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If you are a current, permanent VA employee or Federal employee from another agency, you should apply under CBST-11809745-23-ER. This position is located in Social Work and Care Transition Service (SW&CTS). This VA Medical Center provides healthcare services to over 70,000 Veterans throughout most of Arkansas. CAVHS consists of two healthcare campuses located at Little Rock and North Little Rock, Arkansas, as well as 8 Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOC) throughout the state. 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. English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). Education: Applicant must 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. 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. Exception: VHA may waive the licensure or certification requirement for persons who are otherwise qualified, pending completion of state prerequisites for licensure/certification examinations. This exception only applies at the GS-9 grade level. For the GS-11 grade level and above, the candidate must be licensed or certified. Preferred Experience: At least 2 years of medical social work experience LCSW licensure preferred Prior experience working with an interdisciplinary team Works well with others, using a team approach to meeting program or agency goals Proficient in Microsoft Office (especially Word & Excel) and other software programs Grade Determinations: Social Worker, GS-9 Experience. None above basic requirements Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: (a) Ability to work with Veterans and family members from various socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other diversified backgrounds utilizing counseling skills. (b) Ability to assess the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and their family members, and to formulate and implement a treatment plan, identifying the Veterans problems, strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and assistance needed. (c) Ability to implement treatment modalities in working with individuals, families, and groups to achieve treatment goals. This requires judgment and skill in utilizing supportive, problem solving, or crisis intervention techniques. (d) Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients, staff, and representatives of community agencies. (e) Fundamental knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities, and treatment procedures. This includes acute, chronic, and traumatic illnesses/injuries; common medications and their effects/side effects; and medical terminology. (KSAs must be clearly reflected in resume under description of duties in order to be found qualified for this position/grade level). Social Worker, GS-11 Experience and Licensure. Appointment to the GS-11 grade level requires completion of a minimum of one year of post-MSW experience equivalent to the GS-9 grade level in the field of health care or other social work-related settings, (VA or non-VA experience) and licensure or certification in a state at the independent practice level. Examples of creditable experience include but not limited to identifying behaviors or symptoms of abuse, neglect or exploitation; providing education on advance directives and advanced care planning; providing social work case management; acting as an advocate with appropriate VA and community service providers/agencies when it serves the best interest of the Veteran and family members/caregiver; assessing the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and their family members identifying the Veteran's strengths, weaknesses, coping skills and psychosocial acuity, in collaboration with the Veteran, family, and interdisciplinary treatment teams; maintaining a current network of internal and external resources to educate the Veteran and/or family members/caregivers and assist with the appropriate referrals. Resume must include hours per week for work experience credit. OR Education. In addition to meeting basic requirements, a doctoral degree in social work from a school of social work may be substituted for the required one year of professional social work experience in a clinical setting. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of community resources, how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services, and ability to coordinate services. (b) Skill in independently conducting psychosocial assessments and treatment interventions to a wide variety of individuals from various socio-economic, cultural, ethnic, educational and other diversified backgrounds. (c) Knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities and treatment procedures (i.e. acute, chronic and traumatic illnesses/injuries, common medications and their effects/side effects, and medical terminology) to formulate a treatment plan. (d) Skill in independently implementing different treatment modalities in working with individuals, families, and groups who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric, medical, and social problems to achieve treatment goals. (e) Ability to provide consultation services to new social workers, social work graduate students, and other staff about the psychosocial needs of patients and the impact of psychosocial problems on health care and compliance with treatment. (KSAs must be clearly reflected in resume under description of duties in order to be found qualified for this position/grade level). References: VA Handbook 5005/120, Part II Appendix G39, Social Worker Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-9 to GS-11. Physical Requirements: The work requires moderate lifting (15-44 pounds), light lifting and carrying (under 15 pounds), reaching above shoulders, walking (8hours), standing (8 hours),hearing (aid permitted), and mental and motional stability. Environmental factors include working alone and working closely with others (See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Services). ["This is an open continuous announcement and will remain open until April 28, 2023. Eligible applications will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis until positions are filled. VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU The duties of the Social Worker - Outpatient in the Social Work Service include but are not limited to: Possesses a high level of skill and expertise to establish and maintain effective therapeutic relationships with Veterans/support systems. The incumbent independently works with Veterans/support system who are experiencing a wide range of complicated medical, psychiatric, emotional, behavioral, financial, and psychosocial issues. Follows VHA integrative case management standards of practice, in order to respond both effectively and consistently to the whole health care needs of the Veteran, regardless of care setting. Provides case/care management services to Veterans/families throughout the continuum of care. Completes an appropriate (brief or comprehensive) psychosocial assessment to determine the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and/or their support systems. The incumbent utilizes the assessment in facilitating the Veteran's action plan to maximum use of treatment programs/resources for attainment of the highest feasible level of independence that is practicable. Identifies high-risk needs and prioritizes case/care management services. Performs appropriate suicide risk screenings and comprehensive suicide risk assessments. Develops and integrates safety planning and safety goals into the Veteran's collaborative, individualized treatment plan. Actively participates and collaborates with the Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) members and with Veterans/support systems to implement patient centered care that is personalized, proactive and patient driven healthcare. Actively participates and collaborates with the interdisciplinary treatment team and with Veterans/support systems to develop and implement treatment goals and interventions. Possesses a working knowledge and experience in use of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities, and treatment procedures, including acute, chronic, and traumatic illnesses, and medical terminology. In conjunction with the healthcare team, identifies and assesses risk, safety, supports and implements appropriate interventions/treatment for those who are experiencing abuse, neglect, exploitation or are experiencing domestic or intimate partner violence. Adheres to VA and mandated reporter requirements. Advises and collaborates with interdisciplinary teams throughout the medical center on abuse, neglect, exploitation, and intimate partner violence issues. Provides Advanced Directive education to Veterans/support system and assists completing the appropriate forms. Also assists the interdisciplinary team with identifying appropriate decision makers if Veteran is unable to make own decision (Next of Kin, HCPOA, Legal Guardian). Facilitates advanced care planning group visits with Veterans and support system (as appropriate). Collaborates with Veterans/support systems and the interdisciplinary treatment team members to ensure that appropriate VA and Community placements/referrals are completed in a timely manner. VA and Community placements or referrals can involve, but are not limited to, referrals to contract nursing homes, Community Living Centers, community nursing homes, residential care homes, assisted living facilities, inpatient and outpatient hospice services. Possesses knowledge and ability to independently implement appropriate interventions, facilitate psycho-educational classes, and supportive groups for Veterans/support systems. Provides supportive counseling to assist Veterans/families to deal with the psychosocial impact of coping with chronic/disabling illnesses, onset of a catastrophic illness and/or dying. Provides crisis intervention by making rapid assessments and developing crisis management plans to ensure the patient/family is able to proceed to the next appropriate level of care. Provides consultation and education to Veterans/support systems regarding community resources, VA benefits and specialty programs, and advance directives. Provides consultation to other treatment team and staff members regarding psychosocial needs of Veterans/support systems and the impact of the identified psychosocial problems on the Veteran's healthcare planning and compliance with treatment. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8 am to 4:30 pm Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 598-00283-F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]

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