The incumbent is a social worker and serves in a full-time capacity within the Mental Health Service (MHS) at VA Detroit Healthcare System which includes John D. Dingell VA Medical Center (JDDVAMC) and its affiliated community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs), the Veterans Community Resource & Referral Center (VCRRC), and the VALOR Center. The social worker is a member of the HUD-VASH Program, providing care to Veterans interested in HUD-VASH services and those enrolled in the program. 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-185 series in VHA must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level. 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 up to the full performance level. English Language Proficiency. Social workers must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Regulations. Grade Determinations (GS-9), Entry Level Experience, Education and Licensure. GS-9 is the entry level grade for the GS-185 social work series and is used for social workers with less than one year of post-MSW experience and for social workers who are not yet licensed or certified at the independent practice level. Social workers at the GS-9 level are working toward completion of prerequisites for licensure or certification. Assignments. Individuals assigned as GS-9 social workers are considered to be at the entry level and are closely supervised, as they are not yet functioning at the independent practice level conferred by independent licensure or certification. Social workers at the GS-9 entry level are typically assigned to VHA program areas that do not require specialized knowledge or experience. Since these social workers are not practicing at an independent level, they should not be assigned to program areas where independent practice is required, such as in a CBOC, unless there is a licensed social worker in the program area who can provide supervision for practice. GS-9 social workers provide psychosocial services in the assigned area under supervision. Grade Determinations (GS-11, Full Performance Level Experience, Education and Licensure. Promotion to the GS-11 full performance level requires completion of a minimum of I year of post-MSW degree experience in the field of health care social work (VA or non-VA experience) and licensure or certification in a state at the independent practice level. OR, In addition to meeting basic requirements, a doctoral degree in social work from a school of social work may be substituted for the required 1 year of professional social work experience in a clinical setting. Assignments. This is the full performance level for social workers. GS-11 social workers are licensed or certified to independently practice social work. They are assigned to all program areas, including inpatient or outpatient medicine, surgery, mental health, neurology, rehabilitation medicine, and geriatrics. Employees provide professional, independent social work services in the assigned area. References: VA Handbook, Part II, Appendix G39The 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 9 to GS 11. Preferred Experience: Experience working with individuals who are at risk for homelessness or literally homeless. Experience providing permanent supportive housing. Experience diagnosing and managing mental health and substance use disorders. Physical Requirements: The incumbent reports to their HUD-VASH Team supervisor, who reports to HUD VASH Supervisory SW Program Coordinator, the Director of the Homeless Programs Section, and the Associate Chief of Staff for Mental Health. The incumbent practices independently, using professional judgment and expertise to make decisions about services and treatment provided to veterans and their significant others/family members. Incumbent is given authority to make his/her own work assignments within the program area to which assigned and may also receive assignments from their supervisor. Practices independently gathers relevant information to guide practice, including community Social Work standards ["Clinical Responsibilities (90-100%) Provides case management for a caseload of Veterans in the HUD-VASH program (case management is defined as the provision of services by VA clinical staff to homeless Veterans and includes all activities to provide appropriate treatment and maintain Veterans in HUD approved stable housing) Provides direct linkage from community services to VHA homeless program services through regular and consistent outreach and communication with community providers 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 Offices and/or community agencies Performs site visits of HUD-VASH apartments within the Detroit metropolitan area (Macomb, Oakland, Sanilac, St. Clair, and Wayne counties) to ensure that Veterans reside in safe environments in compliance with local housing codes Performs site visits to Veterans within the Detroit metropolitan area (Macomb, Oakland, Sanilac, St. Clair, and Wayne counties) Actively participates in the HUD-VASH Program conference calls and attends trainings. Verifies Veteran status, eligibility for VA medical care, and eligibility of program participation Conducts psychosocial assessments, identifies psychosocial problems and stressors, and diagnoses psychosocial and psychiatric conditions Completes comprehensive Veteran-centered, recovery-focused treatment plans and updates as appropriate/required Provides crisis intervention services, seeking to address the cause as well as the presenting complaint, coordinates family conferences and serves as liaison to family members, as needed Provides patient, family, and caregiver education, both in individual and group formats Assesses the need for referral for more intensive and/or specialty mental health services Independently identifies high-risk patients and connects with needed resources and services, as needed Consults, collaborates, and coordinates with other staff who provide care to Veteran Completes clinical reminders Reviews agreements between Section 8, landlords, Public Housing Authorities and the VA in establishing appropriate referral sites for HUD-VASH placements Collects and submits HUD-VASH Program participant data as outlined by NEPEC/HOMES evaluation procedures Participates in community and VA collaboration meetings, including, but not limited to By Name List Meetings assigned to each county covered within the catchment Actively participates in program planning and development, advising the supervisor of shifting trends with caseloads and identifying the need for and making recommendations on program procedure or policy changes based upon work experiences Complies with criminal conflict of interest laws and Executive Branch Standards of conduct so as to avoid conflicts of interest while serving as the HUD-VASH Case Manager Follows VHA, VISN, amd local policies for the HUD-VASH Program. This includes following policies and documentation requirements as required for Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities and Joint Commission accreditation Monitors the efficiency, effectiveness, timeliness, quality of services offered within the program area Reviews relevant data, assesses the data, develops, and implement ideas for improvement Serves as social work champion for treatment planning, discharge planning, and psychosocial and psychotherapeutic needs Provides clinical supervision to social work trainees Other duties as assigned Education and Research Responsibilities (0-5%) Involvement in training program didactics for trainees of various disciplines and levels, as assigned Other duties as assigned Other Significant Responsibilities (0-5%) Serves on Medical Center or Healthcare System, VISN, and/or National VA committees or task forces, as assigned by the Supervisor or the Associate Chief of Staff for Mental Health. Represents social work on decision-making committees at the Medical Center or Healthcare System, as assigned by the Supervisor or the Associate Chief of Staff for Mental Health. Represents the Medical Center or Healthcare System at professional/program community group/events and committees. Other duties as assigned Work Schedule: Monday thru Friday 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Compressed/Flexible: May be Available based on service/program needs Telework: May be Available based on service/program needs Functional Statement #: 92171-0 Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]
The Veterans Health Administration is America’s largest integrated health care system, providing care at 1,298 health care facilities, including 171 medical centers and 1,113 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics), serving 9 million enrolled Veterans each year.
