This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application. 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: 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. English Language Proficiency: Social workers must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j, 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). Senior Social Worker, GS-12 Experience/Education. The candidate must have 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. Senior social workers have experience that demonstrates possession of advanced practice skills and judgment. Senior social workers are experts in their specialized area of practice. Senior social workers may have certification or other post-masters training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university that includes a defined curriculum/course of study and internship or equivalent supervised professional experience in a specialty. Licensure/Certification. Senior social workers 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 they 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: 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. Preferred Experience: Experience working with Homeless Veterans; knowledge about housing and community resources, transporting clients, conducting in home visits. References: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS12. Physical Requirements: Performing activities such as sitting, walking, standing, bending and carrying items such as books, papers and files are required. When carrying out job related duties, it may be necessary for the incumbent to travel to MEDVAMC and/or into the community to meet with Veterans, their families, community partners, internal/external stakeholders and other representatives to complete official job related duties. The incumbent must possess a current driver's license, adhere to all VHA/MEDVAMC directives and training requirements when operating a government vehicle to carry out official duties when deemed necessary. ["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 Health Care for Homeless Veterans (HCHV) Program offers a wide array of special programs and initiatives specifically designed to help homeless veterans live in a self sufficient and independent manner. The program places special emphasis on helping the homeless, chronically mentally ill veteran and is administered under the Mental Health Care Line. The VA Supportive Housing Program consists of two components: HUD-VASH and Shelter Plus Care (SPC) Programs. Both programs serve veterans, including family members, by providing permanent housing and case management services. The HUDVASH Program is a collaborative partnership with the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which provides Housing Choice Section 8 vouchers, and the City of Houston Housing Authority, which issues the vouchers. The Shelter Plus Care Program is funded by HUD grants, and specifically targets veterans who are chronically mentally ill, have been diagnosed with HIV, or have chronic substance dependence disorders. The Shelter Plus Care program is a collaborative with HUD which provides rental subsidies, and Harris County Community Services Department, which issues the subsidies. The VA Supportive Housing Program provides intensive case management, providing a variety of supportive services, for both programs. The incumbent independently provides psychosocial assessment and case management services to eligible veterans and their family members to meet biological, psychological, social, and environmental needs. The health care and psychosocial problems and needs are complex and require clinical oversight, coordination and creative problem-solving. The GS 12 HUDVASH Sr. Social Worker may be assigned specifically to either the HUD-VASH or SPC Programs but must understand both programs and provide coverage as needed due to leave or vacancies. The incumbent will see to it that new staff is trained. The incumbent will assist the Director of HCHV in meeting accreditation requirements and are compliant with regulatory and accountability standards such as those set forth by CARF and JC. Social work as a professional group functions in a decentralized organizational setting utilizing a self-governance model. The Social Work Practice is organized with a single category of membership and all members adhere to the bylaws and rules of this self governance group. As a member of the Social Work Practice the incumbent is accountable and responsible for: Adhering to the Bylaws of the Social Work Practice Attending Practice meetings as required in the Bylaws Providing sufficient clinical care for competency assessment, peer review, and credentialing and privileging processes Serving as mentors, including new employee orientation, if privileged to perform and as assigned Providing LCSW supervision, if privileged to perform and as assigned Willingness to serve on board and/or committees to provide for the self governance of the Practice Participating in data collection and practice standardization activities Providing information to Social Work Professional Practice Council regarding their needs as an individual practice member Work Schedule: 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM; Monday through Friday Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Contact demetrius.roberts@va.gov, 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 existing pay, 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: Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: FS-00475F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized"]

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