The incumbent is the Social Worker assigned to the HUD/VASH Program. Will provide outreach, assessments, referrals and case management services to homeless veterans identified in the community. Services are provided within outpatient clinic, community, home and transitional housing locations. The incumbent has expectations to meet the Veteran in the community to provide services with use of mobile technology, including employee safety devices. This position is for the Allentown Clinic
BASIC REQUIREMENTS. The basic requirements for employment as a VHA social worker are prescribed by statute in 38 U.S.C. § 7402(b)(9), as amended by section 205 of Public Law 106-419, enacted November 1, 2000. To qualify for appointment as a social worker in VHA, all applicants must meet the following: Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g this part). 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. 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/. 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. 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. Entry Level] Assignments. Individuals assigned as GS-9 grade level social workers are considered to be at the entry level and are closely supervised, as they are not yet functioning at the independent practice level conferred by independent licensure or certification. Social workers at the GS-9 entry level are typically assigned to program areas that do not require specialized knowledge or experience. Duties may include but are not limited to: identifying behaviors or symptoms of abuse, neglect or exploitation; providing education on advance directives and advanced care planning; providing social work case management; acting as an advocate with appropriate VA and community service providers/agencies when it serves the best interest of the Veteran and family members/caregiver; assessing the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and their family members identifying the Veteran's strengths, weaknesses, coping skills and psychosocial acuity, in collaboration with the Veteran, family, and interdisciplinary treatment teams; maintaining a current network of internal and external resources to educate the Veteran and/or family members/caregivers and assist with the appropriate referrals. Since social workers at this level are not practicing at an independent level, they should not be assigned to program areas where independent practice is required, such as in a CBOC, unless there is a licensed social worker in the program area who can provide supervision for practice. GS-9 social workers provide psychosocial services in the assigned area under supervision. 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: Knowledge of community resources, how to make appropriate referrals 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.
The HUD/VASH Social Worker is responsible for the providing direct clinical and case management services for enrolled Veterans in the clinic, community and in their home. HUD/VASH Social Worker Assigned Duties: Serves as case manager for identified caseload within HUD/VASH Program within designated community coverage locations, conducting outreach within multiple county catchment areas. Conducts patient intake assessments, referrals, treatment plans, case management notes, consults, and discharge documentation in a timely manner within the medical records standards with Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS) and Homeless Operation Management and Evaluation system (HOMES). Provides phase case management services to reflect housing first model towards self-sufficiency for housing with required in-home service delivery visits. Provides direct assistance as indicated for Public Housing Choice Voucher applications, rental searches, grant applications, and other relevant services. Provides referral management assistance and monitoring for community programs, VA Health Care services, public welfare program. 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. Provides clinical social work assessment, intervention, treatment and follow-up, using a social determinant of health framework. Completes assigned National Call Center for Homeless Veteran Call Center (NCCHV) referrals timely, which includes initial contact within 24 hours, minimal of 3 attempts within 72 hours. Completes all required suicide prevention screen and documentation as directed by policy as outlined by Office of Mental Health Suicide Prevention guidance. Develops understanding of VA Health Care eligibility and related eligibility for VA Homeless Programs Participates with Community Homeless Regional Housing Advisory Boards for Veterans by Name list and service coordination. Assists with navigation between varying levels of care and conducts comprehensive transition planning Knowledge of community resources, how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services, and ability to coordinate services. Knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities and treatment procedures to formulate a treatment plan. Completes Advance Directives, Personal Health Plans, Whole Health and Goals of care evaluations and documentation Skill in organizing work, setting priorities, meeting multiple deadlines, and evaluating assigned program area - Participation in department on-call rotation and Homeless Walk In clinic Schedule Maintain VHA directive, handbook, Joint Commission and appropriate accreditation body standards. Completes all assigned Talent Management System courses on time. Adheres to VA Expected Rules and Behaviors for Professionalism and conduct. Attends all scheduled workgroup, team, and department huddles and staff meetings, or obtains supervisory approval for excused absences. - Maintains all rules as outline for Government Fleet Vehicle standards, including maintain Drivers License Enters leave request proactively and timely in accordance to union agreement. Other duties as assigned Work Schedule: 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, Monday thru Friday Compressed/Flexible: Not Available Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP: Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required