Social Worker

Summary:
This job is open to:
The public:

• U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Clarification from the agency:
Duties:
The VHA is a mission driven, federally funded organization that emphasizes putting the patient first. The mission is to "Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being." VA New England is leading the VHA's Primary Care initiative in the Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) model embedded in an innovative, Whole Health oriented Primary Care Delivery System. This system leverages best health care practices built on standardized work processes that optimize the unique contributions of each discipline. We cultivate a highly dynamic, integrative, and collaborative team environment. The PACT model serves a complex panel of Veteran patients. Our patients develop longitudinal relationships with the entire team comprised of clinical pharmacy practitioners, dieticians, social workers and behavioral health providers. This team collaborates to address patient needs, mitigate social determinants of health and proactively manage the health of our population. The social worker in this veteran-centric approach often functions as a care coordinator and case manager for primary care veterans in all settings to ensure that health care meets the needs, as defined by the veteran. The primary care social worker is responsible to answer social work and advance directive consults, to triage and refer veteran needs to other social work practice areas as appropriate, and to utilize population health management to provide proactive outreach in order to improve quality of care. The role of a social worker case manager in the PACT is to assess and treat psychosocial and environmental factors that impact the patient's ability to achieve maximum health and wellness. Social work case managers assess the patient's psychological and emotional adjustment to illness within the context of medical diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment options.

Duties include but are not limited to:

• Maintaining effective therapeutic relationships with veterans in the primary care clinic and/or their families.
• Completing thorough psychosocial assessments to determine the psychosocial functions and needs of veterans and/or their families.
• Actively participating as a member of the interdisciplinary treatment team.
• Facilitating action for community placements through collaboration with veterans and their families as well as interdisciplinary treatment team members to ensure that appropriate community placements are completed in a timely manner.
• Serving as a liaison between veterans and/or their families and VA and community resources in order to ensure thorough delivery of services.
• Providing consultation and education to veterans and their families regarding community resources, VA benefits and specialty programs and advance directives.
• Providing consultation to other treatment team and staff members regarding psychosocial needs of veterans and/or families and the impact the issues may have on the veterans health care planning and compliance with treatment.
• Making referrals to community and other governmental programs and agencies.
• Providing case management services to the veterans and their families throughout the continuum of care.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm.
Compressed/Flexible:Not Available
Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus):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: Telework may be authorized Ad Hoc as determined by the agency policy.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: PDF02514 and PDf2513

Requirements:
Conditions of employment:
Conditions of Employment:

• Selec