Social Worker Patient Alligned Care Team (PACT)

Duties included but are not limited to:

• Screening/Assessment- In conjunction with the interdisciplinary medical and psychiatric staff the PACT Social Worker screens and assesses the Veterans psychosocial needs and barriers in order to facilitate his or her access to appropriate VA and community resources. At times the PACT Social Worker will screen or assess a Veteran who presents as a walk-in without association to a clinic visit. Through collaborative relationships with the Veteran his or her family/caregiver and other VA programs and VA staff the PACT Social Worker coordinates the gathering of information vital to the process of setting appropriate treatment goals and time frames for achieving those goals.
• Treatment Planning /Goal Setting- From screening/assessment information the PACT Social Worker determines realistic goals with the Veteran including such factors as a) the appropriate type of intervention and/or level of care b) the setting conducive to providing such intervention or c) the need for caregiver support to allow for the least restrictive level of d) transportation options/barriers and e) the steps to obtaining resources (VA or community) that make the achievement of goals possible.
• Referral to service providers- To facilitate the continuity of a Veterans recovery the PACT Social Worker will arrange referrals to needed VA and/or community resources (e.g. home health care assisted living facilities extended care facilities/nursing homes services available through area agencies on aging community support groups hospice community-based extended care). The PACT Social Worker will collaborate with other service providers in re-assessing the Veterans needs during the eligibility determination process coordinating access to information needed for the referral. Additionally the PACT Social Worker will educate the Veteran and/or caregiver about the available services and their shared responsibility in accessing such services. The Veterans preferences or that of his or her surrogate decision-maker will be considered throughout the referral and care coordination process.
• Resource Usage/Development- As a subject matter expert on the services and resources available to Veterans through both VA and the community the PACT Social Worker will monitor patterns of resource availability identifying unmet needs and the resultant impact on the Veterans psychosocial functioning. The PACT Social Worker will communicate with appropriate stakeholders (e.g. the Social Work Executive/Chief the Social Work Professional Practice Council other VA programs community partners) to encourage the development of new and innovative resources.
• Advocacy- The PACT Social Worker will advocate for Veterans to ensure that they have access to all needed and resources within VA and in the community. By availing the Veteran of his or her choices in complex decisions and by guiding the Veteran through complicated enrollment procedures and bureaucratic processes the PACT Social Worker facilitates the best possible outcome for the Veteran. When appropriate and feasible the PACT Social Worker will educate and encourage the Veteran and his or her family/caregiver to advocate on his/her own behalf fostering independence and empowerment.
• Crisis Intervention- The PACT Social Worker will assess and intervene in any medical or psychiatric crises presented by the Veteran and participate in developing crisis management and safety plans to minimize the event of future crises.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday- 8:00 am- 4:30 pm
Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized
Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases
Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave 13 days of sick leave 11 paid Federal holidays per year)
Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work experience or military service experience.
Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth adoption or foster care placement of a child.
Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment full time employees with a total family income below $144000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66.
Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA
Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: A91770 A91771
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

• 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.
• Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation/examination.
• 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.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public determining if your employment advances the public interest we may consider:

• 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.

Upon completion of your trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification in writing that your continued employment advances the public interest.

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.
• English Language Proficiency: You must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f)
• Education: 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. Note: A doctoral degree in social work may not be substituted for the masters 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 masters degree level. Indiana requires Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
• 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 GS-9 grade level. For the GS-11 grade level and above the candidate must be licensed or certified. GS-9 Social Worker must obtain independent practice licensure within three years of initial appointment.

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).

Grandfathering Provision. The following is the standard grandfathering policy for all title 38 hybrid qualification standards. Please carefully review the qualification standard to determine the specific education and/or licensure/certification/registration requirements that apply to this occupation.

(1) All persons employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title series and grade held including positive education and licensure or certification that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all of the basic requirements in this standard but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it the following provisions apply:
(2) Such employees in an occupation that requires a licensure or certification may be reassigned promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level or changed to lower grade within the occupation but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions.
(3) Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard.
(4) Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all of the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation. (5) If an employee who was retained in an occupation listed in 38 U.S.C. 7401(3) under this provision leaves that occupation the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation.

Grade Determinations:

Social Worker GS

Experience Education and Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements.

Demonstrated Knowledge Skills and Abilities: In addition to the experience above the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

• Ability to utilize a Veteran centric approach when providing interventions and counseling for Veterans their family members caregivers and survivors.
• Ability to assess the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and their family members and to formulate and implement a treatment plan identifying the Veterans problems strengths weaknesses coping skills and assistance needed.
• Ability to implement treatment modalities in working with individuals families and groups to achieve treatment goals. This requires judgment and skill in utilizing supportive problem solving or crisis intervention techniques.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients staff and representatives of community agencies.
• Fundamental knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses disabilities and treatment procedures. This includes acute chronic and traumatic illnesses/injuries; common medications and their effects/side effects; and medical terminology.

Social Worker GS

Experience and Licensure. Appointment to the GS-11 grade level requires completion of a minimum of 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) and licensure or certification in a state at the independent practice level. NOTE: 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.

Demonstrated Knowledge Skills and Abilities: In addition to the experience above candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

• 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.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard please visit full performance level of this vacancy is GS -11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-09 to GS-11.

Physical Requirements: The physical demands of the position involve standard office requirements such as using the telephone retrieving files writing reports data entry and maintenance of computer databases etc. Work is typically performed sitting at a desk and using a computer. This position may require occasional travel. The position requires periods of walking standing sitting and bending.