Summary

This position serves as the Homeless Program Manager for several Homeless Programs for the San Francisco VA. The program serves 8 counties and 7 CBOC's (Community Based Outpatient Clinics).

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

• The basic requirements for employment as a VHA social worker are prescribed by statute in 38 U.S.C. § 7402(b)(9) - as amended by section 205 of Public Law 106-419 - enacted November 1 - 2000
• To qualify for appointment as a social worker in VHA - all applicants must meet the following: Citizenship: Be a citizen of the United States
• 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 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 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/ (Licensure Exception does not apply at the GS-11 grade level or above - the candidate must be licensed or certified
• NOTE: Different states have different levels of licensure or certification - making it difficult for VHA staff to determine the independent practice level
• Each state - Puerto Rico - and the District of Columbia completed surveys identifying the level of licensure or certification allowing independent practice
• Copies of the surveys are on file in the VHA Office of Care Management and Social Work Services - and a summary spreadsheet of the levels of licensure or certification is available to social work professional standards board members for purposes of determining whether the social worker's level of licensure or certification meets the VHA qualification standards
• All states except California use a series of licensure exams administered by the ASWB
• Information can be found at https://www.aswb.org/
• The ASWB is the association of boards that regulates social work
• ASWB develops and maintains the social work licensing examination used across the country and is a central resource for information on the legal regulation of social work
• The ASWB offers three examinations
• The master's examination is generally used by states for the independent practice level of licensure or certification - while the advanced generalist and the clinical examinations are used for the advanced practice level of licensure or certification
• Differences between the master's and the 5 advanced exams demonstrate the expectation that advanced practice social workers will have a more sophisticated knowledge of practice theory and its application
• English Language Proficiency
• In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) - no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English
• Grandfathering Provision: 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: Note: If social workers covered under the grandfathering provision of the 1991 Federal law regarding licensure or certification of VHA social workers leave the social work occupational series 0185 - they lose the grandfathering protection
• If they choose to return at a later date to the GS-0185 series - they must be licensed or certified to qualify for employment as a social worker
• In addition to meeting the Basic Requirements - the following criteria must be met to qualify for this series at the GS-14 grade level
• Social Worker (Program Manager) GS-14 (1) Experience and Education
• One year of experience equivalent to the GS- 13 grade level
• Experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment - demonstrating progressively more professional competency
• Individual may have certification or other post-master's degree training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university that includes a defined curriculum/course of study and internship - or equivalent supervised professional experience
• (2) Licensure/Certification
• Individuals assigned as social worker program manager must be licensed or certified at the advanced practice level - and must be able to provide supervision for licensure
• (3) Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all the following KSAs: (a) Skill in large scale program coordination and administration across multiple sites - which includes consultation - negotiation - and monitoring
• (b) Ability to translate management goals and objectives into well-coordinated and controlled work operations
• (c) Ability to analyze organizational and operational problems and to develop and implement solutions that result in sound operation of the program
• (d) Ability to collaborate with internal and external partners to further program goals and enhance patient centered care
• (e) Ability to provide the full range of supervisory duties which would include responsibility for assignment of work to be performed
• performance evaluations
• selection of staff - training - and recommendation of awards - advancements - and when appropriate - disciplinary action
• (f) Ability to oversee the fiscal matters of the functions supervised (including fund controls - contracts - and equipment expenditures) - forecast resource and equipment needs - and administer the allocated budget
• (g) Skill in developing policies - procedures - and/or practice guidelines for the program and in participating in national program development
• (h) Ability to collaborate with internal VHA partners - locally and on a national level - as well as external community partners to further program goals and enhance patient centered care.

Duties

• In this role - the Homeless Homeless Program Manager is responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the CRRC (Community Resource Referral Center) - GPD (Grand Per Diem) - HCHV (HealthCare for Homeless Veterans) - CE (Coordinated Entry Specialists) - H-PACT (Homeless Patient Aligned Care Team) - VJP (Veterans Justice Program) - CES - (Community Employment) and TR Houses Programs - providing programmatic direction and coordination to all staff assigned to these programs - including social workers - clinical support staff - program supports - and associated providers
• The Homeless Program Manager is responsible for developing and overseeing systems for admission and ongoing case management services in these programs
• The program consists of two (2) GS-13 supervisors - thirty-seven (37) GS-9-12 social workers - one (1) peer support specialists - and one (1) program support specialist
• The Homeless Program Manager oversees operations of 87 Health Care for Homeless Veterans CRS beds (5 of which are Medical Respite beds) - 175 GPD beds - 19 LDSH beds - and 11 beds at the TR Houses
• The Homeless Program Manager has administrative and clinical responsibility for the Homeless Programs
• The position is also responsible for clinical program development and is accountable for program effectiveness and modification of service patterns
• Veterans eligible for Homeless Programs come from a wide geographic area
• Their health and mental health and substance use needs may be complex and require a high degree of clinical oversight and creative problem solving
• Services are provided in healthcare settings and in the community
• VA Homeless Programs require continuous coordination with the community's homeless providers and coalitions as well as with other local - state - and federal agencies
• Other duties as assigned
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am-4:30pm or as determined by supervisor
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized