Summary

The social worker assigned to the Health Care for Homeless Veteran program (HCHV) provides outreach, case management and supportive housing services for homeless veterans. This position is aligned under the Community Outreach Division within the Mental Health and Behavioral Sciences Service. This position functions as a member of the existing Health Care for Homeless Veterans outreach and case management team.

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Basic Requirements:

• Citizenship
• Be a citizen of the United States
• (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g this part)
• English Language Proficiency
• Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. §
• 7403(f)
• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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)
• Grade Determinations: 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: Ability to work with Veterans and family members from various socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other diversified backgrounds utilizing counseling skills
• Ability to assess the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and their family members, and to formulate and implement a treatment plan, identifying the Veterans problems, strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and assistance needed
• Ability to implement treatment modalities in working with individuals, families, and groups to achieve treatment goals
• This requires judgment and skill in utilizing supportive, problem solving, or crisis intervention techniques
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients, staff, and representatives of community agencies
• Fundamental knowledge 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
• Social Worker, GS-11 Experience and Licensure
• Appointment to the GS-11 grade level requires completion of a minimum of one year of post-MSW experience equivalent to the GS-9 grade level in the field of health care or other social work-related settings, (VA or non-VA experience) and licensure or certification in a state at the independent practice level
• OR Education
• In addition to meeting basic requirements, a doctoral degree in social work from a school of social work may be substituted for the required one year of professional social work experience in a clinical setting
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above, candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Knowledge of community resources, how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services, and ability to coordinate services
• Skill in independently conducting psychosocial assessments and treatment interventions to a wide variety of individuals from various socio-economic, cultural, ethnic, educational and other diversified backgrounds
• Knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities and treatment procedures (i.e
• acute, chronic and traumatic illnesses/injuries, common medications and their effects/side effects, and medical terminology) to formulate a treatment plan
• Skill in independently implementing different treatment modalities in working with individuals, families, and groups who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric, medical, and social problems to achieve treatment goals
• Ability to provide consultation services to new social workers, social work graduate students, and other staff about the psychosocial needs of patients and the impact of psychosocial problems on health care and compliance with treatment
• Preferred Experience: Preference to individuals with experience working with people experiencing homelessness, mental health, and substance use disorders
• Community based experience preferred
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• 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-09 to GS-11
• Physical Requirements: The work requires the ability use a computer and ability to navigate throughout an office building environment
• The work may require engaging Veterans in their environment
• This may include emergency shelters, community agencies, veteran's residences and places not meant for habitation
• Some encounters may be outdoors during all times of the year
• There will be some walking
• standing
• bending
• carrying of light items such as papers, book, small parts
• or driving an automobile, etc
• The incumbent is required to transport veterans using a government assigned vehicle, therefore, would need to pass a driver's physical sufficient to meet the standards outlined in policies.

Duties

• VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf Social Work: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Social-Worker-Career-Flyer.pdf Incumbent conducts assessments to screen for psychosocial, medical and psychiatric needs
• Develops, documents, and implements treatment plans with Veterans to address those needs
• provides outreach and limited case management to Veterans residing in Grant and Per-Diem programs and Contracted Emergency Shelter programs and assistance in providing coverage to other HCHV staff as needed
• The Incumbent establishes and maintains contact with a network of housing and material resources throughout Franklin County and surrounding areas
• Compiles information about affordability, application criteria, accessibility and eligibility criteria and advocates for Veterans to remove barriers to housing
• The incumbent is responsible for data collection, administrative record keeping, and monitoring patient or clinical indicators, acuity, and performance measurements
• The incumbent maintains current and establishes new relationships with other community-based service providers that serve homeless and formerly homeless Veterans, and when appropriate, represents VA at community service provider meetings
• Coordinates community-based services, including information and referral for additional services from other VA programs, other government programs and community agency programs
• Incumbent advocates for Veterans with these agencies as needed to remove barriers to housing
• Incumbent has working knowledge and experience in use of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities and treatment procedures
• This includes acute, chronic and traumatic illness/injuries, common medications and their effects and medical terminology
• Incumbent has a general knowledge of Veterans' benefits and services related to special programs, service connected compensation and non-service connected pension benefits
• Assists Veterans with linkages to organizations that assist with the VA benefits application process
• Incumbent assists the Community Outreach Division Director with ensuring the HCHV program meets CARF, SOARS and Joint Commission requirements
• Is a member of the CARF preparation committee and assists with associated administrative and quality management tasks
• Incumbent may assigned to be a CHALENG point of contact and/or sit on the community planning committee for the Central Ohio Stand Down
• The incumbent documents case activity in accordance with Joint Commission requirements and VHA and facility policies
• The incumbent is able to meet the needs of customers while supporting VA missions
• Consistently communicates and treats customers in a courteous, tactful and respectful manner
• Incumbent is able to provide the customer with consistent information according to established policies and procedures
• Handles conflicts and problems in dealing with the consumer constructively and appropriately
• As a support to the HCHV team, the incumbent may provide outreach and social work case management services to homeless Veterans who are unsheltered or residing in non-VA shelters, programs, Veterans at risk of homelessness as well as Veterans in need of ongoing case management while residing in permanent supportive housing projects The incumbent possesses a working knowledge and skill in the use of word-processing, data management and other computer systems
• The incumbent will also be required to perform most (75%) of their job duties in the community and will be required to utilize a GSA vehicle while performing such duties
• Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8am-4:30pm
• Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year)
• Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience
• Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child
• Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: May be available (Ad-hoc)
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 92756-A/92757-A Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized