Summary

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.

Qualifications

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. To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.

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: 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
• Grade Determinations: GS-12 Senior Social Worker Experience/EducationThe 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
• 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
• References: VA Handbook 5005/120, Part II, Appendix G39, September 10, 2019
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12 Physical Requirements: Moderate Lifting
• moderate carrying
• pushing
• operation of motor vehicle
• ability to distinguish basic colors
• hearing (aid permitted) Environmental Factors: inside and outside
• working closely with others
• working alone

Duties

• FUNCTIONS OR SCOPE OF ASSIGNED DUTIES Clinical case management to Veterans and families in the HUD-VASH program Perform regular home visits to ensure Veterans reside in environments that foster independence and safety in the community Verify Veterans' status, eligibility for VA health care, and eligibility for HUD-VASH program participation Accept referrals for screening and admission to HUD-VASH
• Referrals may be received from the local Continuum of Care, local coordinated entry systems, community partners, other VA programs or locations, the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans, or other sources Assess Veterans through comprehensive biopsychosocial assessments and regular reassessments to determine clinical needs and acuity status Collaboratively develop a treatment plan with each Veteran served
• Monitor progress and review and update regularly throughout the episode of care Provide a full range of services within the Social Work Scope of Practice based on Veteran needs, acuity level, and preferences for care
• Provide consultation and psychoeducation to Veterans and Veteran families on topics including community resources, Advance Directives, VA benefits, budgeting, activities of daily living, and recovery goals Monitor Memorandums of Understanding and other formal and informal agreements between property owners, service providers, Public Housing Authorities, and the VA to establish appropriate referral sites for HUD-VASH placements Collaborate with VA multi-disciplinary teams and community agencies to develop effective and efficient ways of delivering healthcare services to Veterans in HUD-VASH through treatment coordination and communication
• Act as a consultant to other team/staff members and take a lead clinical role in case consultation Fulfill ethical responsibilities to Veterans, colleagues and VA in accordance with NASW Code of Ethics, VHA Code of Ethics, and local ethics policies Document all Veteran care in the electronic health record in accordance with facility policy, VHA Directive 1162.05, and program-specific SOPs Ensure compliance with standards and expectations of Joint Commission, CARF, and other relevant accrediting bodies
• Assist program leadership in accreditation preparation and continuous readiness activities as requested Actively participate in program planning and development, advising the CHOS supervisor of shifting Veteran care needs and identifying the need for SOP or policy changes Participate in VISN 20 and VACO Homeless Program Office conference calls and trainings Provide supervision to students, interns, or unlicensed Social Workers as requested Maintain familiarity and responsibility for all HUD-VASH performance measures
• Assist in development and maintenance of operational plans and strategic goals related to these measures Take responsibility for improving professional competencies by participating training programs and continuing education Complete all mandatory VA trainings in a timely manner Participate or lead regular reconciliation of HUD-VASH data between VA and PHA to determine status of all awarded HUD-VASH vouchers Provide training, education, and consultation to trainees, VA staff, and community partners as a subject matter expert in specialized practice area Work Schedule: Mon-Fri 0800-1630 Recruitment Incentive: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact VHA.ELRSProgramSupport@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
• Learn more Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized 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)