Social Worker (Inpatient Case Manager)

The Kansas City VA Healthcare Network is recruiting for a Social Worker (Inpatient Case Manager). The Case Manager addresses home care needs, homelessness, and transition across levels and sites of care. Social Work care management practice, which includes psychosocial assessment, diagnosis, and treatment, is focused on helping Veterans and their families maximize rehabilitation and treatment potential and achieve more adequate, satisfying, and productive emotional and social functioning.

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. 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: 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. For the GS-11 grade level and above, the candidate must be licensed or certified.
• English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).

Grade Determinations:
Social Worker, GS-11
(1) 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
(2) Education. In addition to meeting basic requirements, 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.
(3) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
(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.

Preferred Experience: Unrestricted Social Work licensure with inpatient medical experience

References: VA Handbook 5005/120, PART II, APPENDIX G39, SOCIAL WORKER QUALIFICATION STANDARD GS-0185

Physical Requirements: The work is sedentary, but may require walking, bending, standing, and /or carrying of light items such as files and manuals. The work does not require any special physical effort or ability.

Responsibilities:

This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until September 30, 2024. The next cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be January 24, 2024, or early with subsequent cut-off dates bi-weekly. Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis until positions are filled.

VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU

Kansas City VA Medical Center is committed to Diversity and Inclusion. Together, we strive to create and maintain a working and learning environment that promotes professional growth and teamwork. We offer an inclusive, equitable, and welcoming environment where we celebrate our individual differences and unite as a team toward a common goal of providing outstanding service to our Nation's Veterans.

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.

The major duties and responsibilities of the Social Worker (Inpatient Case Manager) includes but are not limited to: interventions to increase access to care, including transportation assistance and Advanced Directives, economic assistance, including assistance with medical bills, financial aid services and strategies to increase income (employment, vocational rehabilitation, VA benefits, disability), and/or reduce expenses, find the appropriate housing for the patient's level of need (affordable independent housing, homeless shelters, group and family care homes, Veterans Homes, assisted living, nursing homes, respite care, hospice care) and order necessary services to assist with functional decline. Evaluates the need for mental health services and makes appropriate referrals where needed for individual, group, marital, and family treatment services.

• Must have a high level of skill and expertise to work with Veterans and families who are experiencing a wide range of complicated mental, emotional, behavioral, physical, psychosocial, and environmental problems.
• Uses the social work process (psychosocial assessment, diagnosis, and treatment) in collaboration with interdisciplinary team members to develop a care management plan and psychosocial interventions.
• Evaluates the need for mental health services and makes appropriate referrals where needed for individual, group, marital, and family treatment services.
• Must be sensitive to the ethnic and cultural diversity and age-specific challenges of the Veteran population and adjusts intervention and treatment plans as appropriate.
• As a member of the health care team, participates fully in developing, planning, implementing and evaluating the interdisciplinary treatment plan, including provision of care management services.
• Coordinates care with interdisciplinary team to promote continuity for Veterans and their families.
• Develops and uses appropriate community resources.
• Serves as an advocate for Veterans and their families, helping them access needed services at the facility, at other VA facilities, and in the community.
• Assists Veterans and their families with advance directives, guardianships, and applications for health care, home care and extended care services.
• Participates in the orientation, training, and teaching of social work graduate students and other trainees and staff
• Conducts and/or participates in research and/or program evaluation as appropriate.

Work Schedule: Tuesday - Saturday: 8:00am to 4:30pm; May be required to participate on on-call rotation as necessary after hours and on the weekends to provide patient care.
Telework: This position is eligible for Ad Hoc telework only. Ad Hoc Telework is telework that occurs on an occasional, non-routine basis.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
EDRP Authorized: Contact Tracy Lowe, tracy.lowe@va.gov or Cathleen Phillips, cathleen.phillips@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Salary : $86,517 - $112,468