Senior Social Worker (Hospice and Palliative Care)

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. Program 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.

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. English Language Proficiency: You must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f) Education: You must possess 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. Note: A doctoral degree in Social Work may NOT be substituted for the master's degree in Social Work. License or Certification: You must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level. Grade Determinations: Licensure: 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. GS 12 Experience: 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. Senior social workers are experts in their specialized area of practice. Applicable experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment. Senior social workers are experts in their specialized area of practice. 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: Experience providing specialized social work services in hospice and/or palliative care settings, including management of complex physical, emotional, and psychosocial needs for Veterans with advanced progressive or terminal illnesses. Demonstrated competency in completing comprehensive biopsychosocial assessments, including DSM 5 multi axial diagnostic formulation, treatment planning, and ongoing case management for patients and families facing end of life issues. Experience collaborating within interdisciplinary or multidisciplinary care teams, including physicians, APRNs, nurses, psychologists, chaplains, and community agencies to coordinate care, facilitate goals of care discussions, and support communication among team members, Veterans, and families. Knowledge and application of community resources, VA benefits, Social Security, disability programs, and specialized hospice-related services, with proven ability to provide timely referrals, linkage, and advocacy for Veterans and caregivers. Experience providing counseling and support to individuals, couples, and families, addressing anticipatory grief, bereavement needs, coping strategies, caregiver stress, and the emotional impact of chronic or terminal illness. Expertise in discharge planning and care coordination, including placement in skilled nursing facilities, residential care programs, adult day health programs, and coordination with Non-VA care partners for hospice or home based services. Experience delivering education and training to clinical staff, Fellows, and trainees, including teaching psychosocial topics related to palliative medicine, end of life ethics, grief and loss, and community resource navigation. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: The work requires the ability to move around the office and facility. The work is performed in offices and meeting rooms and is largely sedentary. The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations. The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders. The work can be mentally and emotionally demanding and stressful, and the ability to utilize effective coping and self-care strategies is essential.