Summary

The Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) is a comprehensive team which delivers primary care to Veteran patients in a longitudinal rather than episodic fashion and which has as its focus: prevention; health promotion - coordination - and chronic disease management. The social worker in this Veteran-centric approach often functions as a care coordinator with a panel(s) of veterans to ensure that health care meets the needs - as defined by the Veteran.

Qualifications

***This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until December 30 - 2025. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be November 13th - 2025 - with subsequent cut-off dates on the 1st of each month. Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis until position is filled.*** 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
• Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f)
• Driver License: Driver License is Required
• 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
• Current state requirements may be found by going to http://vaww.va.gov/OHRM/T38Hybrid/
• 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
• 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
• 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 Experience - Education - and Licensure
• None beyond the basic requirements
• AND Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate 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
• Social Worker - 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
• NOTE: For appointment licensure or certification at this level please refer to paragraph 3c
• 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 one year of professional social work experience in a clinical setting
• AND Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above - candidates 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
• Preferred Experience: Hospital/medical social work
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• 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
• Physical Requirements: The work is sedentary
• Typically - the employee sits comfortably while working
• However - there may be some light exertion required when walking
• standing - bending or climbing stairs - carrying of light items such as papers - books - small objects - or driving an automobile
• No special physical demands are required to perform the work
• Ability to complete a Basic Life Support (BLS) course is a position requirement.

Duties

• Start - continue - or finish your career here | VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System (youtube.com) VA Careers - Licensed Clinical Social Worker: https://youtube.com/embed/U_xC25QsN0w Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Able to maintain effective therapeutic relationships with Veterans in the Primary Care Clinic &/or their families
• Independently works with Veterans & their families who are experiencing a wide range of complicated medical - psychiatric - emotional - behavioral - financial - legal & psychosocial problems
• Independently complete thorough psychosocial assessments to determine the psychosocial functioning & needs of Veterans &/or their families
• Participates as a member of the interdisciplinary treatment team & actively participate through collaboration with Veterans & family as well as interdisciplinary treatment team members in the development & implementation of treatment goals & interventions
• Has experience in medical & mental health diagnoses - disabilities - & treatment procedures - including acute - chronic & traumatic illnesses - substance abuse disorders - common medications & their effects/side effects - & medical terminology
• Facilitates action for community placements through collaboration with Veterans & 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 &/or their families & VA & community resources in order to ensure thorough delivery of services
• Works independently to implement treatment modalities - provide educational classes - &/or supportive groups for Veterans & families - including shared medical appointments
• The social worker must be able to use & teach Veterans in the effective use of the My HealtheVet system
• Coordinates with staff at each of the assigned CBOC's as well as telehealth coordinators to provide clinical telehealth services
• Must be up to date on all trainings & requirements - so that they may provide ongoing telehealth services without interruption to patient care
• Provides consultation & education to Veterans & their families regarding community resources - VA benefits & specialty programs - & advance directives
• Ability to understand the process for accessing &/or coordinating community-based services - including information & referral for additional services from other VA programs - other government programs - & community programs
• Must be available to provide consultation to other treatment team & staff members regarding psychosocial needs of Veterans &/or their families & the impact of the identified psychosocial problems on the Veteran's health care planning & compliance with treatment
• Maintains up-to-date knowledge of Veteran's benefits & services - community resources - & process for making appropriate referrals to community & other governmental programs or agencies
• Provides case management services to Veterans & their families throughout the continuum of care
• The incumbent will be able to appropriately utilize principles of human growth & development over the life span & will be able to assist Veterans in coping with the loss & grief experiences from disability & terminal illness
• Communicates effectively - both orally & in writing with people from varied backgrounds
• Able to provide brief psychotherapy & support therapy to Veterans & their families
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8am-4:30pm Compressed/Flexible: May be available Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases
• When setting pay - a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade)
• 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)
• Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on prior [work experience] or military service experience
• 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
• Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment - full time employees with a total family income below $144 -000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66
• 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
• Functional Statement #: 53710-A & 53711-A Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized