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The Palliative Care Social Worker Coordinator is a professional specialized social worker assigned to the Geriatrics and Extended Care Service and aligned with the Palliative Care Section and Hospice and Palliative Care (HPC) Consult Teams 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. English Language Proficiency: Social workers must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j, this part. 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-12 Social Worker (Program Coordinator) Experience/Education: One year of experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level. Experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment, demonstrating progressively more professional competency. Candidates may have certification or other post-master's degree training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university that includes a defined curriculum/course of study and internship, or equivalent supervised professional experience. Licensure/Certification: Individuals assigned as social worker program coordinator must be licensed or certified at the advanced practice level and must be able to provide supervision for licensure. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs. Knowledge of program coordination and administration which includes consultation, negotiation, and monitoring. Knowledge and ability to write policies, procedures, and/or practice guidelines for the program. Ability to supervise multidisciplinary staff assigned to the program. Skill in organizing work, setting priorities, meeting multiple deadlines, and evaluating assigned program area(s). Ability to provide training, orientation, and guidance within clinical practice. Preferred Experience: Veteran Health Administration experience Hospice/Palliative experience References: VA Handbook 5005/120, Part II, Appendix G39, Social Worker Qualification Standard, GS-0185, Veterans Health Administration, dated September 10, 2019. The full performance level of this vacancy is a GS-12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is a GS-12. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Services. ["Work Schedule: Full Time; Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.; Subject to change to meet the needs of the Agency Telework: Authorized; if approved, would be on a regularly scheduled basis but this is not a remote position. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required The incumbent of this position must use a high level of skill in assessing and treating the complicated psychosocial problems of veterans with complex physical and mental symptoms and life-limiting illnesses. Referrals typically originate from other members of the Hospice and Palliative interdisciplinary team and services may be provided in a variety of settings including outpatient consultative clinic, inpatient acute care and intensive care units, emergency department, community living center, or BHICU, via telephone or video contact or face-to-face visits. Services are provided both to qualified veteran patients as well as their families, medical surrogates, and caregivers. Primary responsibilities include: Incorporation of complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment in Veteran patients, including making psychosocial and psychiatric diagnoses within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice. Provision of individual, group and family counseling or psychotherapy and advanced level case management interventions used in the treatment of veterans with complex medical and psychiatric disorders in either inpatient or outpatient basis. Participation as an active member of the Palliative Care interdisciplinary treatment teams to provide social work interventions to veterans and/or their families to meet treatment goals within the context of their goals of care. Participation in and development of HPC bereavement support programs for the families of veterans who die at Mather Hospital or Martinez CLC Hospice Unit, in conjunction with the Chaplain service. Participation in active case finding for the Palliative Care section. Provision of consultation and education to other treatment teams, staff members, and the community at large regarding hospice and palliative services, and role modeling effective social work practice skills. Helping the Veteran cope with end-of-life or complex chronic illness diagnoses and assessment of treatment options and when appropriate making referrals based on the Veteran's preference or that of the surrogate decision-maker. Facilitating family discussions regarding illness, healthcare and life changes. Supporting end-of-life planning/care preferences through assistance with Advanced Directives for Healthcare and completion of goals of care conversations. Making rapid assessments and developing management plans in periods of crisis for Veteran's and their families. Providing education and referrals where appropriate related to the patient's VA, Social Security, disability benefits, and community resources. Where appropriate, referral to and coordination of hospice care services including facilitation with Non-VA Community Care Coordination. Having knowledge of and making referrals to a wide range of community services, including Medical Foster homes, group and family care homes, Assisted Living Facilities, Adult Day Health Care programs, Contract Nursing Homes, Community Living Centers, residential care homes, and inpatient and outpatient hospice services. Acting as the representative and liaison of Hospice and Palliative Care from the facility to the greater community. Participation in specialty committee meetings and initiatives. Attending to administrative duties including entering all Veteran and support system contacts in the electronic medical record in a complete, confidential, and professional manner using appropriate formats and templates. Develops and implements methods for measuring effectiveness of social work practice and services in the Palliative Care specialty area, utilizing outcome evaluations such as the Bereaved Family Survey to improve treatment services. Supports compliance of the Palliative Care Program with Joint Commission and Office of Inspector General standards for the provision of palliative and hospice care. The incumbent demonstrates the ability to provide training, orientation, and guidance within clinical practice and mentor staff and students in the specialty area of practice and provide supervision for licensure. Performs other related duties as assigned This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and may be posted up to September 30, 2024. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be February 1, 2024, with subsequent cut-off dates on the 1st and 15th 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 positions are filled."]

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