Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Approval - award amount (up to $200 -000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement. 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
• 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
• (COPY OF TRANSCRIPT WITH CONFERRED DATE REQUIRED) Licensure/Certification
• Senior social workers must be licensed or certified by a state at the advanced practice level which included an advanced generalist or clinical examination - unless they are grandfathered by the state in which they are licensed to practice at the advanced practice level (except for licenses issued in California - which administers its own clinical examination for advanced practice) and they must be able to provide supervision for licensure
• (COPY OF ADVANCE PRACTICE LICENSE REQUIRED FOR GS-12) 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: Senior Social Worker - GS-12 Experience/Education
• The candidate must have at least two years of experience post advanced practice clinical licensure and should be in a specialized area of social work practice of which - one year must be equivalent to the GS-11 grade level
• Senior social workers have experience that demonstrates possession of advanced practice skills and judgment
• Senior social workers are experts in their specialized area of practice
• Senior social workers may have certification or other post-masters training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university that includes a defined curriculum/course of study and internship or equivalent supervised professional experience in a specialty
• Licensure/Certification
• Senior social workers must be licensed or certified by a state at the advanced practice level which included an advanced generalist or clinical examination - unless they are grandfathered by the state in which they are licensed to practice at the advanced practice level (except for licenses issued in California - which administers its own clinical examination for advanced practice) and they must be able to provide supervision for licensure
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSAs)
• In addition to the experience above - candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs (a) Skill in a range of specialized interventions and treatment modalities used in specialty treatment programs or with special patient populations
• This includes individual - group - and/or family counseling or psychotherapy and advanced level psychosocial and/or case management
• (b) Ability to incorporate complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice
• (c) Knowledge in developing and implementing methods for measuring effectiveness of social work practice and services in the specialty area - utilizing outcome evaluations to improve treatment services and to design system changes
• (d) Ability to provide specialized consultation to colleagues and students on the psychosocial treatment of patients in the service delivery area - as well as role modeling effective social work practice skills
• (e) Ability to expand clinical knowledge in the social work profession - and to write policies - procedures - and/or practice guidelines pertaining to the service delivery area
• References: VA Handbook 5005/120 - Part II - Appendix G39 - September 10 - 2019 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12
• Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting and carrying (15-44 lbs.) - pushing - operation of motor vehicle - ability to distinguish basic colors - and hearing (aid may be permitted)
• Environmental factors include outside and inside - working closely with others - and working alone.

Duties

• 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 Provide clinical case management to Veterans and families in the HUD-VASH program
• Perform regular home visits to ensure Veterans reside in environments that foster independence and safety in the community
• Accept referrals for screening and admission to HUD-VASH
• Referrals may be received from the local Continuum of Care (CoC) - local coordinated entry systems - community partners - other VA programs or locations - the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans (NCCHV) - or other sources
• Assess Veterans through comprehensive biopsychosocial assessments and regular reassessments to determine clinical needs and acuity status
• Collaboratively develop a treatment plan (or housing stability plan) with each Veteran served
• Provide a full range of services within the Social Work Scope of Practice based on Veteran needs - acuity level - and preferences for care
• Provide consultation and psychoeducation to Veterans and Veteran families
• Monitor Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) and other formal and informal agreements between property owners - service providers - Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) - and the VA to establish appropriate referral sites for HUD VASH placements
• Collaborate with VA multi-disciplinary teams and community agencies to develop effective and efficient ways of delivering healthcare services to Veterans in HUD-VASH through treatment coordination and communication
• Collect and submit HUD-VASH participant data as outlined by Community Housing and Outreach Services (CHOS) and Homeless Operational Management and Evaluation System (HOMES) policies and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
• Ensure compliance with standards and expectations of Joint Commission - CARF - and other relevant accrediting bodies
• Actively participate in program planning and development - advising the CHOS supervisor of shifting Veteran care needs and identifying the need for SOP or policy changes
• Take responsibility for improving professional competencies by participating training programs and continuing education
• Maintain accurate records of trainings in accordance with VA policies and state licensure requirements
• Participate or lead regular reconciliation of HUD-VASH data between VA and PHA(s) to determine status of all VA Puget Sound Social Work Services awarded HUD-VASH vouchers
• Provide training - education - and consultation to trainees - VA staff - and community partners as a subject matter expert in specialized practice area(s)
• Expected to maintain a valid driver's license and have clearance to drive a government owned vehicle - as well as transport Veterans when clinically indicated - in accordance with VA Policy
• The HUD-VASH Senior Social Worker may also be assigned to do the following: Provide outreach services to engage homeless Veterans
• Serve as the primary VA point of contact for a project-based housing site - a geographical region - or a community agency- with the bulk of work performed in these community-based settings
• Provide oversight of a contract serving homeless Veterans as a Contracting Officer Representative (COR)
• Work Schedule: 8AM - 4:30PM - Monday - Friday Recruitment/Relocation Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Contact VHAEDRPProgramSupport@va.gov - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
• Learn more Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases When setting pay - a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of existing pay - higher or unique qualifications - or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade)
• 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: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 00000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required