Social Worker (Clinical Assessor) Care Giver Support Program

Summary

Position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.

Duties

• The Social Worker (Clinical Assessor) serves as a key member of the Caregiver Support Program (CSP), supporting Veterans and their caregivers by conducting comprehensive assessments that help determine eligibility for caregiver assistance programs and services. This position plays a critical role in promoting the health, well-being, and independence of Veterans while supporting the caregivers who provide essential daily care. Working independently as a licensed clinical social worker, the incumbent collaborates with interdisciplinary teams, community partners, and VA healthcare providers to evaluate Veterans' functional needs, identify barriers to care, and connect Veterans and caregivers with appropriate resources and services. The Clinical Assessor serves as a subject matter expert on caregiver support, conducts home and community-based assessments, and contributes to program development, education, and quality improvement initiatives that enhance Veteran and caregiver outcomes. Major Duties As a Social Worker (Clinical Assessor), you will: Conduct comprehensive functional assessments and reassessments of Veterans to evaluate the need for personal care services, focusing on activities of daily living (ADLs), supervision requirements, mobility, safety, and overall functional capability. Perform in-home, virtual, and face-to-face assessments with Veterans and caregivers as part of the application and reassessment process for caregiver support programs. Utilize standardized assessment tools and clinical judgment to provide recommendations that support eligibility determinations and care planning. Collaborate with interdisciplinary healthcare teams, including primary care, mental health, rehabilitation, and specialty care providers, to evaluate Veteran needs and coordinate services. Provide consultation, education, and guidance to Veterans, caregivers, families, and staff regarding caregiver resources, community supports, VA programs, and available benefits. Identify psychosocial challenges affecting Veterans and caregivers, including caregiver stress, emotional distress, family dynamics, and barriers to care, and recommend appropriate interventions. Develop and maintain partnerships with community agencies and service organizations to improve access to resources and enhance care coordination. Facilitate referrals to VA and community-based programs and services, including respite care, home-based services, long-term care, mental health programs, telehealth, hospice care, and other support resources. Assist with program monitoring, data collection, reporting, and quality improvement initiatives to evaluate program effectiveness and enhance service delivery. Develop and deliver educational presentations, training programs, support groups, and outreach activities for Veterans, caregivers, staff, and community stakeholders. Serve as a consultant and advocate for caregivers by helping them navigate complex healthcare, community, and government systems. Remain current on caregiver-related legislation, policies, best practices, and evidence-based approaches to support Veterans and caregiver populations. Work Schedule & Travel This position requires regular interaction with Veterans and caregivers in clinical, virtual, home, and community settings. Travel within the service area is required to conduct home visits, complete assessments, and collaborate with community partners and stakeholders. Work Schedule: Tour of duty is Monday through Friday, 8:00 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. Schedule may be changed to meet the needs of the Veterans and the Medical Center. Evenings and weekend coverage may be required. Impact of the Position The Social Worker (Clinical Assessor) directly influences the quality of life of Veterans and their caregivers by ensuring accurate assessment of care needs, improving access to critical support services, strengthening caregiver resilience, and advancing the VA's mission to provide comprehensive, Veteran-centered care. EDR…

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. 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. 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. Current state requirements may be found by going to http://vaww.va.gov/OHRM/T38Hybrid/. 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. At the time of appointment, the supervisor, chief social work or social work executive will provide the unlicensed/uncertified social worker with the written requirements for licensure or certification, including the time by which the license or certification must be obtained and the consequences for not becoming licensed or certified by the deadline. Loss of Licensure or Certification. Once licensed or certified, social workers must maintain a full, valid, and unrestricted independent license or certification to remain qualified for employment. Loss of licensure or certification will result in removal from the GS-0185 social worker series and may result in termination of employment. English Language Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f). 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). Creditable Experience. The candidate must have knowledge of current professional social work practices. To be creditable, the experience must have required the use of knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics associated with current professional social work practice. The experience or education must be post-Masters of Social Work (MSW) degree. Experience and education satisfying this requirement must be active professional practice, which is paid/non-paid employment as a professional social worker, as defined by the appropriate state licensing board. Quality of Experience. Experience is only creditable if it is obtained following graduation with a master's degree in social work and if it includes work as a professional social worker directly related to the position to be filled. Qualifying experience must also be at a level comparable to social work experience at the next lower level. Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. Social Worker, GS-9 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:(a) Ability to work with Veterans and family members from various socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other diversified backgrounds utilizing counseling skills.(b) Ability to assess the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and their family members, and to…

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/.