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.

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.

English Language Proficiency: You must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C.

7403(f) Education and/or Experience Combination You must possess 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.

Note: A doctoral degree in Social Work may NOT be substituted for the master's degree in Social Work.

License or Certification: You must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level.

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: 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: Two or more years of mental health experience. 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-12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is a GS-12.

Physical Requirements: The work requires sitting, bending, stooping, and walking consistent with the delivery of services in the office, hospital and community.

The position may entail lifting of no more than 25 pounds on an occasional basis. Whenever possible, carts and dollies will be utilized as an alternative to lifting.

In carrying out responsibilities, operation of a motor vehicle with a valid driver's license is required.

The incumbent must meet the requirements to use a government vehicle in accordance with VHA directive 2008-020.

It may be necessary for the incumbent to travel throughout the Altoona VAMC catchment area to conduct interviews with Veterans, family members, representatives of community health, welfare and law enforcement agencies Major Duties:

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional This position is located within VA Altoona in Mental Health, The Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH), to be referred to as HUD-VASH, Senior Social Worker is an advanced licensed clinical Social Worker who is responsible for assisting the HealthCare for Homeless Veterans (HCHV) Social Work Supervisor in the daily operations of the HUD-VASH program.

The Senior Worker practices at an advanced level by serving the Veterans within the HUD-VASH program with intensive mental and physical health needs.

The HUD-VASH Senior Social Worker will manage cases with more intensive needs by providing advanced clinical case management and supportive services and advocacy and will effectively utilize the principles of Housing First, Critical Time Intervention (CTI), Assertive Community Treatment (ACT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), and low Demand Model of Care and other clinical approaches.

Major duties include, but may not be limited to: Assist with daily operations of the program, which may include writing policies, procedures and/or practice guidelines; data collection and analysis.

Preparing reports and statistics for facility, VISN and national use. Developing and implementing program processes.

Maintain caseload; provide outreach services; verify Veteran status/eligibility for VA health care. Accept the referrals for screening/admission to HUD-VASH.

Complete clinical assessments to ensure appropriateness of placement into program. Conduct comprehensive biopsychosocial assessments.

Lead the HUD-VASH team in clinical decisions for admitting Veterans ensuring use of acuity matrix for identification of case management needs.

Provide services based on acuity level and Veterans needs and preferences for care.

Responsible for assisting the Veteran with housing placement, obtaining HUD-VASH voucher from the PHA and through leasing process. In depth knowledge of the Joint Commission (JTC).

Performs other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: 8:00am-4:30pm, Monday-Friday EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.

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 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 #: 503-05899F/ Senior Social Worker Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized