Career Center

Summary

The position is for a Nephrology (Outpatient/Inpatient) Specialty Care Social Worker located at the VA Loma Linda Medical Center. The incumbent will provide appropriate clinical services including - but not limited to - psychosocial assessments - treatment plans - ongoing case management - pre-transplant assessments and education - counseling and education on disease process - advance health care planning and end of life education/care. Duty Location: 11201 Benton Street - Loma Linda - CA 92357

Qualifications

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
• 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
• [Transcripts must be submitted at time of application
• Conferral of degree(s) must be stated on transcript(s)
• Unofficial transcripts(s) are acceptable] Licensure
• 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
• Current state requirements may be found by going to http://vaww.va.gov/OHRM/T38Hybrid/
• [Copies of licensure/certification must be submitted with application packet] 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 (Program Coordinator) - GS-12 Experience and Education: Applicants must have at least one (1) 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
• Candidate 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
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities: In addition to the experience above - candidates must demonstrate the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of program coordination and administration which includes consultation - negotiation - and monitoring
• (b) Knowledge and ability to write policies - procedures - and/or practice guidelines for the program
• (c) Ability to supervise multidisciplinary staff assigned to the program
• (d) Skill in organizing work - setting priorities - meeting multiple deadlines - and evaluating assigned program area(s)
• (e) Ability to provide training - orientation - and guidance within clinical practice
• Assignments: For all assignments above the full performance level - the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope - complexity (difficulty) - and variety and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time
• Program coordinators at the GS-12 grade level are administratively responsible for a clinical program providing treatment to Veterans in a major specialty area - such as but not limited to: Spinal Cord Injury - Homeless Continuum Veteran Program - Hospice and Palliative Care Program - Suicide Prevention Program - Veterans Justice Outreach - Caregiver Support Program and Community Nursing Home Program
• The program coordinator may be the sole practitioner in this specialty at the facility and typically provide direct patient care services in the program area
• The program coordinator oversees the daily operation of the program - develop policies and procedures for program operation - and prepare reports and statistics for facility - VISN - and national use
• They may be responsible for the program's budget - developing and monitoring staff compliance with practice - standards and guidelines on documentation - workload - data entry - ethical practice and service delivery
• The program coordinator provides analysis and evaluation of clinical program data and computerized programs to identify system-wide trends and needs to enhance the quality of service
• They may be responsible for - or contribute to - the program's resource and fiscal management - monitoring control points developing the annual budget - operating within that budget - and accounting for appropriated funds
• The program coordinator is administratively responsible for the clinical programming and prepares reports and statistics for facility - VISN - and national use
• They provide leadership - direction - orientation - coaching - in-service training - staff development - and continuing education programs for assigned staff
• They initiate and conduct a variety of program or service audits and complete designated clinical practice audits and reports - including productivity assessments
• They oversee program operations and evaluations - identifying areas for improvement - gathering relevant data - assessing the data - developing and implementing ideas for improvement and evaluating efficacy of improvement efforts
• References: VA Handbook 5005/120 - Part II Appendix G39 Social Worker Qualification Standard GS-0185 Veterans Health Administration
• Physical Requirements: Traveling throughout the medical center and the community is required - as is performing activities involving sitting - walking - and prolonged standing - bending and carrying such items as books - papers - and files
• In carrying out responsibilities it may be necessary for the incumbent to travel into the community where he/she conducts interviews with the Veterans - their families - representatives of community health and welfare agencies and law enforcement agencies
• The incumbent must possess current driver's license and drive a government vehicle in carrying out professional duties when deemed necessary.

Duties

• VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU Resume Requirement: Your resume must be detailed include the following information: Job title - description of duties - beginning and ending date (month/year) of employment
• and average hours worked per week
• The Nephrology Social Worker is expected to demonstrate leadership - possess advanced practice skills and judgment in social work practice and related medical care
• The incumbent will collaborate with other departments/service lines and be an active member of the multidisciplinary Nephrology team
• Incumbent is expected to provide education to pre-dialysis patients about their VA benefits and Medicare/Medi-Cal Insurance benefits (i.e. - dialysis care - transplant in-home supportive services - transportation - etc.)
• The incumbent also works closely with community dialysis units and demonstrates sound clinical judgment while working with patients
• The incumbent is a Social Worker Program Coordinator licensed at an advanced practice level
• Therefore - incumbent is required to engage independently in resolving psychosocial problems and needs
• Incumbent is able to manage complex cases and/or guide multidisciplinary team members by providing high quality clinical social work oversight and creative problem solving with their approved privileges (scope of practice)
• The incumbent will support and facilitate continuity of care for the Veteran by working with Nephrology team members - other service/care lines - community providers and family members - as necessary
• The incumbent to provide education to Veterans and their families regarding relevant resources available through VALLHCS and the community to maximize healthier outcomes of the medical interventions
• The incumbent will provide advocacy - coordination of care - resources/referrals across VHA and in the community - as appropriate
• The incumbent will collaborate with the multidisciplinary Nephrology team - across serve/care lines and with community agencies to ensure high quality care and continuity of care
• The incumbent will attend multidisciplinary Nephrology team meetings - clinic huddles and other meetings/huddles as assigned to coordinate and discuss all aspects of care including but not limited to the following: palliative/hospice care - respite - diagnoses - impact and potential limitations related to diagnoses - treatment interventions - coordination of appropriate supports for Veterans and their families - etc
• The incumbent will demonstrate specialized knowledge and skill regarding biopsychosocial issues faced by Veterans and their family members at end of life - during the death and dying process - on relevant community resources and in regards to specialized benefits for the population served
• The incumbent will perform additional related duties - as assigned - which fall under their approved privileges (scope of practice)
• As a Social Worker Program Coordinator in Specialty Care - the incumbent will be required to cover other specialty care areas (i.e. - Cardiology - ALS - Oncology - GI/ID - CLC - etc.) and medical areas - as assigned
• The incumbent may be required to cover on-call - weekends and evenings
• The incumbent will independently manage a complex caseload seeking clinical or administrative consultation on rare occasions for the most complex cases - as needed
• The incumbent will demonstrate leadership skills - knowledge and ability to independently implement treatment plans and provide guidance for patients and their families
• The incumbent to address and complete well written responses to White House Hotline reports - Congressionals - PATSR - assigned due outs and other suspenses - as assigned
• The Incumbent will demonstrate knowledge - skills and abilities regarding medical and mental health diagnoses - disabilities and treatment procedures
• The incumbent to ensure CSREs and Safety Plans are completed - as needed and as due for renewal - for all high risk Veterans
• The incumbent to provide crisis intervention - as required - and complete the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) - CSRE - Safety Plan - SBOD and other relevant and required interventions and documentation as needed
• Incumbent is required to maintain current on knowledge - skills and abilities related to Nephrology - dialysis - benefits for Nephrology Care and other knowledge - skills and abilities related to this specialty area of social work
• Incumbent will remain current on changes within community care facilities - VALLHCS contract Community Nursing Homes and other services through VALLHCS contracts
• Other duties as assigned
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8am to 4:30pm Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 000000 Financial Disclosure Report: Not required