The incumbent serves as the Eligibility Specialist (Homeless Programs Referral Coordinator) and is located within the Healthcare for Homeless Veterans (HCHV) Program with the Dayton VA Medical Center (VAMC) in Dayton, Ohio. The Eligibility Specialist Referral Coordinator position will assist homeless Veterans with referral coordination services for eligibility of VA healthcare services ensuring access to services for homeless and at-risk 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. Education. Must 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. VHA may waive the licensure or certification requirement for persons who are otherwise qualified, pending completion of state prerequisites for licensure/certification examinations. This exception only applies at the GS-9 grade level. For the GS-11 grade level and above, the candidate must be licensed or certified. At the time of appointment, the supervisor, chief social work or social work executive will provide the unlicensed/uncertified social worker with the written requirements for licensure or certification, including the time by which the license or certification must be obtained and the consequences for not becoming licensed or certified by the deadline. 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, GS-9. Experience, Education, and Licensure: None beyond the basic requirements. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities In addition to the experience above, the candidate 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. Grade Determinations: 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. 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. 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. References: VA Qualification Standards: https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/ The full performance level of this vacancy is 11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of 9 to 11. Physical Requirements: Day-to-day work involves sitting, walking, standing and carrying light objects no more than 15 pounds, such as books, reports and binders. The work requires the use of a keyboard to access a computer and use software. The work typically occurs in a clinic/office environment with adequate lighting and heat. Occasionally the work requires outreach in the community to attend events and provide services. Driving a government vehicle may be required to transport veterans as needed.
Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf Social Work: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Social-Worker-Career-Flyer.pdf The primary goal of the Healthcare for Homeless Veterans Program (HCHV) is to move Veterans and their families out of chronic homelessness. The primary component of the program is VA outreach and supportive case management services, designed to improve Veteran's health and mental health, enhancing their ability to remain stable, housed and integrated in the community. Duties: The incumbent functions as Eligibility Specialist (Homeless Programs Referral Coordinator), as well as a full member of the HCHV Treatment Team. The incumbent participates in cross-training with the Healthcare Eligibility Center (HEC) for direct access to eligibility information for new admissions, to ensure that eligibility information within the Electronic Health Record (EHR) is accurate and current. Incumbent responds to all incoming referrals for the various homeless programs. Incumbent facilitates utilization of resources by assessing eligibility and making referrals to a variety of VA resources and community agencies for assistance with social, emotional, financial and physical problems. Incumbent coordinates placements in emergency and transitional housing (Community Emergency Residential Services (CERS) and Grant & Per Diem (GPD) Programs, therapeutic housing and other placement options including domiciliary and Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Programs (MH RRTP), state soldier's homes and community residential alternatives. Incumbent coordinates interest lists for all Homeless programs, routinely reviewing them for program prioritization according to individual program requirements, and collaborates with Homeless Programs Coordinated Entry Specialist to ensure Veteran eligibility and access to services. The incumbent must be able to drive a government vehicle for a minimum of a four-hour period as 75% of job duties are in the community and stay mentally alert. If the driver realizes they are not mentally alert they must use good judgement in pulling over at the first safe area, road-checking vehicle with walk-around inspection, and continue driving as soon as possible. In addition to any other annual employee health requirements, the Incumbent must pass a VA Physical and adhere to all VA and DOT drug and alcohol testing and guidelines. For additional details, see VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Services. Work Schedule: 8:00am-4:30pm, Monday-Friday EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact , 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 #: 92323-A (GS-09); 92324-A (GS-11)