The Veterans Justice Outreach Case Manager provides coordination of care and outreach in multiple forms to justice-involved Veterans. This position requires a minimum of 1 year of post-MSW degree experience in the field of health care social work (VA or non-VA experience) and licensure or certification in a state at the advanced practice level. Provides outreach to justice-involved Veterans in correctional facilities, including county and city jails and local criminal justice courts. Basic Requirements: Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States. 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 (MSW) 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. Please note: A doctoral degree in social work may not be substituted for the master's degree in social work. Licensure. Licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level. English Language Proficiency. Social workers must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Regulations. 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). Must pass a background check. Grade Requirements: GS-12 Social Worker (Program Coordinator) Assignments. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty), and variety and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. Program coordinators at the GS12 grade level are administratively responsible for a clinical program providing treatment to Veterans in a major specialty area, such as but not limited to: Spinal Cord Injury, Homeless Continuum Veteran Program, Hospice and Palliative Care Program, Suicide Prevention Program, Veterans Justice Outreach, Caregiver Support Program and Community Nursing Home Program. The program coordinator may be the sole practitioner in this specialty at the facility and typically provide direct patient care services in the program area. The program coordinator oversees the daily operation of the program, develop policies and procedures for program operation, and prepare reports and statistics for facility, VISN, and national use. They may be responsible for the program's budget, developing and monitoring staff compliance with practice, standards and guidelines on documentation, workload, data entry, ethical practice and service delivery. The program coordinator provides analysis and evaluation of clinical program data and computerized programs to identify system-wide trends and needs to enhance the quality of service. They may be responsible for, or contribute to, the program's resource and fiscal management, monitoring control points developing the annual budget, operating within that budget, and accounting for appropriated funds. The program coordinator is administratively responsible for the clinical programming and prepares reports and statistics for facility, VISN, and national use. They provide leadership, direction, orientation, coaching, in-service training, staff development, and continuing education programs for assigned staff. They initiate and conduct a variety of program or service audits and complete designated clinical practice audits and reports, including productivity assessments. They oversee program operations and evaluations, identifying areas for improvement, gathering relevant data, assessing the data, developing and implementing ideas for improvement and evaluating efficacy of improvement efforts.] Experience/ Education. One year of experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level. Experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment, demonstrating progressively more professional competency. Candidate may have certification or other post-master's degree training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university that includes a defined curriculum/course of study and internship, or equivalent supervised professional experience. License. Individuals assigned as social worker program coordinator must be licensed or certified at the advanced practice level, and must be able to provide supervision for licensure. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: 1. Knowledge of program coordination and administration which includes consultation, negotiation, and monitoring. 2. Knowledge and ability to write policies, procedures, and/or practice guidelines for the program. 3. Ability to supervise multidisciplinary staff assigned to the program. 4. Skill in organizing work, setting priorities, meeting multiple deadlines, and evaluating assigned program area(s). 5. Ability to provide training, orientation, and guidance within clinical practice. References: VA Handbook 5005/120, Part II, Appendix G39, Social Worker Qualification Standard. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is a GS-12. Physical Requirements: Physical demands of the work are generally minor. The work is primarily sedentary. There is some walking, standing, bending, and carrying of light items such as papers, files, manuals and records. For additional information on Physical Standards please see VA Directive and Handbook 5019. http://www.va.gov/vapubs/ ["Functions of Position: Agency/Community Outreach Responsibilities - Initiates contact with city and county jail administrators of all correctional institutions in the Carl Vinson VA Medical Center catchment area to present outreach program goals and establish a working relationship with each institution. - Establishes informal or formal agreements and partnerships with city and county corrections regarding identification of, and access to, veterans, and access to use of appropriate assessment information for reentry planning. - Meets with city and county jail administrators and staff on a regular basis to maintain appropriate policies and procedures required at each institution. Attends correctional institution staff trainings relevant to working with offenders and high-risk populations. - Establishes a point of contact at each facility who will arrange for scheduled visitations with veterans. - Collaborates with county probation officers, state attorney's office public defenders and hired attorneys to develop a post-release plan and/or community-based alternatives to incarceration. - Establishes point of contact in enrollment department at each medical center/clinic in the Carl Vinson VA Medical Center catchment area to expedite enrollment process and access to medical care. - Provides information on VA services to city and county correctional institutions. - Attends VA and Non-VA trainings, meetings, and conferences relevant to the population served in order to enhance coordination of care for veterans. - Participate in state and community (including HUD Continuums of Care homelessness prevention efforts) and VA CHALENG and Stand Down Court initiatives. - Educates VA staff as needed regarding first intercept point issues and activities. - Captures all caseload activity as required by specific Mental Health and Homeless Center Programs, including medical charting and completion of evaluation through appropriate VA NEPEC administrative forms. Veteran Outreach Services - Establishes respectful, effective relationships with veterans, and with the clinical, custodial, and administrative staff from a range of institutions and agencies involved in the first intercept point. - Identifies and interviews incarcerated veterans at each institution to conduct pre-release needs assessment and determine appropriate post-release referrals, linkage and coordination for VA and non-VA services to enhance the transition from jail to the community. - Provides incarcerated veterans information on VA services and community resources. Coordinates veteran care with all VA programs as well as non-VA community programs and resources. - Completes and documents assessment of psychosocial factors (history/current/anticipated), including: veteran and VA status; physical, mental health, substance abuse, and disability status; financial (including child support and other debts) and employment status; housing status; family and marital status; and legal status. - Uses appropriate channels to request and make use of mental health, substance abuse, medical, medication, housing, employment, and other pertinent information from the correctional institution and probation officers including behavioral safety risk information in completing reentry assessment and planning activity. - Contacts appropriate community, other governmental (e.g. U.S. Department of Labor) and VA (VHA, VBA, Vet Center, and NCA) services to determine if veteran meets program requirements, arranges program admission/placement at release, and initially accompanies veteran to service provider if needed. - Documents current medications and arranges prompt medications evaluation and transition with receiving medical or psychiatric care. - Promotes continuity of care by coordinating a) the initial transportation of released veterans to the referral Medical Center; b) initial entry into VA enrollment, vesting, and services; and, c) continuity of medications as appropriate. - Coordinates overall care of the veteran during the transition into VA services in conjunction with other involved case managers. Serves as an advocate on behalf of veterans to ensure comprehensive service delivery, and links and refers veterans to the VA Medical Center, VA Regional Offices, and/or community agencies. - Follows up with medical, psychiatric, social, and economic status for each veteran. - Assists the veteran in contact with attorneys, judges, correctional probation officer, problem solving with veteran and probation, and provide education to the judicial system on VA programs and services. - Identifies and intervenes in crises experienced by the veteran during the community stabilization period. Performs other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 58357F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorize"]
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,321 health care facilities, including 172 VA Medical Centers and 1,138 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics) to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. VHA Medical Centers provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy. In addition, most of our medical centers offer additional medical and surgical specialty services including audiology & speech pathology, dermatology, dental, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, podiatry, prosthetics, urology, and vision care. Some medical centers also offer advanced services such as organ transplants and plastic surgery.
