Social Worker - Caregiver Support Program/Case Manager

Summary
This Caregiver Support Program Social Worker/Case Manager is located in the Social Work Service assigned to the Caregiver Support Program. The incumbent organizationally reports to the Caregiver Support (CSP) Facility Manager within Social Work Service. However, the incumbent is also programmatically responsible to the Caregiver Support Coordinator within sub programs of Caregiver Support Program who will assign day to day work duties and provide team leadership.
This job is open to

• Internal to an agency
  Current federal employees of this agency.

Clarification from the agency
This announcement is open to current, permanent VA employees.
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Duties
1 vacancy that can be located in any of the following locations: Danville VAMC, Bloomington CBOC, Springfield CBOC, Decatur CBOC, Mattoon CBOC, and Peoria CBOC.
Recruitment/Relocation incentive approved for highly qualified candidates.
The incumbent has the responsibility to provide clinical evidence based services and interventions as well as caregiver, Veteran and staff education on caregiver Issues and community outreach. The incumbent will provide case management and service coordination to caregivers enrolled in the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers(PCAFC) and the Program of General Caregiver Support Services(PGCSS), as assigned. The incumbent will function in support of caregivers, Veterans and family members throughout the Medical Center and in the community.

• Assists the Caregiver Support Coordinator with the development and implementation of the Caregiver Support Program specific to the area of assignment.
• Ensures compliance and collaboration with the local and VA Central Office Caregiver Support Program initiatives.
• Participates in direct caregiver and Veteran contacts to identify and assess caregiver stress/burden and the development and application of direct clinical treatment interventions.
• Provides individual counseling and support to caregiver enrolled in the program.
• Involves driving regularly with driving distances up to a 150-mile radius from the Medical center and the CBOCs.
• Advises and collaborates with interdisciplinary teams throughout the Medical Center on caregiver issues, including the Community Based Outpatient Clinics.
• Provides education and In-Service training to VAMC employees, Veterans, families and caregivers. The incumbent provides ongoing consultation and support to colleagues regarding Caregiver Support
• Develops and facilitates Caregiver Support groups (face-to-face, VVC, telephone) and educational programs.
• Distributes educational materials provided by VA, local, state and national caregiver organizations
• Conducts caregiver and family clinical interventions to facilitate the identification of caregiver stress, psychiatric illness, emotional distress, and social needs as treatment issues.
• Provides referrals to the 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 program.
• Facilitates referrals based upon the Veteran's needs and eligibility.
• Collaborates with Patient Aligned Care Team, Mental Health Providers, VA Suicide Prevention Program, Polytrauma Team, TCM Case Managers and Providers, and other Geriatrics & Extended Care to provide Veteran and staff education on caregiver issues.
• Provides outreach presentations to community social service agencies, other military units, Veteran Service Organizations and other groups on VA services available to caregivers, other programs and services.
• Fulfills other duties as assigned to meet the needs of Veterans in other program areas across the medical center and its community based outpatient clinics.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; 8:00am - 4:30pm
Telework: Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required
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.
• 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.
• Education: Must have a Master's degree in Social Work (MSW) 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. (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED)
• Licensure: Must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level. (COPY OF LICENSE REQUIRED)

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. At the time of appointment, the supervisor, chief social work or social work executive will provide the unlicensed/uncertified Social Worker with the written requirements for licensure or certification, including the time by which the license or certification must be obtained and the consequences for not becoming licensed or certified by the deadline.
Preferred Experience: Knowledge of mental health issues and crisis intervention experience preferred.
In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.
Grade Determinations:
GS-9 Level:
Experience, Education and Licensure: None beyond the basic requirements.
This is the entry level and are closely supervised.
In addition, the candidates must demonstrate all of the KSAs:
1) Ability to work with Veterans and family members from various socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other diversified backgrounds utilizing counseling skills.
2) 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.
3) 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.
4) Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients, staff, and representatives of community agencies.
5) 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 Level: In addition to the basic requirements, you must have a minimum of one year of post-MSW degree experience in the field of health care social work (VA or non-VA experience).
OR
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. (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED)
AND
Licensure or certification in a state at the independent practice level. (COPY OF LICENSE REQUIRED)
AND
You must demonstrate all of the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
1) Knowledge of community resources, how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services, and ability to coordinate services.
2) 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.
3) 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.
4) 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.
5) 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.
References: VA Handbook 5005/120 Part II Appendix G39 Social Worker Qualification Standard
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: Must be in overall good health, able to sit at a desk working at a computer, engage in light to moderate physical activity including sitting, walking, bending, and carrying supplies. The Social Worker must be able to perform primarily light and sedentary duties with occasionally moderate physical demands, exercise patience, and control emotions, with reasonable accommodation if necessary, without endangering the health and safety of the Social Worker or others. Position requires walking throughout the clinic and/or Medical Center, standing for extended periods of time, and involves sitting at a computer and in counsel and consultation with Veterans and interdisciplinary teams. Position may require minimal travel into the community to meet with community agencies and partners who assist and support to the Caregiver Support program, its Veterans and caregivers. This position also requires close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; extensive reading; and repetitive motions of the wrists, hands and/or fingers.
Education
IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.
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 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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.
Additional information
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.

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How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
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