Palliative Care Social Worker

Quick Facts

• Role: Palliative Care Social Worker (clinical social work for Veterans)

• Focus: Palliative care assessments, treatment planning, referrals, advocacy, crisis intervention, and education for Veterans and families

• Schedule: 7:30am–4:00pm (compressed/flexible: not available)

Description

Provide specialized clinical social work services to Veterans and families receiving care through the Palliative Care Consult Program. Develop psychosocial assessments, collaborate with the interdisciplinary team to create personalized treatment plans and achievable palliative goals, and arrange referrals to VA and community resources. Serve as a subject matter expert on available resources, advocate for access to needed care, and provide crisis intervention and education.

Responsibilities

• Perform screening and psychosocial assessment with the interdisciplinary team, Veteran, family members, and significant others

• Collaborate on treatment planning and ongoing goal setting based on changes in the patient’s condition/plans

• Arrange referrals to needed VA and/or community services (e.g., home health, assisted living, extended care/nursing homes, agencies on aging, support groups)

• Monitor patterns of palliative care resource availability and identify unmet needs impacting psychosocial functioning; communicate with stakeholders to develop new resources

• Advocate to ensure Veterans receive all needed care and resources within VA and the community; guide Veterans through complex decisions and enrollment/bureaucratic processes

• Assess and intervene in medical or psychiatric crises; participate in crisis management and safety planning

• Provide education on VA/community resources, entitlements, Advance Directives/Living Wills, and/or guardianship when appropriate; refer for health education needs to relevant team members

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship

• English proficiency (written and spoken)

• Master’s degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited program (doctoral degree cannot substitute)

• State licensure/certification to independently practice social work at the master’s level (GS-0185/VHA)

• Subject to background/security investigation

• Complete online onboarding and pre-employment requirements (I-9 documentation)

• Seasonal influenza vaccination program participation required

• Meet VA qualification requirements for GS-9 to GS-11, including specialized experience details on the resume (and grade/format requirements for prior government experience)

• Selective Service Registration required for males born after 12/31/1959

Benefits

• Competitive salary with regular salary increases

• Paid time off: 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year (annual leave, sick leave, and federal holidays)

• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months of employment

• Child care subsidy after 60 days (for eligible full-time employees based on income and eligible children)

• Federal retirement pension (with 5-year vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% employer contributions

• Health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care insurance options

• Federal benefits eligibility depends on position type; telework not eligible; not a virtual position