The Care Coordination, Advocacy, Treatment, and Connections to Housing (CATCH) Social Worker will be based at Mather, CA in the Sacramento VAMC. The incumbent coordinates clinical and psychosocial services and is accountable for the overall effectiveness of the services provided, modifying services to best meet the Veteran-identified treatment needs and to promote efficient practice under the direction of a Supervisory Social Worker. 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. 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. 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. A social worker who does not yet have a license that allows independent practice must be supervised by a licensed independent practitioner of the same discipline who is a VA staff member and who has access to the electronic health record. English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). 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 (Entry Level) Experience, Education, and Licensure: None beyond the basic requirements. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, candidates 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. Social Worker, GS-11 (Full Performance Level) 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. 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 to 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. References: VA Handbook 5005/120, Part II, Appendix G39, Social Worker Qualification Standard, GS-0185, Veterans Health Administration, dated September 10, 2019. Preferred Experience: Experience in identifying and engaging community resources for patient care Experience in working as a member of interdisciplinary team including medical, mental health, substance use and rehabilitation providers Familiarity with the cognitive, behavioral, and psychosocial challenges of patients with traumatic brain injury and other mental health and medical disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, substance abuse and chronic pain Experience working in collaborative and integrated teams Experience with Trauma-Informed and Whole Health principles: Safety, Trustworthiness and Transparency, Peer Support, Collaboration and Mutuality, Empowerment Voice and Choice, and Cultural, Historical, and Gender Issues. Moving the Body, Surroundings, Personal Development, Food and Drink, Recharge, Family, Friends, and Co-Workers, Spirit and Soul, and Power of the Mind. 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-09 to GS-11. Physical Requirements: This position requires light lifting, use of fingers, walking, standing, ability to distinguish basic colors, ability to distinguish shades of colors, hearing (Aid permitted), and operation of a motor vehicle. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Services. ["Work Schedule: Full Time; Monday - Friday - 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.; Subject to change to meet the needs of the Agency Telework: Telework authorized per Agency policy; this is not a remote or virtual position. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 04621 F, 04620F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be authorized for highly qualified candidates. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Utilizing a Trauma-informed and Whole Health framework, the incumbent will collaborate with homeless outreach teams and community homeless providers across the spectrum on the local, state, and federal levels. The incumbent will work with the Grant and Per Diem Programs (GPD) and Healthcare for Homeless Veterans (HCHV) Outreach Programs. Duties for the position include but are not limited to: Psychosocial assessments are conducted for individuals from various socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other diversified backgrounds. Will develop an assessment of the veteran in collaboration with the interdisciplinary treatment team, the veteran, family members and significant others. Performs a wide range of services to assist Veterans experiencing homelessness access to the CATCH Program. Supports the mission, policies, and procedures of the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), the appropriate Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN), and the Northern California Health Care System (NCHCS), and Sacramento VA Medical Center facility. Uses sound judgment in the interpretation of local, national and VA policy, trends, and patterns around eligibility to the CATCH Program; the application of guidelines; and the recommendation of program enhancements. Under clinical supervision, performs case finding functions and outreach, identifying and screening patients for psychosocial needs. Will work with the Grant and Per Diem Programs (GPD) and Healthcare for Homeless Veterans (HCHV) Outreach Programs."]

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