Summary

HUD-VASH is an intensive case management program for chronically homeless veterans aimed at providing psychosocial services to veterans while residing in stable housing through HUD's Section 8 voucher system. The incumbent is a professional social worker and functions as a Case Manager for the Eastern Colorado Health Care System's HUD-VASH Program. The incumbent provides comprehensive social work services to homeless veterans and their families enrolled in the HUD-VASH program.

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 only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
• English Language Proficiency
• Social Workers must be proficient in spoken and written English
• 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 https://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/.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
• GRADE DETERMINATION GS-09 Experience - Education - and Licensure
• None beyond the basic requirements
• In addition - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities:(a) Ability to utilize a Veteran centric approach when providing interventions and counseling for Veterans - their family members - caregivers - and survivors
• 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
• GS-11 Experience and Licensure
• Appointment to the GS-11 grade level requires completion of a minimum of one (1) 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
• 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
• In addition - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities: 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 - educational - and other 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
• 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)
• Preferred Experience: It is preferred that the SUD therapist has 1 (one) year of experience working in a community based setting
• 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: Physical demands of the work are generally minor - as the position requires sitting - standing - and walking
• The emotional demands can be stressful in working with high-risk for suicide veteran population and their families
• A high level of self-awareness is essential
• Work - divided between office and clinical settings - is primarily sedentary
• May require prolonged standing - moderate walking - and manual dexterity
• Requires carrying light items - such as books - files - or laptop computer.

Duties

• VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Duties and skills needed to be successful in this position include - but are not limited to: The incumbent will conduct psychosocial assessments to determine needs of veterans and family members
• The incumbent will conduct visits within the community and to Veteran homes
• The incumbent must be able to drive a government vehicle
• The incumbent will conduct visits within the community and to Veteran homes
• The incumbent must be able to drive a government vehicle
• The incumbent is an active participant in the treatment planning process with other disciplines
• The incumbent will provide appropriate services-based Veterans' needs - acuity level - and preferences for care
• Veterans will be reassessed on a regular basis - no less than quarterly and in accordance with local policy - for changes in their needs - acuity level - and preferences for care
• The incumbent will utilize Housing First and other evidence-based practice models to promote Veteran engagement and self-efficacy
• The incumbent will participate in discharge planning with other disciplines as appropriate and will be responsible for ensuring that discharge plans are executed in a manner that is timely and appropriate
• The incumbent will provide individual - family and group counseling as appropriate
• The incumbent will provide consultation/education to veterans and families on community resources - advance directives and VA benefits
• The incumbent will act as a consultant to other team/staff members
• The incumbent will act as liaison between VA and community resources - to include marketing and public relation duties as needed
• The incumbent will provide case management to veterans and families - as needed - throughout the continuum of care
• The incumbent will provide a full range of social work services within commonly accepted standards of social work practice and with clinical supervision - which includes case work - individual - family and group counseling - discharge planning - case management and other services as appropriate
• The incumbent will address Advance Directives and Organ Donation in accordance with the standards of their work area
• The incumbent will provide wellness/prevention education and facilitate Patient/family support groups as appropriate
• The incumbent will coordinate treatment and communicate with the care lines to facilitate continuity of care for veterans
• The incumbent will participate in committee assignments - as deemed necessary by the service manager
• The incumbent will maintain data and statistical compilations to comply with JC - CARF - VA and medical center policy and procedures
• With clinical supervision - the incumbent will assist patients and their significant others with coping and dealing with the loss and grief experiences in disability - terminal illness and death
• The incumbent will document social work interventions and activities in patient's clinical record utilizing CPRS and ensure appropriate hand off when transferring of patient care
• The incumbent will maintain familiarity and responsibility for all performance measures relating to the HUD-VASH Program
• The incumbent may transport veterans in government vehicles in support of meeting the goals identified in the veteran's recovery plan
• The employee will adhere to the requirements and guidance offered in ECHCS Policy 00-104 - \"Transporting Patients in Government Vehicles.\" The incumbent will adhere to the NASW Code of Ethics
• Performs other related duties as assigned
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am -4:30pm Compressed/Flexible: Available Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Telework: Ad-hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 53163-A - 53164-A Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized