Social Worker - Acute Medicine

Veterans Health Administration•Salisbury, NC

19h•Onsite

About The Position

The Medical/Surgical Acute Care Inpatient Social Worker provides social work services to veterans and their families receiving care in inpatient medical, surgical, and ICU units at Salisbury VA Medical Center. Services include crisis intervention, discharge planning, case management, clinical treatment, advocacy, education, and coordination of referrals and linkages to VA and community service providers. The social worker conducts brief biopsychosocial assessments and provides single-session or short-term, solution-focused counseling, including supportive counseling for individuals and families in crisis. The role works independently with veterans and families facing complex medical, psychiatric, emotional, behavioral, and psychosocial concerns, and collaborates with patients, families, interdisciplinary treatment teams, VA staff, and community agencies to plan and coordinate care and timely discharge. The position also provides counseling and supportive groups, education and consultation about community resources, VA benefits, specialty programs, and advance directives, and advocacy and case management throughout the continuum of care. The incumbent applies knowledge of human growth and development, medical and mental health conditions, treatment modalities, discharge planning, and resources to support veterans’ independence and continuity of care. The full performance level is GS-11; selection may be at GS-9 through GS-11.

Requirements

Master’s degree in social work from a school fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education; a doctoral degree cannot substitute for the master’s degree.
State license or certification to independently practice social work at the master’s degree level. The licensure exception may apply only at GS-9 while state prerequisites are being completed; GS-11 requires independent-level licensure or certification.
Proficiency in spoken and written English.
Ability to use a veteran-centric approach when providing interventions and counseling to veterans, family members, caregivers, and survivors.
Ability to assess psychosocial functioning and needs and formulate and implement treatment plans that identify problems, strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and needed assistance.
Ability to implement treatment modalities with individuals, families, and groups using supportive, problem-solving, or crisis-intervention techniques.
Ability to establish effective working relationships and communicate with clients, staff, and community agency representatives.
Fundamental knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities, treatment procedures, acute, chronic, and traumatic illnesses or injuries, common medications and their effects or side effects, 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, plus independent-practice-level state licensure or certification; alternatively, a doctoral degree in social work may substitute for the experience requirement.
For GS-11: knowledge of community resources and referral coordination; independent psychosocial assessment and treatment intervention skills; knowledge of medical and mental health conditions and treatment procedures sufficient to formulate plans; ability to independently implement treatment modalities; and ability to consult with new social workers, graduate students, and other staff.
U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
Satisfy applicable background and security investigation requirements, onboarding requirements, and seasonal influenza vaccination program requirements.
Serve a one- or two-year trial period, as applicable.
Complete the required application steps, including the online assessment.

Nice To Haves

A doctoral degree in social work may substitute for the one year of post-MSW professional experience required for GS-11.
Eligibility under the grandfathering provision may apply to current VHA employees in this occupation who meet the applicable criteria.

Responsibilities

Establish therapeutic rapport with veterans and families referred by consultation, proactive case finding, self-referral, or treatment-team members.
Independently complete psychosocial assessments and use findings to identify needs and support veterans’ treatment and independence.
Provide brief biopsychosocial assessment, solution-focused counseling, supportive counseling, and crisis intervention to individuals and families.
Participate in interdisciplinary treatment teams and collaborate on veteran-centered treatment plans.
Coordinate with VA staff and community agencies to ensure continuity of health services and follow-up care.
Meet with veterans, family members, and treatment-team members to ensure timely execution of appropriate discharge plans.
Implement treatment modalities and provide counseling and supportive groups for veterans and families.
Educate and consult with veterans and families about community resources, VA benefits, specialty programs, advance directives, and access to services.
Provide advocacy and case management throughout the continuum of care.
Help veterans cope with loss and grief associated with disability and terminal illness.
Perform other duties as assigned.