Job Seekers

This Housing and Urban Development-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH), Project Based Voucher (PBV) Senior Social Worker monitors compliance with the standards outlined in the HUD-VASH Contract and is the primary point of contact for the HUD-VASH Contractors regarding any questions or issues related to the contract. 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. 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: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). Grandfathering Provision: 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). (1) All persons employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education and licensure or certification that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all of the basic requirements in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: (2) Such employees in an occupation that requires a licensure or certification, may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. (3) Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. (4) Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all of the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation. (5) If an employee who was retained in an occupation listed in 38 U.S.C. § 7401(3) under this provision leaves that occupation, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation. Grade Determinations: Senior Social Worker GS-0185-12: Experience: 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. 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, procedures, and/or practice guidelines pertaining to the service delivery area. 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. Preferred Experience: Experience working with Veteran population and/or populations experiencing homelessness. References: VA Handbook 5005/120, Part II, Appendix G39 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-12. Physical Requirements: Traveling throughout the medical center and the community is required, as is performing activities involving sitting, walking, and standing, bending and carrying such items as books, papers, and files. In carrying out responsibilities it will be necessary for the incumbent to travel into the community where he/she conducts interviews with the veterans, their families representatives of community health and welfare agencies and law enforcement agencies ["Reviews contract agency quality assurance/quality management procedures. To ensure quality of care, social worker will review 100% of veteran's charts via case conference or chart review monthly. Reviews all resumes of contract staff prior to hiring. Verifies accuracy of the staffing spreadsheet/contractor roster monthly. It is also the responsibility of the social worker to provide orientation and education to the contractors of CERS and HUD-VASH SOP guidelines and monitor implementation of SOPs thereafter. Obtains Contracting Officer Representative (COR) I and II certification and serve as the COR (government's technical expert) for a contract, functioning under a delegation from the contracting officer. Reads the contract in its entirety, including all references and attachments, upon hire and upon award, renewal, or modification of the contract and understand how to monitor contractor performance as outlined in the Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan QASP. Coordinates and participates in program site inspections utilizing regulations outlined in the contract as guidance. Annotates inspection deficiencies and establish methods to implement and monitor corrective action and develop timelines for consequences as a result of inaction or insufficient actions related to deficiencies. Coordinates and provides information and referrals to VA programs to assist contractors in their provision of case management services. Monitors case management services provided to a special patient population that demonstrates highly complex psychosocial, health or mental health problems. Establishes and maintains effective therapeutic relationships with Veterans and their families when appropriate. Works independently with patients and families who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric, medical and social problems, utilizing individual, group and family counseling and therapy skills. Provides consultation services to other VA staff regarding the psychosocial needs of homeless Veterans and the impact of psychosocial problems on health care and adherence to treatment plans. Participates as a team member of the CERS HUD-VASH Department and will adhere to all applicable CERS and HUD-VASH SOPs. Tracks census of veterans within the program and ensure that Veteran data is captured in HOMES. Completes and submit reports to VA Contracting Office within designated timeframes determined by the Contract Coordinator and contracting officer. Uses word processing software to execute several office-automation functions such as storing and retrieving electronic documents and files; activating printers; inserting and deleting text, formatting letters, reports, and memoranda; and transmitting and receiving e-mail. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.\nTelework: May be available with Program Manager's approval\nFunctional Statement #: 90026A\nRelocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized\nPermanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required"]