Summary The primary role of the VA Liaison, through a nationally recognized initiative, is to ensure a seamless transition of the health care of injured and ill Service members and Veterans from the Department of Defense (DOD's) Military Treatment Facility (MTF) to the appropriate VA health care facility of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care system Responsibilities Works closely with the MTF treatment team as an independent practitioner and will use advanced practice skills and expertise to provide ongoing consultation regarding complex discharge planning issues. Assist with navigating and providing education on VA health care benefits, resources, and facilities through an intimate knowledge of VHA programs and services nationwide and the ability to match Veterans' needs with appropriate resources. Develops relationships and collaborates with the MTF social workers, nurses, case managers, managed care staff, and discharge planners to identify Service members and Veterans ready for discharge to a VA health care facility. Obtains clear referral information and authorization for VHA to treat those still on active duty, which will include the MTF Medical Records; VA Referral Form (entitled Military Treatment Facility Referral Form to VA Liaison); Admission Sheet; Clinical and Consult Orders; or other authorization for VHA to provide services and bill TRICARE or other appropriate entity through a VA-DOD Sharing Agreement. Clearly identify the Service member's/Veteran's health care and psychosocial needs and include requests for VHA health care services to ensure Clinical and Consult Orders or authorizations, specifying which VHA services are authorized and are completed prior to the transfer of any Service member(s)/Veteran(s) to a VA health care facility. Uses advanced clinical skills to assess the Service member/Veteran and family's psychosocial situation, their ability to comprehend and comply with VA's treatment plan determined by the MTF staff, and any special needs of the Service member/Veteran and family that may impact reaching optimal psychosocial functioning. Coordinates with the home VA health care facility Enrollment Coordinator and Military to VA (M2VA) Team, to initially register active duty Service members or enroll Veterans at their facility utilizing the referral information. Collaborates with MTF social workers, nurses, and case managers to identify the VA health care facility where Service member will transfer to following his/her transition from active service. Identifies and collaborates with the M2VA Program Manager and Lead Coordinator, if applicable, at the receiving VA health care facility to initiate and process referrals and linkages for transfers of care. Documents all Liaison activity in the Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS) using as well as documenting in the Federal Case Management Tool (FCMT) or its equivalent. Facilitates continuity of care by communicating and collaborating with the Service member and family regarding the plans for transition while determining any unique needs of the Service member/Veteran and/or family receiving VA health care to further facilitate the transition of care. Prepares reports, briefs, and presentations for VA, DOD and Congressional Staff as well as Community Organizations regarding the seamless transition process and specific mechanics of the VA/DOD Liaison Program. Manages the day-to-day operations of the VA Liaison initiative and provides accountability to program effectiveness and modifications of service patterns to enhance customer service. Identifies gaps in the transition system and collaborating with MTF and DOD Staff and other departments to enhance the transition process. Interprets guidelines from: o VHA general administrative and clinical management policies VHA Directives, Handbooks, and nationwide patient care initiatives VA and VBA policies and procedures. Public Law and Federal Regulations. The Joint Commission (TJC) and Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) standards. Other program-specific guidelines. Collaborates with VA, VHA, VBA, DOD, Veterans Service Organizations, and other Federal agencies as well as with professional organizations, accrediting bodies, and the public Supports the mission, policies, and procedures of VA, VHA, the appropriate VISN, and their local VHA facility. Serves on committees, work groups, and task forces at the facility, VISN, and/or VACO levels. Participates in interdisciplinary team meetings, appropriate facility meetings, and Social Work meetings as assigned and shares knowledge and experiences gained from his/her own clinical practice and education relevant to the field of social work. NOTE: Regular onsite collaboration and coordination is critical to provide effective consultative services with the referral, linkage, education, and assessment functions. The provision of direct services may be necessary to enhance the communication and relationship with Service members/ Veterans and their families. Work Schedule: Mon - Fri, 7:30am-4:00pm or 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: ADHOC Telework Only Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. You may be required to serve a probationary period. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details. Qualifications Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. 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/. Physical Requirements. The work is sedentary. Some work may require movement between offices, hospitals, warehouses, and similar areas for meetings and to conduct work. Work may also require walking/standing, in conjunctions with travel to and attendance at meetings and/or conferences away from the work site. Incumbent may carry and lift light items weighing less than 15 pounds. English Language Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). 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). Grade Determinations: Senior Social Worker, GS-12 (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. (4) Assignments. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty), and variety and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. Senior social workers are licensed or certified to independently practice social work at an advanced level. Senior social workers typically practice in a major program area such as but not limited to: Polytrauma Rehabilitation Center or Polytrauma Network Site; a Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation Center, or a national VHA referral center, such as a national Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder or a national Transplant Center, or other program areas of equivalent scope and complexity. The senior social worker may be assigned administrative responsibility for clinical program development and is accountable for clinical program effectiveness and modification of service patterns. Assignments include clinical settings where they have limited access to onsite supervision such as CBOCs or satellite outpatient clinics. The senior social worker collaborates with the other members of the treatment team in the provision of comprehensive health care services to Veterans, ensures equity of access, service, and benefits to this population, ensures the care provided is of the highest quality. The senior social worker provides leadership, direction, orientation, coaching, in-service training, staff development, and continuing education programs for assigned social work staff. They serve on committees, work groups, and task forces at the facility, VISN and national level, or in the community as deemed appropriate by the supervisor, Social Work Executive or Chief of Social Work Services. This assignment is to be relatively few in number based on the size of the facility/service and applying sound position management. This assignment must represent substantial additional responsibility over and above that required at the full performance grade level and cannot be used as the full performance level of this occupation. Preferred Experience: EBP Certification Prior experience in similar role or with population served Clinical supervision certification Quality or utilization management experience Former VA Trainee Physical Requirements: The work is sedentary. Some work may require movement between offices, hospitals, warehouses, and similar areas for meetings and to conduct work. Work may also require walking/standing, in conjunctions with travel to and attendance at meetings and/or conferences away from the work site. Incumbent may carry and lift light items weighing less than 15 pounds. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-12. Education IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Senior Social Workers must be licensed or certified by a state at the advanced practice level which includes 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. All states except California use a series of licensure exams administered by the ASWB. Information can be found at https:// www.aswb.org/ Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Additional Information Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.