Clarification from the agency

Open to current permanent federal employees of the VA Mid-Atlantic Healthcare Network - VISN 6.

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This position is located in the catchment area of VISN 6 (within 50 miles of one of the seven VISN 6 VA facilities). Pay will be determined based on the employee's location. The VISN 6 facilities are: Asheville, Fayetteville, Salisbury, Durham, North Carolina and Richmond, Hampton, Salem, Virginia.

The CEAT Senior Social Worker serves as a core member of the VISN-level interprofessional group of clinical reviewers-the Centralized Eligibility & appeals team (CEAT). The CEAT Senior Social Worker Clinical Eligibility & Appeal Team GS-0185-12 is responsible for reviewing complex PCAFC eligibility cases for admission, ongoing level of care adjustments, and discharge appropriateness. The CEAT is also responsible for adjudicating PCAFC applicant and participant first-level appeals sent from other CEATs within the same region and second-level appeals sent by CEATs based in other regions of the country. Uses sound judgment in the interpretation of trends and patterns; application of regulation, policy, guidelines; and the recommendation of program enhancements. Executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership, experience, and creative approaches to management of complex patient level of care determinations including, but not limited to:

• Requires advanced knowledge and understanding of not only the services and benefits available for caregivers from both federal, state, and private sector resources but the statute, regulations, and policy that govern the program.
• Completing all reports, data, and maintain reporting requirements with outcomes related to the CSP Program.
• Providing assistance with the orientation and learning of less experienced social workers and, if interested, to serve as a field instructor for graduate level social work students.
• Maintaining a level of productivity and quality consistent with the complexity of the assignment and consistent with Social Work standards, Joint Commission standards, and VISN standards.
• Modifying tour of duty as necessary to accommodate the needs of Veteran and/or caregiver.
• Actively participating in the CSP conference calls and participating in other relevant conference calls and/or meetings as assigned.
• Using knowledge of the CSP to matrix Veteran level of functioning with the appropriate CSP services (i.e., Program of General Caregiver Support Services [PGCSS]; PCAFC; and/or Veteran entitlements and benefits) in order to ensure patient safety, recovery, and program stewardship. and organizing delivery of care to assure continuity of care and peer accountability for practice, including access to care and discharge planning.
• Functioning as a technical expert in clinical practice and/or CSP related to the assigned roles and responsibilities.
• Leading and organizing practice and process evaluation to assure continuity and peer accountability.
• Coordinating with other Regional CEATs and VACO CSP to develop and implement strategies for PCAFC eligibility, tier level, discharge, and appeals process and performance improvement.
• Conducting comprehensive clinical review of patient records to identify the presence of Veteran level of functioning and corresponding need for assistance with personal care services and/or supervision or protection needs on a daily basis.
• Conducting Peer Reviews and other assigned audits to aide in achieving consistency nationally.
• Utilizing knowledge of PCAFC clinical eligibility to coordinate with other regional CEATs the transfer of appeals for inter-VISN evaluation.
• Receiving, reviewing, and providing dispositions of PCAFC initial eligibility decisions; reassessments; and appeal decisions for clinical eligibly determinations.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8am - 4:30pm
Telework: ADHOC - May be authorized (Employees who Telework on an occasional, episodic, or short-term, and have completed required telework training and telework agreement).
Travel: 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.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized.
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.

Conditions of employment

NOTE: Prior to accepting a final employment offer, all selected applicants will be required to sign a Memorandum of Understanding regarding deployment responsibilities

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• 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. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination and maintain CDT physical readiness.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Must be able to meet physical demands which include strenuous physical activity to include carrying persons and equipment, walking long distances over difficult terrain, running, climbing, working long hours in primitive or arduous conditions, long periods of standing, and bending and stooping.

Qualifications

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. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).
• Education: 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 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 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 Requirement: You 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 must be able to provide supervision for licensure.

May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).

Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements stated above, the following qualification criteria must be met for the grade. The candidate's qualifications must clearly demonstrate the level of competence required for the grade.

• Experience Requirement: You must possess 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. Examples of specialized experience include, but are not limited to: assessing and documenting identified behaviors or symptoms of abuse, neglect, exploitation and/or intimate partner violence; use of clinical social work skills; maintaining patient privacy and confidentiality per policies, handbooks or directives; acting as an advocate with appropriate community service providers and agencies when it serves the best interest of the patient and family members/caregiver; independently assessing the psychosocial functioning and needs of patients and their family members, identifying the patient's strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and psychosocial acuity. Applicable experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment.

In addition to the experience above, you must demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• 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.

Preferred Experience and Certifications

• Caregiver Support Program experience preferred
• Primary Care experience preferred
• Mental Health Experience preferred
• Home Based Primary Care experience preferred
• Geriatrics experience preferred

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

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. Applicants 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 applicant or others.

Position requires walking throughout the clinic and the 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.

How you will be evaluated

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

Note: Veteran's Preference is not applicable to VA employees or employees of other Federal Agencies.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or other 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.