Summary

This Social Worker is assigned to the HUD-VASH program within the Community Housing and Outreach Services (CHOS) Programs at VA Puget Sound Health Care System located in Puget Sound - Washington with responsibility to provide direct services for Veterans - their families and caregivers.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.

Basic Requirements:

• Citizenship
• Be a citizen of the United States
• (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3 - section A - paragraph 3g this part)
• English Language Proficiency
• Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f)
• 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
• (COPY OF TRANSCRIPT WITH CONFERRED DATE REQUIRED) 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
• (COPY OF ADVANCE PRACTICE LICENSE REQUIRED FOR GS-12) 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 (KSAs)
• 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
• References: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://department.va.gov/employees/va-qualifications-standards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12
• Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting and carrying (15-44 lbs.) - pushing - operation of motor vehicle - ability to distinguish basic colors - and hearing (aid may be permitted)
• Environmental factors include outside and inside - working closely with others - and working alone.

Duties

• Provide clinical case management to Veterans and families in the HUD-VASH program
• Perform regular home visits to ensure Veterans reside in environments that foster independence and safety in the community
• Accept referrals for screening and admission to HUD-VASH
• Referrals may be received from the local Continuum of Care (CoC) - local coordinated entry systems - community partners - other VA programs or locations - the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans (NCCHV) - or other sources
• Assess Veterans through comprehensive biopsychosocial assessments and regular reassessments to determine clinical needs and acuity status
• Collaboratively develop a treatment plan (or housing stability plan) with each Veteran served
• Provide a full range of services within the Social Work Scope of Practice based on Veteran needs - acuity level - and preferences for care
• Provide consultation and psychoeducation to Veterans and Veteran families
• Monitor Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) and other formal and informal agreements between property owners - service providers - Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) - and the VA to establish appropriate referral sites for HUD VASH placements
• Collaborate with VA multi-disciplinary teams and community agencies to develop effective and efficient ways of delivering healthcare services to Veterans in HUD-VASH through treatment coordination and communication
• Collect and submit HUD-VASH participant data as outlined by Community Housing and Outreach Services (CHOS) and Homeless Operational Management and Evaluation System (HOMES) policies and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
• Ensure compliance with standards and expectations of Joint Commission - CARF - and other relevant accrediting bodies
• Actively participate in program planning and development - advising the CHOS supervisor of shifting Veteran care needs and identifying the need for SOP or policy changes
• Take responsibility for improving professional competencies by participating training programs and continuing education
• Maintain accurate records of trainings in accordance with VA policies and state licensure requirements
• Participate or lead regular reconciliation of HUD-VASH data between VA and PHA(s) to determine status of all VA Puget Sound Social Work Services awarded HUD-VASH vouchers
• Provide training - education - and consultation to trainees - VA staff - and community partners as a subject matter expert in specialized practice area(s)
• Expected to maintain a valid driver's license and have clearance to drive a government owned vehicle - as well as transport Veterans when clinically indicated - in accordance with VA Policy
• The HUD-VASH Senior Social Worker may also be assigned to do the following: Provide outreach services to engage homeless Veterans
• Serve as the primary VA point of contact for a project-based housing site - a geographical region - or a community agency- with the bulk of work performed in these community-based settings
• Provide oversight of a contract serving homeless Veterans as a Contracting Officer Representative (COR)
• Social Work: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Social-Worker-Career-Flyer.pdf Work Schedule: 8:00AM - 4:30PM - Monday - Friday (compressed tour may be available) Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases
• When setting pay - a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade)
• Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment - up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth - adoption - or foster care placement of a child
• Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment - full time employees with a total family income below $144 -000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required