Summary The Social worker (PACT) position is located in Social Work Service at the Manchester VA Medical Center. This position is full time and 40 hours per week. Responsibilities VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU The VHA is a mission driven, federally funded organization that emphasizes putting the patient first. The mission is to "Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being." VA New England is leading the VHA's Primary Care initiative in the Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) model embedded in an innovative, Whole Health oriented Primary Care Delivery System. This system leverages best health care practices built on standardized work processes that optimize the unique contributions of each discipline. We cultivate a highly dynamic, integrative, and collaborative team environment. VHA is on a journey towards becoming a High Reliability Organization. The PACT model serves a complex panel of Veteran patients. Our Whole Health system empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and includes complimentary and integrative health approaches that enhance self-empowerment, self-healing, and self-care. Our patients develop longitudinal relationships with the entire team comprised of clinical pharmacy practitioners, dieticians, social workers and behavioral health providers. This team collaborates to address patient needs, mitigate social determinants of health and proactively manage the health of our population. Our typically smaller panel sizes, wide array of support services and virtual care options (from video visits to mobile apps and patient generated data) provide more flexibility for how Veterans engage in their own health care and with their team. The social worker in this veteran-centric approach often functions as a care coordinator and case manager for primary care veterans in all settings to ensure that health care meets the needs, as defined by the veteran. The primary care social worker is responsible to answer social work and advance directive consults, to triage and refer veteran needs to other social work practice areas as appropriate, and to utilize population health management to provide proactive outreach in order to improve quality of care. The primary care Social Worker will also work with veterans utilizing specialty care such as, but not limited to, urgent care, neurology and pain clinics as these veterans and families can often benefit from social work support in addressing social determinants of health. The role of a social worker case manager in the PACT is to assess and treat psychosocial and environmental factors that impact the patient's ability to achieve maximum health and wellness. Social work case managers assess the patient's psychological and emotional adjustment to illness within the context of medical diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment options. The duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to: Maintain effective therapeutic relationships with veterans in the primary care clinic and/or their families, which may also involve home visits. Complete thorough psychosocial assessments to determine the psychosocial functions and needs of veterans and/or their families. Actively participate as a member of the interdisciplinary treatment team. Facilitate action for community placements through collaboration with veterans and their families as well as interdisciplinary treatment team members to ensure that appropriate community placements are completed in a timely manner. Serves as a liaison between veterans and/or their families and VA and community resources in order to ensure thorough delivery of services. Provides consultation and education to veterans and their families regarding community resources, VA benefits and specialty programs and advance directives. Provides consultation to other treatment team and staff members regarding psychosocial needs of veterans and/or families and the impact the issues may have on the veterans health care planning and compliance with treatment. Make referrals to community and other governmental programs and agencies. Provide case management services to the veterans and their families throughout the continuum of care. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm. Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized Telework: Telework may be authorized Ad hoc as determined by the agency policy. Virtual: This is not a virtual position Relocation Incentives: Not Authorized Recruitment Incentive: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Promotion Protentional: The Selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level. 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. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. 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. Education. 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. Licensure. Persons hired or reassigned to 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. 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. English Language Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). 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: Social Worker, GS-9 (1) Experience, Education, and Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills & Abilities: (a) Ability to work with Veterans and family members from various socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other diversified backgrounds utilizing counseling skills. (b) 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. (c) 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. (d) Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients, staff, and representatives of community agencies. (e) Fundamental knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities, and procedures. This includes acute, chronic, and traumatic illnesses/injuries; common medications and their effects/side effects; and medical terminology. For GS-11 Social Worker: Experience, Education & Licensure: Appointment and 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)& licensure or certification in a state at the independent practice level. 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. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills & Abilities: (a) Knowledge of community resources, how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services, and ability to coordinate services. (b) 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. (c) 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. (d) 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. (e) 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. Reference: VA HANDBOOK 5005/23 Part II Appendix G39 Physical Requirements: The physical demands of this position involve primarily walking, talking, use of the telephone, computer, etc. Strenuous physical activity is not required, although you may be expected to withstand pressure and stress as part of your day to day activities. Work environment: The incumbent observes normal safety precautions while working primarily in a community setting. 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. 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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Additional Information 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. 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.