The New Mexico Veterans Affairs Health Care System's (NMVAHCS) Geriatrics and Extended Care (GEC) Unit is looking for (1) Hospice/Palliative Care Social Worker to provide case management services to Veterans receiving skilled and rehabilitation care in the CLC at the Raymond G. Murphy VA Hospital. This is accomplished in collaboration with other members of the interdisciplinary treatment team. 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 Citizenship. Citizen of the United States. Licensure. Full, unrestricted license or certification by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level. Education. Master's degree in social work (MSW) 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 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 master's degree in social work. 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: GS-09 Experience: None beyond the basic requirements listed above. 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. Assignments. Individuals assigned as GS-9 grade level social workers are considered to be at the entry level and are closely supervised, as they are not yet functioning at the independent practice level conferred by independent licensure or certification. Social workers at the GS-9 entry level are typically assigned to program areas that do not require specialized knowledge or experience. Duties may include but are not limited to: identifying behaviors or symptoms of abuse, neglect or exploitation; providing education on advance directives and advanced care planning; providing social work case management; acting as an advocate with appropriate VA and community service providers/agencies when it serves the best interest of the Veteran and family members/caregiver; assessing the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and their family members identifying the Veteran's strengths, weaknesses, coping skills and psychosocial acuity, in collaboration with the Veteran, family, and interdisciplinary treatment teams; maintaining a current network of internal and external resources to educate the Veteran and/or family members/caregivers and assist with the appropriate referrals. Since social workers at this level are not practicing at an independent level, they should not be assigned to program areas where independent practice is required, such as in a CBOC, unless there is a licensed social worker in the program area who can provide supervision for practice. GS-9 social workers provide psychosocial services in the assigned area under supervision. GS-11 Experience/Education: Applicants must 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. (please ensure to upload a copy of your licensure) 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. 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. Assignments. This is the full performance level. Social workers at this level are licensed or certified to independently practice social work. Incumbents are assigned to all program areas, including but not limited to: inpatient or outpatient medicine, surgery, mental health, neurology, rehabilitation medicine, and geriatrics. Employees provide professional, independent social work services in the assigned area. Duties 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 and knowledge to maintain Veteran privacy and confidentiality per policies, handbooks or directives; and acts as an advocate with appropriate VA and community service providers and agencies when it serves the best interest of the Veteran and family members/caregiver. Incumbent independently assesses the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and their family members, identifying the Veteran's strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and psychosocial acuity. In collaboration with the Veteran, family/caregiver, and interdisciplinary treatment team, the social worker facilitates the delivery of health care services. The social worker identifies family/caregiver stressors, conducts assessment and provides specific interventions. The incumbent provides case management and care coordination to facilitate appropriate delivery of health care services, incorporates complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment of Veterans, including making psychosocial and psychiatric diagnoses within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice. Preferred Experience: Hospice or palliative experience. 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-09 to GS-11. References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G39 - Social Worker Qualification Standard. Physical Requirements: The work requires the Social Worker to be mobile throughout the clinic as needed, involving standing, walking, bending, pushing, and lifting (moderately heavy). The Social Worker should be capable of prolonged standing/walking and be physically capable of pushing equipment, wheelchairs, and patient stretcher. ["Duties include but are not limited to: The incumbent independently works with Veterans and their families who are experiencing a wide range of complicated medical, psychiatric, emotional,\nbehavioral, and psychosocial problems. The incumbent possesses skills and knowledge to provide case management services to Veterans and their families throughout the continuum of care. The incumbent will be able to appropriately utilize principles of human growth and development over the life span and will be able to assist Veterans in coping with the loss and grief experiences from disability and illness. The incumbent independently conducts psychosocial assessments and develops treatment plans in collaboration with the Veteran/family and with the\nmultidisciplinary treatment team. The incumbent independently provides consultation services to other staff regarding the psychosocial needs of Veterans and the impact of psychosocial problems on health care and adherence to treatment plan interventions. The incumbent works closely with CLC providers, acute care providers and staff, and the Performance Improvement Committee to enhance service quality and to ensure compliance with VHA directives. The incumbent formulates and documents an initial discharge plan based upon the Veteran's medical needs, psychosocial assessment, and Veteran's preferences. The incumbent assesses the need for access to adaptive equipment and services to mediate the effect of physical, psychological, and social capability deficits. Coordinates referrals to the Community Living Center and serves as the social work representative to the Community Living Center Admissions Team\nproviding social and medical background data as necessary. Counsels' patients regarding advance directives and assists in completion of advance directives upon request by the Veteran. The incumbent participates in monthly Resident Council Meetings. The incumbent assists the Recreation Therapist in facilitation of the meetings and is responsible for maintaining a log of meeting attendees and happenings. Participates in continuous survey readiness projects by researching facility MCM's and SOP's as they relate to Long-Term Care Institute standards. Identifies high-risk patients and provides crisis intervention services, coordinates family conferences, and serves as a liaison to family members. The incumbent monitors and provides Suicide Risk Assessments for patients at risk for suicide and works with the Suicide Prevention Coordinator as needed. The incumbent establishes and maintains therapeutic relationships with Veterans and their families and works with Veterans and their families who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric, medial, and social problems utilizing individual, group, and family counseling and therapy skills. The incumbent provides Veterans, family members, and outside agencies information and education related to specialty programs, service-connected\ncompensation, non-service-connected pension, and other Veteran benefits as needed. The incumbent assist with referrals and application processes as needed. The incumbent through collaboration and consultation with colleagues and peers integrates the services of the CLC with the VA and community acute care to ensure the Veteran's access to appropriate VA skilled and rehabilitation services. The incumbent serves as a liaison with public and private health care agencies and community organizations and groups for providing information and education regarding programs and services. Work Schedule: 8:00a.m. - 4:30p.m. Monday through Friday\nTelework: Not Available\nVirtual: This is not a virtual position.\nFunctional Statement #: 00000\nRelocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized\nPermanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized\nPCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required"]