Summary

The Social Worker (HUD-VASH) position is for the Homeless Service program located in Montrose - NY and is responsible for providing the case management for Veterans in the HUD-VASH program. It 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 Social Worker will be required to travel to various sites within the community.

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:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
• 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/
• Loss of Licensure or Certification
• Once licensed or certified - social workers must maintain a full - valid - and unrestricted independent license or certification to remain qualified for employment
• Loss of licensure or certification will result in removal from the GS-0185 social worker series and may result in termination of employment
• English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f)
• 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)
• Creditable Experience
• The candidate must have knowledge of current professional social work practices
• To be creditable - the experience must have required the use of knowledge - skills - abilities - and other characteristics associated with current professional social work practice
• The experience or education must be post-Masters of Social Work (MSW) degree
• Experience and education satisfying this requirement must be active professional practice - which is paid/non-paid employment as a professional social worker - as defined by the appropriate state licensing board
• Quality of Experience
• Experience is only creditable if it is obtained following graduation with a master's degree in social work and if it includes work as a professional social worker directly related to the position to be filled
• Qualifying experience must also be at a level comparable to social work experience at the next lower level
• Part-Time Experience
• Part-time experience is creditable according to its relationship to the full-time work week
• For example - one week of full-time credit is equivalent to two weeks of part-time work
• Fellowships or Post-Graduate Training
• Fellowship and post-graduate training programs are typically in a specialized area of clinical practice - i.e. - group or family practice
• Training as a fellow or post-graduate may be substituted for creditable experience on a year-for-year basis
• Practicum in a VA Setting
• A VHA practicum experience may not be substituted for experience - as the practicum (field placement) is completed prior to graduation with a master's degree in social work
• Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment - the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates
• Social Worker - GS-9 Experience - Education - and Licensure
• None beyond the basic requirements
• AND Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Ability to work with Veterans and family members from various socioeconomic - cultural - ethnic - educational - and other diversified backgrounds utilizing counseling skills
• 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
• Social Worker - 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
• 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
• AND Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above - candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: 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 - cultural - ethnic - educational and other diversified 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
• Preferred Experience: An applicant with a current State Social Work License at Independent Practice Level and a valid - unrestricted driver's license
• 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: Work is sedentary but also demands standing - walking - bending - twisting - and carrying light items
• The work will require travel to various sites within the community.

Duties

• VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU Scope of Functions - The Case Manager provides case management - clinical treatment - advocacy - and coordination of linkage with appropriate VA and community service providers/agencies as needed by the veteran - on an independent practice level
• This service provision is accomplished in consultation and collaboration with the veteran - the veteran's family members/significant others and members of the mental health interdisciplinary treatment team.The Case Manager also provides education to residents - interns - and other in-training staff on the role of social work and discharge options available in the community
• Assessment- As part of the interdisciplinary treatment team - the Case Manager possesses the knowledge and skills necessary to independently complete a psychosocial assessment as required in the Social Work Service Line documentation policy
• The psychosocial assessment occurs through interviews with the veteran - family members/significant others and/or other service providers whenever possible and with the veteran's permission
• Treatment Planning/Goal Setting - In collaboration with the veteran - veteran's family members/significant others - and other treatment team members - participates in developing an interdisciplinary treatment plan for veterans
• The resulting treatment plan is developed within the time frames designated by the program
• Ongoing re-assessments and updates of the treatment plans are completed as necessary due to the changing needs of the veteran - accomplishments of preliminary goals and/or development of new goals - and improvement of mental health status
• Provision of Clinical Services - The Case Manager provides case management services to veterans utilizing HUD/VASH vouchers
• Individual - group - family supportive counseling and psychosocial education may be provided as required and appropriate
• The Case Manager engages veterans via discussions around their reaction to their current mental health condition and environmental issues relevant to the veteran's treatment - to decrease obstacles - improve optimal adjustment and ability to maintain self-care for successful community integration
• Veterans and their family members/significant others are educated as to treatment options available to them at VA and community
• The Case Manager works to assist veterans in accomplishing their treatment goals and/or assist with any psychosocial crises that may arise
• The Case Manager provides veterans with ongoing counseling and/or case management - as needed during treatment - to addresses their needs
• The Case Manager provides these clinical services on-site or at the veteran 's home in the community or at their job site (with the veteran's permission)
• The Case Manager also transports veterans to interviews at various sites in the community to seek housing and other community-based services
• Documentation -The Case Manager documents the veteran 's progress as well as any services provided via electronic progress notes
• The Case Manager documents veteran contacts in the electronic record using appropriate formats and templates
• This information is entered in a complete - timely - confidential - and professional manner to ensure information on the veteran is shared with other VA staff
• This information is reviewed and updated on a regular basis
• Referral to Service Providers - Throughout the course of treatment - the Case Manager links veterans to services - both within and outside of the VA - based on need and eligibility
• Advocacy- The Case Manager acts as an advocate for veterans within the hospital system - wider VA - and community services whenever necessary
• The Case Manager has the ability to meet the needs of the veteran while supporting the VA mission
• Interdisciplinary Collaboration - The Case Manager participates with other members of the treatment team in attending weekly treatment team meetings - rounds - community meetings - family conferences and other endeavors as needed and appropriate to the role of social work
• The Case Managers participate in - in-service training - case conferences and other organizational activities such as process improvement activities - alternate level of care monitoring and reporting - and other program assessments
• Administrative Responsibilities - The Case Manager attends all administrative and programmatic meetings
• He/she may perform other duties as assigned by the Chief of Social Work Service - CSS Manager and HUDVASH Coordinator when needed and appropriate
• This may include coverage responsibilities in the absence of other staff to ensure that the veterans receive services as required and the program continues to function as needed
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 8:00am - 4:30pm Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 00395-F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized