Social Worker

Social Worker

Department: Department of Veterans Affairs

Location(s): Saint Cloud, Minnesota

Salary Range: $72064 - $113342 Per Year

Job Summary: The Community Care Living (CLC) Social Worker is assigned to the Rehabilitation Extended Care Integrated Clinical Community (REC ICC). The incumbent is an integral part of the overall VHA health care program and as part of the health care service delivery to Veterans and their families. Social work services provide case management, resource linkage, clinical and crisis interventions to Veterans and their families.

Major Duties:

• VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional CLINCIAL FUNCTIONS Conducting behavioral health and mental health biopsychosocial assessments of Veterans and collateral contacts. Making sound professional judgments regarding clinical impressions, treatment approaches, and treatment planning. Coordinating with internal and external professionals to ensure appropriate transitions of care and appropriate/ necessary treatment is Establishing / maintaining knowledge of VA and Veteran's benefits and services, community resources, and process for making appropriate referrals Provide advocacy to overcome potential barriers to access care/services and when it is in the best interests of the Veteran Provide goals of care discussions, as well as education and assist in the completion of Advance Directives; Organ, Tissue, and Eye Donation release of information forms; and Guardianship documentation. Assessing for signs and symptoms of abuse, neglect and exploitation. Completing on-call duties, as assigned and per policy, which may include transportation of a Veteran. Conducting practice in accordance with the VA and discipline specific ethical requirements and practicing within the limits of current licensure or certification. ADMINISTRATIVE FUNCTIONS Possesses and demonstrates ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing with people from varied backgrounds. Possess skills in using computer systems and the internet for Veterans who choose this modality to communicate. Serves on committees, work groups, and task forces at the local facility, Veterans Integrated Services Network (VISN) or national level. Collaborating in performance improvement processes and complying with performance measures as required by the VA for specific population/program. Attends and participates in all required administrative and clinical meetings. Maintain accurate, timely, and complete clinical records in accordance with professional practice and VA administration guidelines. Maintain data and statistical compilations to comply with Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), Joint Commission, VA, and health care systems policy and procedures. Performs other duties as assigned and can, at times, assist other incumbents or perform special assignments to meet the needs of the healthcare system. The incumbent may be detailed to other areas of need in the health care system, as determined necessary by the direct supervisor and/or the Integrated Clinical Community (ICC) Director in consultation with the Social Work Executive and typically will not exceed 25% of the total hours per week. ROLE-SPECIFIC TASKS The incumbent will provide orientation to new residents of the CLC, communicating with Veterans and family members/significant others the purpose of CLC, expected length of stay and goals for discharge on admission to the CLC The incumbent will facilitate the Long-Term Care Co-Pay process with the Veteran and family members. The incumbent will participate in discharge planning with other disciplines, and Veterans and family members to the least restrictive environment through shared decision making, and will be responsible for ensuring that discharge plans are executed in a manner that is timely and appropriate The incumbent will provide psychosocial treatment to assist Veterans and family members with psychosocial concerns. This may include financial, legal, housing, and other issues that can impact health and functioning. It also includes helping Veterans cope with new diagnoses, declining functioning, limitations on functioning, and death. Guiding principles are to promote health and wellness and move care forward for the well-being of the Veteran. The incumbent will serve as the CLC contact person with family members and significant others and will coordinate family conferences and meetings and address family issues that impact the Veteran's health and function. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8am-4:30pm Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child. Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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: Social workers must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j, this part. Education Requirement: Master of Social Work: Must possess a master's degree in social work from a school of social work fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. Note: 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. COPY OF TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED. Licensure Requirement: Appointment at the GS-11 Full Performance Level: Persons hired or reassigned to full performance 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. OR Appointment at the GS-9 (Entry or Developmental Level): 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 appointments at the GS-9 grade level, VHA social workers who are not licensed or certified at the time of appointment must become licensed or certified at the independent, master's level within three years of their appointment as a social worker. Grade Determinations: GS-9 None beyond the basic requirements. For appointments at the GS-9 grade level, VHA social workers who are not licensed or certified at the time of appointment must become licensed or certified at the independent, master's level within three years of their appointment as a social worker. Most states require two years of post-MSW experience as a prerequisite to taking the licensure/certification exam, and VHA gives social workers one additional year to pass the licensure/certification exam. AND Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the applicant's resume must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Ability to work with Veterans and family members from various socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other diversified backgrounds utilizing counseling skills. 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. 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. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients, staff, and representatives of community agencies. 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 Experience and Licensure. Appointment to the GS-11 grade level requires completion of a minimum of one year of post-MSW experience equivalent to the GS-9 grade level in the field of health care or other social work-related settings, (VA or non-VA experience) and licensure or certification in a state at the independent practice level. OR Education. In addition to meeting basic requirements, a 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. AND Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, the applicant's resume must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Knowledge of community resources, how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services, and ability to coordinate services. 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. 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. 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. 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: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-9 to GS-11. Preferred Experience: Long Term Care Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.

How to Apply: 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 12/01/2025 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12833569. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire. Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package. NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.

Application Deadline: 2025-12-01