Senior Social Worker

Chicago, Illinois, Illinois, This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application. Basic Requirements: The basic requirements for employment as a VHA social worker are prescribed by statute in 38 U. S. C. § 7402(b)(9), as amended by section 205 of Public Law 106-419, enacted November 1, 2000. To qualify for appointment as a social worker in VHA, all applicants must meet the following: Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g this part).

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. 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/. Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. 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. 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. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: 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. Ability to incorporate complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice. 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.

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. 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: September 10, 2019 VA HANDBOOK 5005/120 PART II APPENDIX G39 The full performance level of this vacancy is a GS-12. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Services. [“This position is aligned under Social Work Service, Caregiver Support Program (CSP), at the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center a complexity level 1b facility. The medical center provides care to approximately 62,000 enrolled Veterans who -reside in the City of Chicago and Cook County, Illinois, and in four counties in northwestern Indiana. Duties of the position: The CSP Team Leader assists in the-day-to day-operations-of the Caregiver¯ Support Program and ensures compliance and collaboration with local facility and VA Central Office Caregiver Support Program initiatives. Collaborates with the other members of the CSP team in the provision of of-access, service, and benefits to this population, and ensures the care provided is of the highest quality. Provides leadership, direction, orientation, coaching, in-service training, staff development, and continuing education programs as assigned. Provides clinical support by facilitating huddles and clinical staffing, providing case consultation as needed, and mentoring new and/or less experienced team members within the CSP. Updates program management of any potential shifting trends in workload or programmatic concerns and assists with providing recommendations to enhance program effectiveness.

Serves as a liaison between the CSP staff and the Program Management regarding specific clinical issues concerning veterans and caregivers assigned to this incumbent’s team. Assists program leadership in maintaining a data monitoring system to measure the efficacy of the program and assists in collecting and analyzing local data for reports to local management, the VISN CSP Lead, and the National CSP, Care Management and Social Work Service, and Office of Patient Care Services. Participates in direct caregiver and Veteran contacts to assess caregiver stress/burden and the development/application of directed clinical treatment interventions. Provides caregiver and family clinical interventions to facilitate the treatment of caregiver stress, psychiatric illness, emotional distress, and social needs. Conducts regular home visits to Veterans and Caregivers participating in the PCAFC, responds to calls from the National Caregiver Support Hotline, responds to other phone calls and general inquiries regarding the CSP, and assists with general tasks associated with the program. Advises and collaborates with interdisciplinary teams throughout the medical center on caregiver issues. Creates educational tools, develops programs, and implements trainings focused on specific caregiver needs/issues and providing education and in-service training to VAMC employees, Veterans, families, and caregivers. Develops and facilitates caregiver support groups and educational programs and distributes educational materials provided by VA, local, state and national caregiver organizations. Develops positive, effective relationships with all CSP stakeholders including Veterans, caregivers, local, state, and federal agencies, as well as non-governmental organizations. Provides referrals to VA medical and mental health treatment and to other VA services including VA benefits, as well as community-based social services and other non-VA entitlement programs.

Serve as a consultant for navigating the complex processes caregivers, Veterans, and their families encounter when interacting with government and community agencies. Stays informed regarding current federal and state legislation directed at assisting caregivers to continue to provide caregiving in an environment that is safe for both them and the Veteran. Participates in caregiver support activities in the local community and state to promote and recognize the role of the caregiver and participates on state and local caregiver support committees. Assists with coordinating events and programs such as the annual National Family Caregivers Month in November, which includes announcements and advertising of month-long activities, mobilization of participants, educational sessions, caregiver recognition events, and caregiver support programs. Provides crisis intervention services, seeking to address the cause as well as the presenting complaint, coordinates family/caregiver conferences and serves as liaison to family members and caregivers. Adheres to national and local policy and Standards Of Operations (SOPs) for the CSP which includes documentation and statistical compilation requirements as required by JCARHO, CARF, VA and medical center policy. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00am – 4:30pm. Telework: Determined by the agency policy. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Contact Eva.

Gennara@va. gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Financial Disclosure Report: Not required”]

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