The Fargo VA Health Care System is recruiting for a full-time Social Worker. The incumbent provides Social Work services to Veterans who receive care on the Inpatient Mental Health Unit at the Fargo VA Health Care System. A recruitment incentive may be authorized for highly qualified candidates. This occupational series is eligible for the Student Loan Repayment Program (SLRP). 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. 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. English Language Proficiency: Social workers must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j, this part. Grade Determinations: GS-9 Experience, Education, and Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of 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. 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. 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 above, candidates must demonstrate all of 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. All qualifying experience you possess must be clearly described in your application package. We will not make assumptions when reviewing applications. Failure to demonstrate your experience in your resume may result in disqualification. It is strongly recommended that you write to each KSA in your application package. Preferred: Inpatient Social Work hospital experience. References: VA Handbook 5005/120 Part II, Appendix G39 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-09 to GS-11. Physical Requirements: Work is performed in a clinical setting. Walking, standing, light lifting, typing, carrying, and bending may be required. ["VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being. The incumbent assesses patient social and psychological factors relative to their chronological development, completes comprehensive psychosocial assessments regarding patient, family, economic, community, and psychosocial support systems. The assessments must reflect a high level of skill in gathering, analyzing, interpreting, and documenting data that is pertinent and directly related to patient health care planning, treatment, education and case management. Evaluates, patients identified as \"at risk\" to determine need for psychosocial intervention as inpatients/outpatients. The incumbent understands the needs and complexities of the VHA healthcare delivery plan and works collaboratively with other team members and program areas and other health care services. The incumbent will primarily provide services on the inpatient psychiatric unit and will also provide coverage for inpatient medical/surgical units. The incumbent may also provide cross coverage in other primary care areas. The incumbent has clinical involvement in patient care by providing clinical case consultation to patient/family/community inquiries about services or patient care issues. The incumbent is accountable to the Primary Care Social Work Supervisor in carrying out operational functions described above. Psychosocial Assessment - The social worker will complete an assessment of the veteran's family, economic, community, and psychosocial support systems when clinically indicated. The assessments must reflect a high level of skill in gathering, analyzing, interpreting, and documenting data that is pertinent and directly related to patient health care planning, treatment, education and case management. The veteran, family members, significant others and the interdisciplinary treatment team are involved in this process, whenever possible. Clinical diagnosing using DSM-5 and ICD-10 behavior codes - Social Worker demonstrates knowledge in DSM-5 diagnosing and documents diagnostic impressions in psychosocial assessments when appropriate. Clinician may function independently or within a team to determine an appropriate diagnosis and formulate a treatment plan based on that diagnosis. Treatment Planning/Goal Setting - Social Worker demonstrates basic knowledge of psychosocial treatment modalities and demonstrates the ability to implement treatment modalities when working with individuals, families, and groups to achieve treatment goals. This requires judgment and skill in utilizing supportive, problem solving, or crisis intervention techniques. The social worker is responsible for developing a treatment plan, and setting achievable treatment goals with the veteran/family in collaboration with the primary care interdisciplinary treatment team members when indicated. Social Worker demonstrates basic knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities, and treatment procedures to include acute, chronic and traumatic illnesses/injuries; common medications and their effects/side/effects; and basic medical terminology. Therapy - Social worker will provide the Veterans and their Caregivers with ongoing psychotherapy (group and/or individual) and/or supportive counseling when appropriate. Social Worker is able to demonstrate the ability to utilize the DSM-V to ensure appropriate treatment recommendations. Referral to service providers - Throughout the course of treatment the social worker is the subject matter expert on VA and/or community resources. The social worker will collaborate with other service providers in reassessing the Veteran's need for VA and community resources and entitlements. The social worker is responsible for educating the Veteran and/or Caregiver of the available services and assisting them in establishing the appropriate referrals based on the Veteran's preference or that of his/her surrogate decision-maker. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m. or 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Telework: Available, Ad-hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]
The Veterans Health Administration is America’s largest integrated health care system, providing care at 1,298 health care facilities, including 171 medical centers and 1,113 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics), serving 9 million enrolled Veterans each year.
