Social Worker

Full Job Description

The Clinical Social Worker is a critical position in the Columbia VAMC Housing and Urban Development/VA Supportive Housing (HUD/VASH) Program and is under the supervision of the Supervisory Social Worker for the HUD VASH Program/Program Specialist for the HUD- VASH Program.

The HUD-VASH Program is a collaborative effort, supported through HUD Section 8 rental assistance vouchers and VA's Provision of intensive case management services by acuity level.

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. 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. 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 (This exception only applies at the GS-9 grade level).

VHA may waive the licensure or certification requirement for persons who are otherwise qualified, pending completion of state prerequisites for licensure/certification examinations.

Driver's License: Must posses a valid unrestricted Driver's License 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 (HUD/VASH Case Manager), GS-09 Experience, Education, and Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities.

In addition to the requirements above, candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Ability to work with Veterans and family members from various socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other diversified backgrounds utilizing counseling skills.

(b) 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.

(c) 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.

(d) Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients, staff, and representatives of community agencies.

(e) 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 (HUD/VASH Case Manager), 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.

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: (a) Knowledge of community resources, how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services, and ability to coordinate services.

(b) 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.

(c) 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.

(d) 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.

(e) 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: Homeless experience & case management experience. References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G39, Qualification Standards for Social Workers.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Services. Major Duties:

VA Careers - Social Work: https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU The Columbia VA Health Care System is seeking an independent licensed Senior Social Worker to function as a case manager for the Medical Center's HUD-VASH Program.

The HUD-VASH program is a collaborative effort, supported through HUD Housing Choice Voucher rental assistance vouchers and VA's provision of intensive case management service.

The primary goal of HUD-VASH is to move Veterans and their families out of chronic homelessness.

The primary component of the program is VA case management services, designed to improve Veteran's health and mental health, enhancing their ability to remain stable. housed and community integrated.

Incumbent completes program specific forms including Homeless Operations Management and Evaluation System (HOMES) forms, to ensure maintenance of data regarding serving this population.The incumbent is responsible for serving as one of the primary contacts with Public Housing Agencies (PHAs) in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana providing case management based services (directly or through referral) necessary to ensure that Veteran care is coordinated with the VA medical center, community health or mental health providers, and agencies that serve homeless populations.

The incumbent communicates with HUD-VASH programs in other states to facilitate the portability of vouchers.

Duties and responsibilities include but not limited to:Assignments typically require modifications of standard practices, adaptations or extensions of precedent decisions and development of new approaches, methods, or techniques for specific application.

The work affects the management and operation of effective and efficient projects and activities, including the continuation of approved ongoing research programs, the initiation of new research programs, and/or the termination or disapproved research programs.

Responsible for data collection, administrative record keeping, and monitoring patient or clinical indicators, thresholds, and performance measurements.

Establishes, implements, and maintains referral and screening procedures for potential HUD-VASH Veteran participants that meet national policy as well as the needs of Medical Center's mental health services and residential programs.

Referral, screening, and admission criteria recognizes program eligibility, prioritization of subsets of the homeless Veteran population.

requirements of the PHAs, and other policy, regulation, or law pertaining to program scope of service.

Utilizes a multidisciplinary team approach when participating in screenings and is responsible to ensure criteria and procedures arc maintained.

The incumbent provides primary input for program participant selection based on structured interviews and clinical assessments.

Conducts and participates in outreach activities including field interviews, assessments and referrals for homeless Veterans contacted in the community, shelters, and ''on the streets," as well as those who are referred by VA residential programs, medical centers, or outpatient clinics.

Maintains current and establishes new relationships with other community-based service providers for the homeless, and when appropriate, represents VA at community service provider meetings Evaluates the Veteran's situation, abilities, and capabilities, and arrives at a reasoned conclusion including an assessment of vulnerability and prioritization for admission.

Assesses at-risk factors and develops a preliminary plan, involving the Veteran and family or significant others, and performs an insightful assessment or serious and complicated cases involving psychiatric illness which may also include, catastrophic medical condition, dementia, traumatic brain injuries, and other high risks diagnoses.

Reviews all data, subjective and objective and makes a clinical assessment, identifying needs and strengths.

Based on the psychosocial assessment, the incumbent uses professional judgment and practice skills to make a psychosocial diagnosis as part of an interdisciplinary team under the guidance of the Director, Community Outreach Division.

Provides referrals to VA medical and mental health inpatient and outpatient treatment and to other VA services including VA benefits, as well as community-based social services and other non-VA entitlement programs.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: 56342F/56342F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required