HUD-VASH 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.
Basic Requirements: Citizenship - You must be a citizen of the United States English Language Proficiency - You must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f) Education- 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. Grandfather Provision. A Social Worker employed in VHA on the effective date of the qualification standard (9/10/2019) who did not meet all the basic requirements in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed, the following provisions apply: Employees may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level or changed to lower grade within the occupation but may not be promoted beyond the journeyman level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. Employees in an occupation that requires a licensure/certification/ registration only at higher grade levels must meet the licensure/ certification/registration requirement before they can be promoted to those higher grade levels. Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. Employees who are converted to title 38 hybrid status under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of re-entry to the occupation. Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation. In addition to meeting the basic requirements as stated above, you must have the following experience to qualify for this GS-12 Senior Social Worker position: Licensure Requirement: You 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 must be able to provide supervision for licensure. Experience Requirement: You must possess 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. Examples of specialized experience include, but are not limited to: assessing and documenting identified behaviors or symptoms of abuse, neglect, exploitation and/or intimate partner violence; use of clinical social work skills; maintaining patient privacy and confidentiality per policies, handbooks or directives; acting as an advocate with appropriate community service providers and agencies when it serves the best interest of the patient and family members/caregiver; independently assessing the psychosocial functioning and needs of patients and their family members, identifying the patient's strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and psychosocial acuity. Applicable experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment. In addition to the experience above, you must demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: 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. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: Position requires walking throughout the clinic and/or Medical Center, standing for extended periods of time, and involves sitting at a computer and in counsel and consultation with Veterans and interdisciplinary teams. Position may require minimal travel into the community to meet with community agencies and partners who aid, help, and provide support to the Caregiver Support Program, its Veterans, and caregivers. This position also requires close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; extensive reading; and repetitive motions of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers.
Major Duties: Facilitates the weekly case conferencing/team meetings and provides case consultation for staff when necessary. Addresses Advance Directives and Organ Donation in accordance with the standards of their work area. Coordinates treatment and communicate with the care lines to facilitate continuity of care for veterans. Maintains data and statistical compilations to comply with JCARHO, CARF, VA and medical center policy and procedures. Documents social work interventions and activities in patient' clinical records utilizing CPRS and ensure appropriate hand off when transferring of patient care. Maintains familiarity and responsibility for all performance measures relating to the HUD-VASH Program. Mentors new social workers in understanding the HUD/VASH Program and the clinical documentation that associated with the program. Responsible for providing case management to veterans in the HUD-VASH Program. The incumbent is responsible for reviewing agreements between Section 8 landlords, Public Housing Authorities and the VA in establishing appropriate referral sites for HUD-VASH placements. Performs site visits of HUD-VASH apartments to ensure that the veterans reside in a safe environment. Compliance with local housing codes is enforced through site visits by the local housing authority prior to approval of site for Section 8 funding. Responsible for collecting and submitting HUD-VASH Program participant data throughout the referral, application and case management period as outlined by NEPEC evaluation procedures. Adheres to strict code of Social Work and VA ethics to avoid conflicts of interest while serving as the HUD-VASH Case Manager. Actively participates in the HUD-VASH Program conference calls and attends trainings offered by HUD-VASH. Conducts psychosocial assessments to determine needs of the veterans and family members. Provides individual, family and group counseling as appropriate. Acts as a consultant to the other team/staff members. Acts as liaison between VA and community resources, to include marketing and public relations duties as needed. Provides a full range of social work services within commonly accepting standards of social work practice which includes case work, individual, family and group counseling, discharge planning, case management and other services as appropriate. Work Schedule: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm Telework: Not Available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 05581F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized