The incumbent in this position functions as the Housing Specialist/Case Manager for the Jacksonville CBOC and the Wilmington HCC Housing and Urban Development I VA Supportive Housing (HUDVASH) programs. The HUD-VASH Program falls within the Healthcare for Homeless Veterans (HCHV) Programs under the Social Work Division and operationally under the Behavioral Health Service Line at the Fayetteville VAMC.
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. 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.] (a) For appointments at the GS-9 grade level, VHA social workers who are not licensed or certified at the time of appointment must become licensed or certified at the independent, master's level within three years of their appointment as a social worker. Most states require two years of post-MSW experience as a prerequisite to taking the licensure/certification exam, and VHA gives social workers one additional year to pass the licensure/certification exam. In states such as California, Washington, and others where the prerequisites for licensure exceed two years, social workers must become licensed at the independent, master's level within one year of meeting the full state prerequisites for licensure. 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. 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 (2) 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. Preferred Experience: 2 years of case management experience and/or 2 years of experience working with the homeless population 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-9 to GS-11. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Services.
VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU VA Careers - Licensed Clinical Social Worker: https://youtube.com/embed/U_xC25QsN0w Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional The incumbent is responsible for providing housing services and case management to Veterans in the HUD-VASH program utilizing the Critical Time Intervention model. Case management is defined as the provision of services by VA clinical staff to homeless Veterans and includes all activities to provide appropriate treatment and maintain Veterans in HUD approved stable housing. - In addition to the above, the incumbent is responsible for acting as a liaison between all parties, including but not limited to the VA, PHA, landlord, and Veteran, to address housing needs. - Educating the community on HUD-VASH. - Identifying and contacting local landlords and realtors to find potential housing units for Veterans to lease. Maintaining a database of landlords and property management companies that accept HCV subsidies. This should be reviewed and updated at least monthly. - Organizing and conducting housing fairs in collaboration with local PHA to increase landlords' awareness and interest in HUD-VASH. HUD-VASH staff may also wish to include SSVF grantees in the development of housing fairs, as appropriate. - Conducting groups on tenancy rights and responsibilities. - Working with team members to obtain needed funds for security and utility deposits and furnishings needed for the unit. This may include working closely with SSVF grantees, Veteran Service Organizations, and other community partners. - Assisting a Veteran with his or her move into housing. This includes, but is not limited to, obtaining necessities and furniture, scheduling furniture move in, and turning on utilities. This may be done through collaboration with Voluntary Services and community providers. - Identifying potential or existing problems in apartments and assisting Veterans in requesting repairs. - Maintaining regular contact with landlords to ensure that concerns are addressed immediately with case management including any potential or actual lease requirements. - Contacting Veterans with upcoming PHA recertification for their unit, educating them on this PHA requirement and assisting them with the process. - Accurate and timely recording of workload for Veteran contacts in accordance with local policy and procedure. - Reviewing agreements between Section 8, landlords, Public Housing Authorities and the VA in establishing appropriate referral sites for HUD-VASH placements. - The incumbent performs site visits of HUD-VASH apartments to ensure that Veterans reside in safe environments in compliance with local housing codes. The incumbent verifies the Veteran's status, eligibility for VA medical care, and eligibility of program participation. The incumbent is responsible for collecting and submitting HUD-VASH Program participant data as outlined by NEPEC evaluation procedures. The incumbent coordinates care to ensure comprehensive service delivery, linking and referring Veterans to the VA Medical Center, VA Regional Offices and/or community agencies. The incumbent complies with criminal conflict of interest laws and Executive Branch Standards of conduct while serving as the HUD-VASH Case Manager Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm 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)