Senior Social Worker

Full Job Description

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.

Program 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.

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: 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).

Graduates of schools of social work that are in candidacy 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 master's degree in social work.

Licensure: Candidate 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.

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: In addition to the basic requirements, applicants 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.

In addition to the experience above, candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: 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.

Ability to incorporate complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice.

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.

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.

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.

Preferred Experience: Experience working with individuals and/or Veterans experiencing homelessness, including familiarity with resources available to Veterans and homeless populations, as well as knowledge of HUD guidelines and housing regulations.

Additionally, knowledge of aging and disabled Veteran populations is preferred. Management experience and prior roles as a clinical supervisor, intern mentor, or instructor are also advantageous.

References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G39 - Social Worker Qualification Standard. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12.

Physical Requirements: Work is sedentary but also demands standing, walking, bending, twisting, and carrying light items. Major Duties:

Responsible for providing case management services for a caseload of Veterans in the HUD-VASH Program, with frequency based on their needs and acuity scale.

Review agreements between Section 8, landlords, Public Housing Authorities, contracted agencies, and the VA to establish appropriate referral sites for HUD-VASH placements.

Perform residential site visits of HUD-VASH housing to ensure Veterans live in safe environments compliant with local housing codes and regulations.

Verify Veterans' status, eligibility for VA medical care, and HUD-VASH program participation.

Conduct comprehensive biopsychosocial assessments, including Social Determinants of Health (SDOH), and integrate findings into a care plan with the interdisciplinary treatment team, Veteran, family, and significant others.

Highlight Veteran's strengths, limitations, supports, and service needs to optimize function and support safe residence in their home.

Coordinate community-based services, including providing information and referrals for VA programs, other government, and community agencies.

Possess knowledge of Veterans' benefits and services, including special programs, unemployability, service-connected compensation, and pensions.

Provide education on VA and community resources, entitlements, Advance Directives/Living Will, and refer Veterans/families to appropriate team members for health education.

Participate in discharge planning with other disciplines and ensure timely and appropriate execution of discharge plans.

Identify and prioritize high-risk patients, providing case management, risk assessments, and safety planning per agency policies.

Assist patients and their significant others with coping and grief related to disability, terminal illness, and death.

Document social work interventions and activities in the patient's electronic health record (EHR) and ensure proper hand-offs during care transitions.

Collect and submit HUD-VASH Program participant data as required by federal directives, SOPs, or agency policies.

Supervise social work students' practice, provide training, and offer clinical supervision for licensure or certification.

Provide consultation to staff regarding Veterans' psychosocial needs and impacts on healthcare and treatment adherence.

Evaluate own practice through peer review, case conferences, and organizational assessments. May participate in a rotation of Social Worker of the Day to ensure clinic coverage for HUD-VASH Veterans.

Attend all relevant staff, team, and committee meetings. Collaborate in performance improvement initiatives, such as peer reviews, and adhere to VA performance measures/metrics.

Complete mandatory training promptly, pursue ongoing professional development, and ensure continuing education aligns with their role. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 07:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.

Contact VHA.ELRSProgramSupport@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 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 Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized