Summary The Hospice and Palliative Care Senior Social Worker is an independent professional specialized social worker assigned to Geriatrics and Extended Care Service at the Stockton VA Clinic. Responsibilities 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 interdisciplinary team and are provided in the outpatient clinic 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. The incumbent's duties include but are not limited to completion of thorough biopsychosocial assessments, providing case-management for patients with ongoing palliative needs, supportive counseling for patients and their families, conducting goals-of-care discussions, acting as liaison with community hospice partners, providing counseling and assistance with Advance Healthcare Directives, and palliative program development. Duties for the position may include but are not limited to: 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. Participation as an active member of the outpatient Palliative Care interdisciplinary treatment team 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 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 outpatient Palliative Care services. Maintenance of effective therapeutic relationships with veterans and their families experiencing a wide range of psychosocial, medical, emotional, behavioral, and environmental issues. Provision of consultation and education to other treatment teams and staff members 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. Facilitating communication between the treatment team, Veteran and family, including advocacy. 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. 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 Care Coordination. Participation in specialty committee meetings and initiatives. Other duties as required. 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 January 16, 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. Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. You may be required to serve a probationary period. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details. 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. 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. Education IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Additional Information Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.