Social Worker Caregiver Support Program

This position is approved for the Education Debt Reduction Program (ERDP) which will pay up to $200000 in qualifying student loans over a term of five years!

You will be expected to drive within the local area for this position when performing the daily duties but there will not be overnight travel required.

This Social Worker - Caregiver Support Program position executes the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers and is assigned to the CSP with responsibility to work closely with Caregiver Support Program Leadership and/or designee to complete program required home visits telephone contact assessments annual evaluations and respond to Caregiver Hotline calls. The incumbent will provide consultation on the administrative and clinical considerations of the CSP as referenced in VHA Directive 1152 (1). The PCAFC provides education and training respite care mental health services beneficiary travel (to attend required caregiver training and for an eligible Veterans medical appointments) a monthly stipend payment and access to health care (if qualified) through the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA) as set forth in VHA Directive 1152 (1). These services are provided to approved family caregivers of qualified Veterans as outlined in the MISSION Act.

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

• Assists in the day-to-day operations of the Caregiver Support Program and ensures compliance and collaboration with local facility and VA Central Office Caregiver Support Program initiatives
• Collaborates with the other members of the CSP team in the provision of comprehensive health care services to Veterans ensuring equity of access service and benefits to this population and ensures the care provided is of the highest quality
• The incumbent develops and facilitates caregiver support groups and educational programs and distributes educational materials provided by VA local state and national caregiver organizations
• Participates in direct caregiver and Veteran contacts to assess caregiver stress/burden and the development/application of directed clinical treatment interventions
• Responsible for conducting regular home visits to Veterans and Caregivers participating in the PCAFC responding to calls from the National Caregiver Support Hotline responding to other phone calls and general inquiries regarding the CSP and assisting with general tasks associated with the program
• Collaborates with interdisciplinary teams throughout the medical center on caregiver issues
• Responsible for creating educational tools developing programs and implementing training focused on specific caregiver needs/issues and providing education and in-service training to VAMC employees Veterans families and caregivers
• Provide ongoing consultation and support to colleagues regarding caregiver support services and issues facing Veterans families and their caregivers
• Other related duties as assigned

• 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.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements ( Effective May 7 2025 drivers licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the Required Documents section of this announcement.
• Valid and unrestricted drivers license.

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

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: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• Language: Applicants must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005 part II chapter 3 section A paragraph 3j.
• Education: You must have a masters 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 masters degree in social work.
• Licensure: You must have a current and active license or are certified by a state to independently practice social work at the masters degree level.

• Specialized Experience:
  • Experience or Education - You must possess one year of post-MSW experience equivalent to the GS-9 grade level in the field of health care or other social work-related settings (VA or non- VA experience). Examples of specialized experience include but are not limited to: Working under close supervision in program areas that do not require specialized knowledge or experience. Identifying behaviors or symptoms of abuse neglect or exploitation; providing education on advance directives and advanced care planning; providing social work case management; acting as an advocate with community service providers/agencies when it serves the best interest of the patient and family members/caregiver; assessing the psychosocial functioning and needs of patients and their family members identifying strengths weaknesses coping skills and psychosocial acuity in collaboration with the patient family and interdisciplinary treatment teams; maintaining a current network of internal and external resources to educate the patient and/or family members/caregivers and assist with the appropriate referrals.
  • OR
  • Possess a doctoral degree in social work from a school of social work
• GS-11 Knowledge Skills and Abilities: In addition to meeting the licensure and experience or education for the GS-11 level you must demonstrate the following Knowledge Skills and Abilities.
  • Knowledge of community resources how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services and ability to coordinate services.
  • Skill in independently conducting psychosocial assessments and treatment interventions to a wide variety of individuals from various socio-economic educational and other backgrounds.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.