Social Worker (Palliative)

Summary

The Palliative Care Social Worker, assigned to the Social Work Service at the South Texas Veterans Health Care System (STVHCS), serves in support of the facility’s Palliative Care Clinics. As an active member of the Geriatrics & Extended Care (GEC) Palliative Care Interdisciplinary Team, the incumbent provides consultation, case management, and evidence-based therapy to address the psychosocial needs of Veterans and caregivers.

Duties

• Duties may include but are not limited to:
• Assists Veterans served in the Palliative care clinics to navigate care, facilitate access and follow-up.
• Additionally, provides coordination of care within the Palliative Care system as well as Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT), inpatient medicine and other services within the health care system.
• Provides clinical social work services to the Palliative outpatient clinics as determined by patient care needs.
• Provides education about resources to Veterans and Caregivers receiving services in the Palliative Care clinics.
• Completes assessments via phone, VA Video Connect (VVC) or face to face.
• Formulates treatment plans including measurable, achievable goals which identify the Veterans' needs, strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and psychosocial acuity.
• Establishes and maintains professional interactions and relationships with stakeholders both within the VA and the Community, with focus on population served in the specialty clinic.
• Utilizes case management and care coordination to assist assigned Veterans.
• Facilitates action for community placements through collaboration with Veterans and their families as well as interdisciplinary treatment team members to ensure that appropriate community placements are completed in a timely manner.
• Serves as a liaison between Veterans and/or their families and VA and community resources in order to ensure thorough delivery of services.
• Identifies family and caregiver stressors through assessment and provides specific interventions to address.
• Provides consultation to other treatment teams and staff members regarding psychosocial needs of Veterans and/or their families and the impact of the identified psychosocial problems on the Veteran's health care planning and compliance with treatment.
• Work Schedule: Monday to Friday 8:00a.m. to 4:30p.m.
• Telework: Ad-hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
• Functional Statement #: 56031-F/56030-F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Requirements

• 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 (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents).
• Effective May 7, 2025, driver's 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.
• Examination: May be required, depending on the needs of the organization
• 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 interest.
• In 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
• 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.

Education

Accreditation Information: The master’s degree must be 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. 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. NOTE: If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application. NOTE: If your school was accredited by CSWE at the time of graduation, but is no longer listed on the CSWE website, you must provide documentation of accreditation with your application packet. 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/.

Required Documents

• To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:
• Resume Special Note for
• Applications: To complete your application, please use the following link https://vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Resume.docx to download the standard Clinical Resume
• This one-page document does not need to be modified and must be uploaded into the two-page restricted 'Resume' document upload field.
• Your full resume/CV may be uploaded without page limitation into the 'Other' document upload field.
• The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position.
• Please ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former
• Federal employees), etc. Cover Letter
• DD-214/ Statement of Service Disability Letter (Schedule A) Disability Letter (VA) License Other (1) Other (2) Other (3) PCS Orders Performance Appraisal Professional Certification Proof of Enrollment Proof of Marriage Status Resume Separation Notice (RIF)
• SF-15 SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action Transcript
• Veterans' Preference: When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible
• Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor
• Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire. You must provide a legible copy of your
• DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.).
• If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable,
• General, etc.), and dates of impending separation.
• Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible
• Veterans) must also submit an
• SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veteran
• Preference" with required proof as stated on the form. Documentation is required to award preference. For more information on
• Veterans' Preference, please visit Feds Hire Vets
• Veterans' Preference. Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees.