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The Senior Social Worker is assigned to Acute Care/Medicine and will provide high quality Medical Social Work care and services to assigned Veteran patients hospitalized at the Dorn VA Medical Center in Columbia, South Carolina. Services are performed on inpatient medicine and/or surgery areas to include some holidays. Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Education. Have a master's degree in social work from a school of social work fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). Graduates of schools of social work that are in candidacy status do not meet this requirement until the School of Social Work is fully accredited. A doctoral degree in social work may not be substituted for the master's degree in social work. Verification of the degree can be made by going to http://www.cswe.org/Accreditation to verify that the social work degree meets the accreditation standards for a masters of social work. Licensure. Persons hired or reassigned to social worker positions in the GS-0185 series in VHA must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level. Current state requirements may be found by going to http://vaww.va.gov/OHRM/T38Hybrid/. English Language Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Services. May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria). Preferred Experience: Discharge planning experience Grade Determinations: In addition to meeting the basic requirements, applicants must also meet the GS-12 grade level requirements: (1) Experience/Education. The candidate must have at least two years of experience post advanced practice clinical licensure and should be in a specialized area of social work practice of which, one year must be equivalent to the GS-11 grade level. Senior social workers have experience that demonstrates possession of advanced practice skills and judgment. Senior social workers are experts in their specialized area of practice. Senior social workers may have certification or other post-masters training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university that includes a defined curriculum/course of study and internship or equivalent supervised professional experience in a specialty. (2) Licensure/Certification. Senior social workers must be licensed or certified by a state at the advanced practice level which included an advanced generalist or clinical examination, unless they are grandfathered by the state in which they are licensed to practice at the advanced practice level (except for licenses issued in California, which administers its own clinical examination for advanced practice) and they must be able to provide supervision for licensure. (3) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Skill in a range of specialized interventions and treatment modalities used in specialty treatment programs or with special patient populations. This includes individual, group, and/or family counseling or psychotherapy and advanced level psychosocial and/or case management. (b) Ability to incorporate complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice. (c) Knowledge in developing and implementing methods for measuring effectiveness of social work practice and services in the specialty area, utilizing outcome evaluations to improve treatment services and to design system changes. (d) Ability to provide specialized consultation to colleagues and students on the psychosocial treatment of patients in the service delivery area, as well as role modeling effective social work practice skills. (e) Ability to expand clinical knowledge in the social work profession, and to write policies, procedures, and/or practice guidelines pertaining to the service delivery area. References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G39. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-12. Physical Requirements: Light lifting, under 15 pounds; light carrying, under 15 pounds; walking (2 hours); standing (2 hours); ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other; hearing (aid permitted); mental and emotional stability. Subject to dry atmospheric conditions; constant noise; dust; working closely with others; working alone. ["Duties include, but are not limited to: Conducts psychosocial assessments utilizing information obtained from the Veteran and family members in order to assess the Veteran's psychosocial functioning and needs and formulate and implement a plan of action identifying the Veteran's problems, strengths, weaknesses, resources, coping skills, and required assistance. Works with patients and families experiencing basic emotional, medical and social problems utilizing individual, group and family education and counseling skills. Manages patients with complex problems. Makes facility referrals based upon Veteran's need and eligibility. Develops active discharge plans within an interdisciplinary team setting where the Social Worker is able to recommend preferred course of agency action. Progressive, proactive discharge planning begins upon the first day of hospitalization. Participates in daily Interdisciplinary Team (IDT) meetings including Saturday and Sunday IDT meetings. Will facilitate timely discharges through proactive discharge planning as a part of the IDT concept. Will provide daily communication and updates to the IDT and to the Supervisory Social Worker regarding progress on difficult discharges, social admissions and difficult-to-place patients. Plans for discharge under circumstances when actions may have a serious impact upon the life of the Veteran. The plan might include long-term residential care or nursing care and/or separation from family members. Reports data to the Supervisory Social Worker and to the Chief, SWS regarding Length of Stay including conditions and barriers impacting timely and successful discharge of Veterans. Documents all clinical care and actions independently in the medical record within the established time frame utilizing appropriate/authorized electronic formats, including psychosocial assessments, treatment plans and progress notes. Acts as an advocate when it serves the best interest of the Veteran/family. When appropriate and feasible, will educate and encourage the Veteran/family to advocate on own behalf, thus fostering a sense of independence and empowerment. Makes rapid assessments and develops crisis management plans for admission to mental health inpatient programs. Social worker has access to multiple resource directories in addition to previously developed resources to meet the demands of a crisis. In the event of a medical or psychiatric emergency, staff will follow the protocol of the mental health clinic at the VA Medical Center. Ensures coverage in all program component areas and demonstrates a cooperative team spirit in providing backup coverage as needed/assigned to prevent disruption of patient care activities. Documents all patient care assessments, interventions, and treatment progress in CPRS in a timely and professional manner consistent with Joint Commission, SWS guidelines, and facility policies/procedures. Will capture all workload through completion of electronic patient encounters and will complete clinical reminders as necessary. May serve as a field instructor or preceptor and may therefore supervise social work graduate-level interns and provide a successful training experience in the field of social work. Works with students to develop training needs and goals, and assess student's progress and performance. Stays abreast of current theory and treatment modalities by reading professional journals, attending conferences, clinic seminars and teleconferences, and materials given out by staff and psychiatry. Participates in the overall activities of the Social Work Service. This will include special projects, quality assurance assignments, representation on committees, development of programs, etc., as directed by operational needs to comply with Joint Commission, VA/Network mandates, and medical center/service line goals. Performs other related duties as assigned. Performs other related duties as required. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30am - 4:00 pm., 10:30am - 6:00pm. Rotating Shifts. (Subject to change based on agency need). Telework: Not authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Title/Functional Statement #:Senior Social Worker Acute Care/PD01504A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required."]

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