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The Homeless Patient-Aligned Care Team (PACT) Social Worker (Case Manager), located at the Comprehensive Homeless Center of the San Francisco VA Health Care System (SFVAHCS)Downtown Clinic, works with the other members of the multidisciplinary HPACT, performing outreach in downtown San Francisco to identify Veterans who are homeless or marginally housed, with the goal of engaging them in primary care. 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/. 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). Grandfathering Provision: The following is the standard grandfathering policy for all title 38 hybrid qualification standards. Please carefully review the qualification standard to determine the specific education and/or licensure/certification/registration requirements that apply to this occupation. 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: 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. 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. 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. 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. NOTE: If social workers covered under the grandfathering provision of the 1991 Federal law regarding licensure or certification of VHA social workers leave the GS-0185 social work series, they lose the grandfathering protection. If they choose to return at a later date to the GS-0185 series, they must be licensed or certified to qualify for employment as a social worker. 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: 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, 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: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. A valid driver's license is required, as the incumbent will be working primarily in the community. ["Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized for highly qualified candidates. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required The Homeless PACT homeless oriented program staffed by a full-time Social Work Coordinator, part-time Physician, Psychiatrist, Registered Nurse, and Licensed Vocational Nurse, in addition to the full-time Social Worker Case manager. All members will participate in outreach targeting chronically homeless Veterans who are on the streets and in shelters and other temporary housing situations, who are eligible for VA care but who have not established ongoing primary care in the VA system. The incumbent provides Veterans with a range of social work services, including assessment and referrals, clinical treatment, short-term case management, advocacy and service coordination, and linkage with VA and community services. The incumbent possesses knowledge of the needs of the homeless population. Has working knowledge and experience in the use of medical, mental health, and substance abuse treatment modalities. Is able to complete a comprehensive psychosocial assessment to identify strengths, needs, social support systems, disabilities, and barriers to accessing housing and available treatment options. Has general knowledge of Veterans' benefits and services related to special programs, service-connected compensation, non-service connected pensions, and benefits that are available on the federal and state levels, and through city/county social services. Drivers license is required. Duties of the position include, but are not limited to: Develop a bio/psycho/social assessment of the Veteran in collaboration with the interdisciplinary treatment team, the Veteran, available family members and significant others. Highlight the Veteran's strengths, limitations, and internal/external supports and service needs in order to optimize the Veteran's functional status. Demonstrates an understanding of the range of treatment and needs for all homeless adult Veterans, including OIF/OEF, geriatric, and gender-specific Veterans related to their physical limitations, psychological needs and age-associated mental health, substance abuse issues and physical conditions. Have an understanding of the problems of homelessness and respect for the diversity of the homeless Veteran population, being sensitive to human growth and development, age-appropriate needs and concerns of the homeless veteran, and must be able to provide independent treatment of this Veteran population. Input and retrieve information for the assessment from the Veteran, collateral sources with appropriate ROI's, and CPRS, and will complete an assessment through and other required reporting data. Completes re-assessments on a quarterly basis and sees the Veteran as often as needed to meet the goals established in the initial intake plan. Subject matter expert on VA and/or community resources. Collaborate with other service providers in assessing the Veteran's needs. Responsible for educating the Veteran on the available services and assisting him/her in establishing the appropriate referrals based on his/her preference and what is available in the community. Will accompany and or assist Veteran with forms and getting to community agencies. Educate and encourage the homeless Veteran to advocate on his/her own behalf, thus fostering a sense of independence and empowerment. Coordinates community planning with the homeless Veteran. This can include arranging meetings with the Veteran and the community supports/providers for needed services. Provides the Veterans with ongoing supportive counseling. The purpose of such counseling is to deal with the psychosocial impact of coping with homelessness and understanding barriers to housing, with an ultimate goal of being housed and gainfully employed, when possible. Participates in leading various interdisciplinary treatment groups at Comprehensive Homeless Center located at the Downtown Clinic, including, but not limited to: Sobriety Support groups, Advance Directive Education groups, Veterans in the House groups, and other groups that promote general healthy welfare for the Veterans. Enter all Veteran contacts in the electronic record using appropriate formats and templates. Participate in various Comprehensive Homeless Center administrative meetings located at the Downtown Clinic, including Continuity of Care meetings, clinical multidisciplinary meetings, social work meetings, and other meetings as needed by specific cohort populations. Establish and maintain positive working relationships with employees, volunteers, consumers and stakeholders within the VA and outside community agencies. Must have and maintain a valid unrestricted driver's license."]

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