This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application. Learn more 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. Grade Determinations: Senior Social Worker, GS-12 Experience/Education. The candidate must have at least two years of experience post advanced practice clinical licensure and should be in a specialized area of social work practice of which, one year must be equivalent to the GS-11 grade level. Senior social workers have experience that demonstrates possession of advanced practice skills and judgment. Senior social workers are experts in their specialized area of practice. Senior social workers may have certification or other post-masters training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university that includes a defined curriculum/course of study and internship or equivalent supervised professional experience in a specialty. Licensure/Certification. Senior social workers must be licensed or certified by a state at the advanced practice level which included an advanced generalist or clinical examination, unless they are grandfathered by the state in which they are licensed to practice at the advanced practice level (except for licenses issued in California, which administers its own clinical examination for advanced practice) and they must be able to provide supervision for licensure. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Skill in a range of specialized interventions and treatment modalities used in specialty treatment programs or with special patient populations. This includes individual, group, and/or family counseling or psychotherapy and advanced level psychosocial and/or case management. (b) Ability to incorporate complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice. (c) Knowledge in developing and implementing methods for measuring effectiveness of social work practice and services in the specialty area, utilizing outcome evaluations to improve treatment services and to design system changes. (d) Ability to provide specialized consultation to colleagues and students on the psychosocial treatment of patients in the service delivery area, as well as role modeling effective social work practice skills. (e) Ability to expand clinical knowledge in the social work profession, and to write policies, procedures, and/or practice guidelines pertaining to the service delivery area. References: VA handbook 5005 Part II Appendix G39 Physical Requirements: This position requires light lifting and light carrying. Hearing (aid permitted) is required. . ["The VA Northern California Healthcare System is currently recruiting for a Senior Social worker for the Hospice and Palliative Care in the Geriatrics and Extended Care Service at the Mather, CA location. The incumbent performs specialized treatment, case management, and collaboration of care with the medical and community providers involved in providing care to Veterans. The incumbent serves on an interdisciplinary team and must use a high level of skill in assessing and treating the complicated psychosocial problems of veterans with complex physical and mental symptoms resulting from serious and life-limiting illnesses. Referrals may originate from a variety of providers and services are provided in the outpatient clinic, inpatient medical/surgical unit, ED or BHICU via telephone or video contact or face-to-face visits. 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 an outpatient or inpatient basis. Participation as an active member of the inpatient and outpatient 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. Development and implementation of a bereavement support program, in conjunction with the Chaplain service, for the families of veterans who die at the Sacramento VA Medical Center. Participation in active case finding for the inpatient and 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 training, 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 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 advance directives and completion of goals of care conversations. Making rapid assessments and developing management plans in periods of crisis for Veterans and their families. Providing education and referrals where appropriate related to the patient's VA, Social Security, disability benefits, and community resources. Referral to and coordination of hospice care services including facilitation of Community Care referrals. 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. Participation in specialty hospital committee meetings and initiatives. Acting as the representative and liaison of Hospice and Palliative Care from the facility to the greater community and acting as an advocate to serve the best interests of the Veteran, family, and caregiver. 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. Coordinating with Program Support Assistant and collaborating with Life Sustaining Treatment Initiative Oversight Body to identify and case manage high risk patients to ensure that Advance Care Planning and Life Sustaining Treatment documentation is complete, updated, and accurate. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM\nTelework: Telework, if approved, would be on a an ADHOC basis, but this is not a remote or virtual position.\nVirtual: This is not a virtual position.\nPosition Title/Functional Statement #:Senior Social Worker-Hospice and Palliative Care/PD000000\nRelocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized\nEDRP Authorized: Contact V21CCOEEDRP@va.gov,, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance\nPermanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required This announcement has been extended for a wider applicant pool. Applicants who have applied and been referred to the hiring manager do not need to reapply."]