services to individuals, groups, families, and couples, and contribute to program development for target populations.
Participate in multidisciplinary treatment teams, collaboration, consultation, work groups, and coordination.
Conduct community practice, including public relations, outreach, resource development, and resource coordination.
Train social work and multidisciplinary staff; conduct research; and supervise students.
Select, integrate, and adapt social work theories and intervention models to clients’ biopsychosocial situations.
Interview clients and assess their needs, strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and psychosocial functioning.
Plan and implement social work treatment, evaluate treatment goals, conduct follow-up, and develop programs.
Collaborate with other disciplines to evaluate, design, and implement coordinated programming and resolve biopsychosocial problems within available resources.
Coordinate referrals and consultations with community professionals and agencies, and develop resource linkages across the continuum of services.
Maintain clinical records, reports, statistical records, and other administrative reporting in accordance with applicable standards.
Participate in staff meetings, staff development, committee work, supervisory conferences, and interdisciplinary conferences or team meetings.
Consult with schools of social work regarding student progress when supervising students.
Adapt to changing priorities and pressures, identify and report problems, and uphold professional ethics and NYHHS and VHA standards of behavior.
For applicable assignments, obtain additional training and develop knowledge and resources for special-emphasis programs.
At the GS-11 level, provide independent social work services, document signs or symptoms of abuse, neglect, exploitation, or intimate partner violence, protect Veteran privacy and confidentiality, and advocate for Veterans and their families or caregivers.