Social Worker
Location: Omaha Nebraska
Description: Department Of Veterans Affairs is employing Social Worker right now, this vacancy will be placed in Nebraska. For complete informations about this vacancy opportunity kindly see the descriptions. Vacancy Identification Number (VIN): 881108
OUR MISSION: To fulfill President Lincoln's promise - "To care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan" - by ser! ving and honoring the men and women who are America's Veterans.
How would you like to become a part of a team providing compassionate care to Veterans?
As a VA professional, your opportunities are endless. With many openings in the multiple functions of VA, you will have a wide range of opportunities at your fingertips. Not only is it the largest, most technologically advanced integrated health care system in the nation, but we also provide many other services to Veterans through the Benefits Administration and National Cemeteries.
NOTE: 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. The Professional Standards Board (a peer-review group) will review the selected candidateÂ's education and experience and recommend the grade and step at which the candidate will be placed. The salary is based on the grade and step approved for the se! lected candidate.
VA encourages persons with disabili! ties to apply. The health related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.
Important: Current permanent VA Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System employees will be given first consideration.
Note: External candidates eligible for veterans preference will receive consideration prior to considering external non-preference applicants.
Relocation Expenses: Relocation expenses are not authorized for this position.
KEY REQUIREMENTS
Valid Driver's License
Full unrestricted Licensure, Certification, or Registration required.
Must pass pre-employment examination.
Designated and/or Random Drug Testing required.
Background and/or Security Investigation required.
English Language Proficiency required. DUTIES:
This position is located in the EC&R Community Health Service Contract Nursing Home Program (CNH).
The ! Social Worker is responsible for social work activities to patients and their families in the CNH program and the Community Adult Day Care Program. The patients served consistently have complex physical and emotional problems associated with their illness. To help effectively,the Social Worker must have sound knowledge of the dynamics of human behavior, a thorough knowledge of social work concepts, methods and ability to implement these. The Social Worker must be competent in all aspects of social work and the use of diagnostic skills in identifying CNH patient problems and issues to allow accurate decision making for problem solving.
The Social Worker is responsible for:
Developing and coordination of the monthly CNH visit travel schedule with the Registered Nursing responsible for CNH follow up and evaluation of CNH contract patients.
Providing monthly patient evaluation site visits to all CNH contract patients.
Evaluating and educating the con! tracted facility and its staff to ensure excellent care is available fo! r veterans in these programs.
Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm. QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:
BASIC REQUIREMENTS:
U.S. citizenship.
Valid Driver's License.
Education:
Have a masterÂ'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 masterÂ's degree in social work. Verification of the degree can be made by going to the CSWE website to verify if that social work degree meets the accreditation standards for a master of social work.
IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.
GRADE DETERMINATIONS:
GS-9 Social Worker
(a) Experience, ! Education and Licensure. GS-9 is the entry level grade for the GS-185 social work series and is used for social workers with less than one year of post-MSW experience and for social workers who are not yet licensed or certified at the independent practice level. Social workers at the GS-9 level are working toward completion of prerequisites for licensure or certification. In addition, the candidates must demonstrate the KSAs in subparagraph (b) below.
NOTE: Social workers with more than one year of post-MSW experience may be appointed at an advanced step within the GS-9 grade commensurate with their years of experience.
(b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
1. Ability to provide psychosocial treatment to a wide variety of individuals from various socio-economic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other diversified backgrounds. This requires knowledge of human development and behavior (physical and psychological), and the differential influence! s of the environment, society, and culture.
2. Ability to work with! patients and families who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric, medical, and social problems utilizing individual, group, and family counseling skills. Work with more complex problems is done under close supervision. With guidance from the social work supervisor, ability to assess the psychosocial functioning and needs of patients and their family members, and to formulate and implement a treatment plan, identifying the patientÂ's problems, strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and assistance needed.
3. Basic knowledge of psychosocial treatment modalities and, under supervision, 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 with clients, staff, and representatives of community agencies. Ability to communicate ef! fectively, both orally and in writing, with people from varied backgrounds.
5. 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.
6. Basic skill in the use of computer software applications for drafting documents, data management, and tracking. Ability to learn and utilize software programs in use by VHA.
(c) Assignments. Individuals assigned as GS-9 social workers are considered to be at the entry level and are closely supervised, as they are not yet functioning at the independent practice level conferred by independent licensure or certification. Social workers at the GS-9 entry level are typically assigned to VHA program areas that do not require specialized knowledge or experience. Since these social workers are not practicing at an independent level, they should not be assigned to ! program areas where independent practice is required, such as in a CBOC! , unless there is a licensed social worker in the program area who can provide supervision for practice. GS-9 social workers provide psychosocial services in the assigned area under supervision.
GS-11 Social Worker
(a) Experience, Education and Licensure. Promotion to the GS-11 full performance level requires completion of a minimum of 1 year of post-MSW degree experience in the field of health care social work (VA or non-VA experience) and licensure or certification in a state at the independent practice level. NOTE: For appointment licensure or certification at this level please refer to paragraph 2c.
OR,
In addition to meeting basic requirements, a doctoral degree in social work from a school of social work may be substituted for the required 1 year of professional social work experience in a clinical setting. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the KSAs in subparagraph (b) below.
(b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
1. K! nowledge of community resources, how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services, and ability to coordinate services.
2. Ability to independently assess the psychosocial functioning and needs of patients and their family members and to formulate and implement a treatment plan, identifying the patientÂ's problems, strengths, weaknesses, coping skills and assistance needed, in collaboration with the patient, family and interdisciplinary treatment team.
3. Ability to independently conduct psychosocial assessments and provide psychosocial treatment to a wide variety of individuals from various socio-economic, cultural, ethnic, educational and other diversified backgrounds. This requires knowledge of human development and behavior (physical and psychological) and the differential influences of the environment, society and culture.
4. Knowledge and experience in the use of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities an! d treatment procedures. This includes acute, chronic and traumatic illn! esses/injuries, common medications and their effects/side effects, and medical terminology.
5. Knowledge of psychosocial treatment and ability to independently implement treatment modalities in working with individuals, families and groups who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric, medical and social problems to achieve treatment goals. This requires independent judgment and skill in utilizing supportive, problem solving or crisis intervention techniques.
6. Ability to independently provide counseling and/or psychotherapy services to individuals, groups and families. Social workers must practice within the bounds of their license or certification. For example, some states may require social workers providing psychotherapy to have a clinical level of licensure.
7. Ability to provide consultation services to other staff about the psychosocial needs of patients and the impact of psychosocial problems on health care and compliance with treatment. Ability to prov! ide orientation and coaching to new social workers and social work graduate students. Ability to serve as a field instructor for social work graduate students who are completing VHA field placements.
8. Ability to independently evaluate his/her own practice through participation in professional peer review case conferences, research studies, or other organized means.
9. Knowledge and skill in the use of computer software applications for drafting documents, data management, and tracking, especially those programs in use by VHA.
(c) Assignments. This is the full performance level for social workers. GS-11 social workers are licensed or certified to independently practice social work. They are assigned to all program areas, including inpatient or outpatient medicine, surgery, mental health, neurology, rehabilitation medicine, and geriatrics. Employees provide professional, independent social work services in the assigned area.
References: VA Handbo! ok 5005/50, Part II, Appendix G39, SOCIAL WORKER QUALIFICATION STANDARD! , dated February 2009, and OPM Group Coverage Qualification Standard for Professional and Scientific Positions at http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/standards/IORs/GS0100/0185.htm .
PLEASE NOTE: Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications (particularly positions with a positive education requirement.) Therefore, applicants must report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website: http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html All education claimed by applicants will be verified by the appointing agency accordingly. 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 educat! ion.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: Lifting up to 35 pounds for 8-12 hours, intermittently; Moderate carrying (15-35 pounds) for 8-12 hours,intermittently; Lifting over 35 pounds with assistive devices in accordance with the Safe Patient Handling Policy (PCS-026) except in emergent situations requiring prompt patient care;Pulling for 8-12 hours,intermittently;Pushing for 8-12 hours, intermittently; Reaching above the shoulders for 8-12 hours, intermittently; Both hands required; Walking 8-12 hours, intermittently; Standing 8-12 hours, intermittently; Kneeling 8-12 hours, intermittently; Repeated bending for 8-12 hours intermittently; Climbing and use of both legs and arms for 8-12 hours, intermittently; Both legs required; Near vision correctable at 13-16Â" to Jaeger 1 to 4; Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other eye; Ability to distinguish basic colors; Hearing (aid permitted); Specific hearing requirements; and Other: twisting, simple! grasp and fine manipulation.
Veterans' Preference: Whe! n applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference on the Occupational Questionnaire in the section provided and provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) and/or documentation related to your active duty service which shows dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), or dates of impending separation.
Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veterans Preference" with required proof as stated on the form. For more information, please review the information for disabled Veterans in the application checklist or visit http://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/vetpref/index.aspx .
HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED:
Your application, résumé and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment. BEN! EFITS:
Working for the Department of Veterans Affairs offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes, in part, paid vacation, sick leave, holidays, life insurance, health benefits, thrift savings plan, and participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System. In addition to traditional "dollars and cents" benefits, we offer a range of benefits to help balance work and life. For more information please visit us at http://www.va.gov/JOBS/Job_Benefits/benefits.asp . OTHER INFORMATION:
Receiving Service Credit for 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. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employees credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave.
This job ! opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
! This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.
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If you were eligible to this vacancy, please email us your resume, with salary requirements and a resume to Department Of Veterans Affairs.
If you interested on this vacancy just click on the Apply button, you will be redirected to the official website
This vacancy starts available on: Sat, 27 Apr 2013 02:34:01 GMT