Social Worker

Summary The HUD-VASH social worker is assigned to a HUD-VASH team within Community Reintegration Service (CRS) under the Mental Health Division. HUD-VASH social worker will be assigned to the duty station associated with the job posting for which the applicant was selected. The HUD-VASH program utilizes a Housing First evidence-based clinical practice that centers on rapid housing for homeless people with high service needs, and provides case management and supportive services to sustain housing. Responsibilities The HUD-VASH social worker will provide individual, group, and family counseling and social work interventions to assist Veterans with housing and employment stability and community reintegration. Case management resource brokering and documenting work in electronic medical record will be done in office setting. Contact with Veterans will be in person, and over the phone, and this may include video conferencing technology. Incumbent provides services to patients and families who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric, medical, and social problems and utilize individual, group and family counseling skills. Work with complex clients is under close supervision, if MSW is unlicensed. Treatment plans will be developed with the Veteran and with guidance from clinical supervisor. Treatment plans will address Veteran identified problems, Veteran identified strengths, weaknesses and coping skills and measurable goals will include interventions facilitated, monitored, and/or provided by the assigned social worker. Incumbent uses evidence-based treatment modalities that are effective with homeless population and this includes motivational interviewing skills, crisis intervention strategies, housing first, and holistic Whole Health approaches to care. Social Worker will use judgement and skill in utilizing supportive, problem solving, or crisis intervention techniques. Incumbent uses knowledge of medical and mental health diagnosis, disabilities, and treatment procedures. This includes acute, chronic, and traumatic illnesses/injuries; common medications and their effects/side effects; and medical terminology. Incumbent, under close supervision, will apply this general knowledge to Veterans in the homeless program and will seek out consultation for complex cases and have support from multidisciplinary team as needed. Incumbent works with vulnerable Veterans with underlying chronic medical or mental health conditions that will substantially impact Veteran's life expectancy and or ability to function that cannot be effectively cared for due to homelessness. Assigned Veterans may have advanced age and infirmity and diminished cognitive abilities that plate the Veteran at increased risk of victimization physically, mentally and/or through exploitation. Incumbent will provide outreach to Veterans to assist with housing searches and housing retention. Outreach may include street outreach, help with homeless walk-in clinics, help with homeless consults, covering homeless consults, reaching out to hospital discharge planning teams, and taking referrals from community agencies. Incumbent will ensure that HUD-VASH resources are targeted to chronically homeless Veterans with highest vulnerability. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 10/22/2024. . 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: Master's degree in social work (MSW) from a school of social work fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), or other master's in science in social work (MSSW), social service administration (MSSA), social service (MSS), social administration (MSA) or social welfare as accredited by the CSWE. You MUST have earned your degree by the time the job announcement closes. Those without the required master's degree will be disqualified. (If you are a VA intern graduating in the next 2 months, you may be eligible, pending credentialing and graduation with required Master's degree.) Licensure: Must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level.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 up to the GS-9 level. For those hired without a license, they will be required to obtain licensure within three (3) years of appointment. GS-11: Must have a license to independently practice social work and have 1 year post-MSW experience in the field of health care social work, OR possess a doctoral degree in social work that may be substituted for the required 1 year of professional social work experience in a clinical setting Preferred Experience: At least 1 year of community based social work experience providing case management services to homeless individuals and families or experience in mental health setting. Grade Determinations: GS-9 Requirements: This is the entry level for social workers and is used for social workers with less than 1 year of post-MSW experience and for social workers who are not yet licensed or certified at the independent practice level. GS-11 Requirements: This is the full performance level for social workers. GS-11 Social Workers are licensed or certified to independently practice social work. They are assigned to all program areas, including inpatient or outpatient medicine, surgery, mental health, neurology, rehabilitation medicine, and geriatrics. Employees provide professional, independent social work services in the assigned area. 1. Knowledge of community resources, how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services, and ability to coordinate services. 2. Ability to independently assess the psychosocial functioning and needs of patients and their family members and to formulate and implement a treatment plan, identifying the patient's problems, strengths, weaknesses, coping skills and assistance needed, in collaboration with the patient, family and interdisciplinary treatment team. 3. Ability to independently conduct psychosocial assessments and provide psychosocial treatment to a wide variety of individuals from various socio-economic, cultural, ethnic, educational and other diversified backgrounds. This requires knowledge of human development and behavior (physical and psychological) and the differential influences of the environment, society and culture. 4. Knowledge and experience in the use 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. 5. Knowledge of psychosocial treatment and ability to independently implement treatment modalities in working with individuals, families and groups who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric, medical and social problems to achieve treatment goals. This requires independent judgment and skill in utilizing supportive, problem solving or crisis intervention techniques. 6. Ability to independently provide counseling and/or psychotherapy services to individuals, groups and families. Social workers must practice within the bounds of their license or certification. For example, some states may require social workers providing psychotherapy to have a clinical level of licensure. 7. Ability to provide consultation services to other staff about the psychosocial needs of patients and the impact of psychosocial problems on health care and compliance with treatment. Ability to provide orientation and coaching to new social workers and social work graduate students. Ability to serve as a field instructor for social work graduate students who are completing VHA field placements. 8. Ability to independently evaluate his/her own practice through participation in professional peer review case conferences, research studies, or other organized means. 9. Knowledge and skill in the use of computer software applications for drafting documents, data management, and tracking, especially those programs in use by VHA. References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G39 The 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-9 to GS-11. Please Note: If you are not yet independently licensed, you will not be boarded at or promoted to grade 11. Physical Requirements: Light lifting and carrying (under 15 lbs); use of fingers, both hands required; walking & standing (1 hour); both hands required; Operation of motor vehicle; ability for rapid mental & muscular coordination simultaneously; ability to distinguish basic colors; hearing (aid permitted). Environmental factors include exposure to: excessive heat/cold, dust/fumes, working alone & with others, working around moving vehicles, overhead light, ambient noise, smells from being in close proximity with others (including soap, shampoo, perfume, food and/or lingering tobacco smoke from smokers). Education IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on 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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html. Additional Information This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members. If you are unable to apply online view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.