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The Senior Social Worker practices in the Health Care for Homeless Veterans (HCHV) Program and serves a patient population with highly complex health and mental health problems. The Senior Social Worker serves as a case manager in the VA Supported Housing (VASH) program located at the VA San Diego Healthcare System. The HCHV program is based at a Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC), but social workers provide services to clients primarily in the community. 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. 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: 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: (a) 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. (b) Ability to incorporate complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice. (c) 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. (d) 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. (e) Ability to expand clinical knowledge in the social work profession, and to write policies, References: VA Handbook 5005/120, part II, Appendix G39, Social Worker Qualification Standard GS-0185. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. Physical Requirements: The physical demands of this position involve lifting, walking, standing, use of both eyes, ability to distinguish basic colors and shades, hearing aid (permitted). The environmental factors of this position involve being able to work outside and/or inside, to work with others, and to work alone. ["Major duties include, but are not limited to: Facilitate transition to independent community living by coordinating mental health and community care. Collaborates with members of the HCHV team, the Grant and Per Diem programs, and other professional specialty clinics to provide comprehensive care to HCHV Veterans. Implements and maintains referral and screening procedures for potential VASH Veteran participants that meet national policy as well as the needs of medical center mental health services and residential programs. Primary input for program participant selection based on structured interviews and clinical assessments. Acts as a liaison to the PHA's, community landlords and other community agencies that serve homeless populations. Develops working relationships and agreements with other organizations and directly coordinates with the designated PHA's regarding housing voucher application and award process for each Veteran. Responsible to review the agreements between landlords, PHA's and the VA to establish appropriate referral sites for placement Evaluates the Veteran's situation, medical and psychiatric stability, and abilities and capabilities and arrives at a reasoned conclusion for admission. Interviews the Veteran and their family members or significant others to assess high risk factors and establish facts about the Veteran's situation, presenting problems and their causes, and the impact of such problems on the Veteran's functioning and health. Reviews all data subjective and objective and makes a clinical assessment, identifying needs and strengths. Develops psychosocial treatment plans, actively involving the Veteran and their family or significant others, in coordination with other team members, based on the psychosocial assessments, including goals for clinical treatment. Makes initial and continuing decisions coordinating the Veteran's care through linkage and referral to VA medical facilities or Regional Offices, and other VA and non-VA services and provides independent consultation and makes recommendations to the team on the course of action. Provides case management services including ongoing assessment, education, coaching, counseling, referral and advocacy. Assists Veterans in maintaining appointments at VA medical centers and other community agencies for medical, psychiatric, substance abuse, vocational and other services consistent with the Veteran's goals associated with healthful independent living. Refers Veterans to appropriate VA and other government/community services including local shelters, food banks, employment services, and Veteran's benefits. Initiates and effects changes in methods and interventions to promote efficient practice and improve patient outcomes. Coordinates care including serving as an advocate on behalf of the Veterans to ensure comprehensive service delivery, and linking and referring Veterans to the VA Medical Center, VA Regional Office and /or other community agencies. Engage in coordination with community agencies, organizations, and groups to learn of services or resources available for homeless Veterans as well as provide current information on VA services and benefits available to VASH participants. Provides direct mental health and substance abuse services for Veterans and family members or significant others in support of the Veteran's treatment. Give advice, guidance, emotional support and other assistance and provides individual and group counseling services as well as crisis management services needed to maintain the Veteran safely in their residence. Responsible for documenting patient and family contacts in the Veteran's medical record via CPRS. Participates in program planning, development and evaluation. Responsible for advising the section supervisor of shifting trends with caseloads and identifying the need for and making recommendations on program procedure or policy changes. Collaborate with VA staff and community agencies to strive to develop more effective and efficient ways of delivering healthcare services to homeless Veterans. Provides orientation and on-going training to social workers and interdisciplinary team members. Conduct staff development programs and take responsibility for providing opportunities to help staff update their social work practice skills and acquire new knowledge in contemporary treatment modalities. Provide clinical supervision for unlicensed social workers and for social work associates. Participate and coordinate special homeless events. Work Schedule: 0700-1530\nCompressed/Flexible: Available\nTelework: Partially Available\nVirtual: This is not a virtual position.\nFunctional Statement #: 000000\nRelocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized.\nEDRP Authorized: Contact Roy.Kingston@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance.\nPermanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required."]