Social Worker-HUD VASH Program

Full Job Description

The Housing and Urban Development-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) Social Worker provides direct care to Veterans experiencing homelessness and housing instability in the community, in their homes, and in shelter environments.

The incumbent conducts psychosocial assessments for referrals and treatment planning, provides intensive ongoing clinical case management services, and implements psychosocial treatment modalities with Veterans.

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/.

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: GS-09- Experience, Education, and Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements.

In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Ability to utilize a Veteran centric approach when providing interventions and counseling for Veterans, their family members, caregivers, and survivors.

(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 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.

NOTE: For appointment licensure or certification at this level please refer to paragraph 3c. OR 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.

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, educational, and other 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.

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: 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 Major duties but are not limited to: The incumbent has a basic knowledge of medical and mental diagnoses, disabilities, and treatment procedures to include acute, chronic, and traumatic illnesses/injuries; common medications and their effects/side effects; and basic medical terminology.

Knowledge of human development and behavior (physical and psychological), and the differential influences of the environment, society, and culture.

The incumbent independently assess the psychosocial functioning and needs of individuals and families from various socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other diversified backgrounds and is able to formulate and implement a treatment plan, identifying the patient's problems, strengths, needs, abilities, preferences, weaknesses, coping skills and assistance needed, in collaboration with the patient, family and interdisciplinary treatment team.

Possesses the skills to offer psychosocial interventions and measures outcomes to interventions. Identifying high-risk patients and provides case management services.

Provides crisis intervention services, seeking to address the cause as well as the presenting complaint, coordinates family conferences and serves as liaison to family members..

Has working knowledge and experience in use 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.

The incumbent has a basic knowledge of medical and mental diagnoses, disabilities, and treatment procedures to include acute, chronic, and traumatic illnesses/injuries; common medications and their effects/side effects; and basic medical terminology.

Serve on committees, councils, workgroups, and/or task forces. He/She obtains and/or participates in continuing education.

He/She must possess the ability to organize work, set priorities, meet multiple deadlines and evaluate assigned program area(s).

The incumbent will assume personal responsibility for continuing professional education (per NASW Standards for Continuing Professional Education.

Provides in-service training to Social Work Service staff, to staff from other disciplines, and to students and volunteers as assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday to Friday 08:00am-4:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 20033F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: No Authorized