Social Worker

We're Looking for a skilled Social Worker in the Veterans Health Administration based in North Chicago, Illinois. Read through the job description to see if it matches your current experience.

The Successful Applicant

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: Noncitizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Minimum Education/Experience Requirements: Citizen of the U.S. Territory or Commonwealth Current unrestricted clinical social work (LCSW) license from any state or US Territory OR RN license Possesses a Masters Degree from a Council on Social Work Education accredited school of social work. Possesses qualifications for selfregulated practice in the form of the highest level of state licensing at an independent clinical practice level (LCSW). 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 masters 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 3 accreditation standards for a masters of social work. Current BLS/CPR certification required. Current case management certification (CCM) OR equivalent experience preferred. Must complete certification (CCM) or equivalent CASWCM National Association of Social Workers or National Academy of Certified Care Managers (NACCM): Care Manager Certified (CMC) within 2 years of hire if not completed previously At least TWO years of Social Work experience in medicalsurgical critical care oncological and/or ambulatory care is preferred. Knowledge of and ability to use computer skills to enter patient data and to extract information and generate reports from sophisticated computer software packages. Professional knowledge of social work theory and practice in order to differentiate between disease process adverse events and practices which are outside the standard of care. Knowledge of sources for patient care data Examples are: medical records via AHLTA/CHCS and CIS DSMIVTR (current update) consults and computerized data. Writing skills to produce clear and concise reports and correspondence. Verbal skills to communicate clearly/ precisely and professionally Ability to organize and track numerous and varied administrative details. Skill to assess needs and goals of the department in order to plan and implement daily activities to meet those needs. Current in all requirements on clinical and documentation protocols infection control safety security Joint Commission HIPPA PE I and Risk Management with periodic renewal as required English language proficiency Evidence of skills in leadership creativity integrity initiative and communications are additional qualifications Knowledge of civilian/military policies. Licensure. Persons hired or reassigned to social worker positions in the GS0185 series in VHA must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the masters 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 GS9 grade level. For the GS11 grade level and above the candidate must be licensed or certified. At the time of appointment the supervisor chief social work or social work executive will provide the unlicensed/uncertified social worker with the written requirements for licensure or certification including the time by which the license or certification must be obtained and the consequences for not becoming licensed or certified by the deadline. Grade Determinations: GS11 Experience and Licensure. Appointment to the GS11 grade level requires completion of a minimum of one year of postMSW experience equivalent to the GS9 grade level in the field of health care or other social workrelated settings (VA or non VA experience) and licensure or certification in a state at the independent practice level. For appointment licensure or certification at this level please refer to paragraph 3c. 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. 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. AND Demonstrated Knowledge Skills and Abilities. In addition to the experience above candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of community resources how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services and ability to coordinate services. (b) Skill in independently conducting psychosocial assessments and treatment interventions to a wide variety of individuals from various socioeconomic cultural ethnic educational and other diversified backgrounds. (c) 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. (d) 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. (e) 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: LCSW with at least two years of Case management experience. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS11. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 Employee Occupational Health Services.

What’s on Offer

The role offers excellent opportunities for top performers to further develop their competencies as a social worker and improving the lives of people.