Summary Assigned as the VIST (Visually Impaired Services Team) Program Coordinator. Works as an inpatient social worker with primary assignment to the medical unit and a member of that treatment team responsible for discharge planning. Will be responsible for working on all inpatient units as needed. The incumbent provides support to the Hospice and Palliative Care Team. Provides social work psychosocial services to Veterans and their families. The work location will be Sheridan VA Medical Center. Responsibilities Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf Social Work: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Social-Worker-Career-Flyer.pdf Interviews veterans and their family members/significant others to establish facts about the veteran's situation, presenting problems and their causes, and the impact of such issues on the veteran's functioning and health as part of a psychosocial assessment. Uses advanced clinical training and experience to identify viable treatment options and make appropriate care referrals. Serves veterans as inpatients or outpatients who often have severe crises, lack family or community support, frequently fail to comply with instructions and treatment, or have significant deficits in coping skills and require continuing professional psychological support. Evaluates the client's situation, including the veteran's reaction and ability to deal with it, and arrives at a reasoned conclusion. Assesses at-risk factors and develops a preliminary disposition plan involving the veteran, family, or significant others. Assesses severe and complicated cases involving psychiatric illness, catastrophic medical conditions, dementia, and other high-risk diagnoses. Makes independent professional decisions and recommendations for treatment. Finds a suitable means of treatment on an inpatient/outpatient basis to help veterans and/or significant others cope with stressful situations. Provides independent consultation and recommendations for the treatment of the interdisciplinary team. Completes CSSRS and CSRE suicide risk assessments. Concludes the appropriate action, this might include long-term institutional or nursing home care or separation from family members. Accounts for clinical social work practice in the areas and programs assigned to it, including promoting social work services as a key component of treatment. Evaluates his or her practice as a Senior Social Worker on an ongoing basis through participation in professional peer review, case conferences, or other organized means. Provides clinical services to veterans and family members/significant others supporting the veteran's treatment. Provides individual and group counseling services, including psychotherapy in some settings. Assists and encourages veterans and significant others in facing problems, thinking them through, evaluating the situation realistically, considering alternative courses of action, and arriving at plans for using resources to resolve issues. Duties include providing and/or arranging for the provision of appropriate rehabilitation services and devices to enhance the functioning level of a blind veteran. Identifies new cases of blindness, providing professional counseling, and meeting specific objectives established by the VIST. Arranges VIST reviews and conducting educational programs relating to VIST and blindness. Organizes community services such as Visually Impaired Services and arranging skilled & non-skilled home health and home hospice care on behalf of beneficiaries. Makes provision for referral services from different agencies, community resources, and other Governmental agencies to resolve problems. Provides leadership guidance and consultation to the staff of units assigned. Serves as a consultant to other medical center staff and trainees. Serves on Medical Center or Healthcare System, VISN, and/or National VA committees or task forces. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; 7:30 am - 4:00 pm Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade). Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience. Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child. Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66. Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Ad hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 569680 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 Basic Requirements Citizenship - You must be a citizen of the United States English Language Proficiency - You must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f) Education and/or Experience Combination - You must possess 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. Note: A doctoral degree in Social Work may NOT be substituted for the master's degree in Social Work. License or Certification* - You must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level. Grade Determinations Social Worker (Program Coordinator) GS-0185-12 Licensure Requirement: You must be licensed or certified at the advanced practice level, and must be able to provide supervision for licensure. Experience Requirement: You must possess one year of experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level. Experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment, demonstrating progressively more professional competency. Examples of specialized experience at the GS-11 include, but are not limited to: assessing and documenting identified behaviors or symptoms of abuse, neglect, exploitation and/or intimate partner violence; use of clinical social work skills; maintaining patient privacy and confidentiality per policies, handbooks or directives; acting as an advocate with appropriate community service providers and agencies when it serves the best interest of the patient and family members/caregiver; independently assessing the psychosocial functioning and needs of patients and their family members, identifying the patient's strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and psychosocial acuity. In addition to the experience above, you must demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: · Knowledge of program coordination and administration which includes consultation, negotiation, and monitoring. · Knowledge and ability to write policies, procedures, and/or practice guidelines for the program. · Ability to supervise multidisciplinary staff assigned to the program. · Skill in organizing work, setting priorities, meeting multiple deadlines, and evaluating assigned program area(s). · Ability to provide training, orientation, and guidance within clinical practice. Preferred Experience: At least one year of experience post advanced practice clinical licensure. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: This position provides direct services to patients and their families through casework. Incumbents must be physically and mentally able to efficiently perform the position's essential functions without hazard to themselves or others. Regular work in the position requires visual acuity (with the ability to read typewritten characters without strain, corrective lenses permitted), keen hearing, clear, distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. This position requires potentially moderate levels of lifting and carrying (15-44 pounds). The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders. The incumbent must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations and shifting priorities based on patient needs. Must complete annual Employee Health requirements, such as annual TB screening or testing, as a condition of employment. Education 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.