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The incumbent is a MSW Clinical Social Worker assigned to Primary Care Patient Aligned Care team (PACT) in the VA Caribbean Health Care System. PACT is a comprehensive team which delivers primary care to veterans with the focus of prevention, health promotion, coordination and chronic disease management.
Learn more about this agency09/17/2024 to 09/25/2024
$86,962 - $113,047 per year
GS 12
1 vacancy in the following location:
No
No
Not required
No
Permanent
Full-time
Excepted
None
No
No
No
CBTC-12537495-24-YO
809993600
Open to VA Caribbean Healthcare System Current Permanent Employees, Federal employees, and U.S. Citizens. FIRST CONSIDERATION will be given to Current Permanent Employees of the VA Caribbean Healthcare System (San Juan PR), followed by Federal Employees, and U.S. Citizens.
The incumbent must use his/her skills in assessing and treating the psychosocial problems of these Veterans identifying, strengths, weaknesses, coping skills and psychosocial acuity, to formulate a plan to meet those PACT teams under the VICTOR model "Veterans Integrated Care Treatment Optimizing Resilience", social workers are named as Behavioral Health Consultants. The BHC responsibilities includes the assessment of mental health and psychosocial problems and the provision of brief evidence based behavioral treatment interventions and counseling with veterans and/or their family members as they go through crisis events of life changing processes.
The incumbent tasks include, but are not limited to:
Screening/Assessment - Will conduct psychosocial/mental health assessment of Veterans of situations that cause distress, often impacting the health condition and creating barriers to care. Social worker must be knowledgeable of health conditions related to aging process, mental health and social environment. Home visits may be done, to assess housing conditions, physical limitations, source of family support, care needs, and other issues that affect their treatment, recovery and/or physical/emotional health.
Treatment Planning/Goal Setting - Is responsible for assist in the development of the treatment plan and developing achievable treatment foals with the Veterans and family members/caregiver and collaborating with PACT team and all additional providers. The incumbent is responsible for planning and organizing work, coordinating with clinical interdisciplinary staff, other professional and clinical staff, and management personnel. Also, will address the unique needs of homebound, frail, disabling/chronic and/or dying veterans.
Referral to service providers - The incumbent 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 needs for non-institutional, institutional services/programs and entitlements. The incumbent is responsible for educating the veterans 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 surrogate decision-maker.
Resources Usage Development - Responsible for developing, updating and using current social worker resources within VA and community social service programs.
Advocacy - Acts as an advocate when it serves the best interest of the veteran/family members and/or caregivers.
Crisis Intervention - Will conduct crisis assessment and develop a crisis management plan. Also, will be able to identify safety issues for high-risk patients' populations establishing the appropriate clinical services and referrals.
Emergency Management - During the response of an emergency, the social worker is considered essential personnel and will be ready to assist in any capacity given by the Incident Commander.
Education/Health promotion and prevention - Provides psychoeducation to the Veteran, family members/caregiver and refers them to appropriate interdisciplinary team members or services for identified health education needs. Additionally, the social worker provides information about VA benefits and refers to the appropriate service organization for assistance.
Coordination of non-institutional services - Will educate the veteran, their families and the team of all the options available to them and will collaborate with the veteran and family on the preferred options.
Therapy and Supportive counseling - Will provide the veterans and their caregivers with ongoing supportive counseling.
Record Keeping - Will enter all Veteran/family contact with the Veterans' written and verbal consent in the electronic records system (CPRS).
Collegiality - Will establish and maintain positive, professional working relationships.
Administrative responsibilities - Will collaborate in the performance improvement processes and comply with performance measures as required by the VA for their specific population and/or program.
Training and Education - Is responsible for his/her own professional growth through continued education for ensuring continued education.
Productivity - Is responsible to maintain a level of productivity and quality consistent with the complexity of the assignment, clinic panels and consistent with Social Work Standards, Joint Commission and facility Standards.
Other duties as assigned.
Work Schedule: 7:30am - 4:00PM
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: Senior Social Worker - PACT BHS Consultant 61014F
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
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.
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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.
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.
This occupation is listed on the OIG Determination of Veterans Health Administration's Occupational Staffing Shortages fiscal year (FY) 2024 dated October 03, 2023. Therefore, is vacancy announcement is exempt from Veterans Preference.
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.
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.
It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.
Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:
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. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the full questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 09/25/2024 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12537495.
Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. After we receive application packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applications to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met. After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will be notified of their status by email. Referred applicants will be notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notification once a selection decision has been made.
You may check the status of your application at any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applications. Information regarding your application status can be found in the USAJobs Help Center.
NOTE: Participation in the seasonal influenza program is a condition of employment and a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). It is a requirement that all HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccination or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccination has been granted. HCP in violation of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service. HCP are individuals who, during the influenza season, work in VHA locations or who come into contact with VA patients or other HCP as part of their duties. VHA locations include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associated clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA-leased medical facilities. HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrative, remote and onsite, paid and without compensation, full- and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, researchers, volunteers and health professions trainees (HPTs) who are expected to perform any or all of their work at these facilities. HPTs may be paid or unpaid and include residents, interns, fellows and students. HCP also includes VHA personnel providing home-based care to Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with patients outside VA medical facilities.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/809993600. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.
Learn more about
OUR MISSION: To fulfill President Lincoln's promise "To care for those who have served in our nation's military and for their families, caregivers, and survivors" - by serving and honoring the men and women who are America's Veterans. How would you like to become a part of a team providing compassionate whole health care to Veterans?
Come work for the VA Caribbean Healthcare System where we provide services to veterans in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. These islands enjoy year-round summer, and you can experience Caribbean culture, history and diverse activities. As a territory of the United States, Puerto Rico offers the conveniences of the mainland and a trip to the U.S. Virgin Islands is only 30 minutes away. Join us to experience the wonders of working and living in a tropical paradise.
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
