Summary

The incumbent - an independent practice level social worker - functions as a Health Care for Homeless Veterans (HCHV) Outreach Social Worker for Veteran Health Indiana (VHI) in the continuum of homeless programs. The Outreach Social Worker provides primary outreach and case-management services supporting the functional abilities of Veterans who are experiencing issues of homelessness within the Indianapolis metropolitan area.

Qualifications

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
• 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
• 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/
• 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 at the GS-9 grade level
• For the GS-11 grade level and above - the candidate must be licensed or certified
• At the time of appointment - the supervisor - chief social work or social work executive will provide the unlicensed/uncertified social worker with the written requirements for licensure or certification - including the time by which the license or certification must be obtained and the consequences for not becoming licensed or certified by the deadline
• For appointments at the GS-9 grade level - VHA social workers who are not licensed or certified at the time of appointment must become licensed or certified at the independent - master's level within three years of their appointment as a social worker
• 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: To qualify as a GS-09 level Social Worker: Experience - Education - and Licensure: None beyond the basic requirements Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities: In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Ability to utilize a Veteran centric approach when providing interventions and counseling for Veterans - their family members - caregivers - and survivors
• Ability to assess the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and their family members - and to formulate and implement a treatment plan - identifying the Veterans problems - strengths - weaknesses - coping skills - and assistance needed
• Ability to implement treatment modalities in working with individuals - families - and groups to achieve treatment goals
• This requires judgment and skill in utilizing supportive - problem solving - or crisis intervention techniques
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients - staff - and representatives of community agencies
• Fundamental knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses - disabilities - and treatment procedures
• This includes acute - chronic - and traumatic illnesses/injuries
• common medications and their effects/side effects
• and medical terminology
• To qualify as a GS-11 level Social Worker: Experience and Licensure: Appointment to the GS-11 grade level requires completion of a minimum of one year of post-MSW experience equivalent to the GS-9 grade level in the field of health care or other social work-related settings - (VA or non-VA experience) and licensure or certification in a state at the independent practice level
• OR Education: In addition to meeting basic requirements - a doctoral degree in social work from a school of social work may be substituted for the required one year of professional social work experience in a clinical setting
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities: In addition to the experience above - candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Knowledge of community resources - how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services - and ability to coordinate services
• Skill in independently conducting psychosocial assessments and treatment interventions to a wide variety of individuals from various socio-economic - educational - and other backgrounds
• Knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses - disabilities and treatment procedures (i.e
• acute - chronic and traumatic illnesses/injuries - common medications and their effects/side effects - and medical terminology) to formulate a treatment plan
• Skill in independently implementing different treatment modalities in working with individuals - families - and groups who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric - medical - and social problems to achieve treatment goals
• Ability to provide consultation services to new social workers - social work graduate students - and other staff about the psychosocial needs of patients and the impact of psychosocial problems on health care and compliance with treatment Preferred Experience: LCSW preferred
• Experience working with vulnerable populations Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The 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-09 to GS-11
• Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory - qualification - and performance requirements are met
• Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level
• Physical Requirements: The physical demands of the position involve standard office requirements such as using the telephone - retrieving files - writing reports - data entry and maintenance of computer databases - etc
• Work is typically performed in the community (shelters - day centers - street - hospital other community setting)
• This position requires regular occasional travel
• The position requires periods of walking - standing - sitting and bending.

Duties

• Duties include but are not limited to: Outreach and Consultation - The HCHV Outreach Social Worker engages in regular outreach (community outreach and street outreach) to missions - shelters - day centers - outdoor living locations - halfway houses and community-sponsored events for homeless people to offer homeless Veterans' information about HCHV services - VA medical care (HPACT) - mental health and/or substance abuse treatment options
• With special emphasis on targeting the most vulnerable and literally homeless Veterans who would not otherwise seek assistance - the HCHV Outreach Social Worker promotes the services and resources available through VA and the community that target both the contributing factors to homelessness and the health consequences of homelessness Screening/Assessment - In conjunction with the Veteran - family/social supports - and appropriate collateral contacts - the incumbent screens eligible veterans for HCHV services following VHA Directive 1162.08 and the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act definition of homelessness
• The Outreach Social Worker then completes a psychosocial assessment per HCHV and Medical Center policy
• Care Planning/Goal-Setting - The incumbent utilizes the assessment alongside with the Veteran to develop a mutually agreed upon care plan building on strengths - perceived barriers identified by the veteran and provider to address the primary needs - eg: housing - treatment needs of the Veteran experiencing homelessness
• Supportive Case Management and Counseling - The HCHV Outreach Social Worker will provide case-management services in which the homeless Veteran is agreeable to participate - both through VA and the CES
• Upon HCHV Case-Management admission - the HCHV Outreach Social Worker will provide supportive case-management services as clinically appropriate to the Veteran - alongside and appropriate collaterals
• Crisis Intervention - The incumbent is experienced in making rapid assessments and developing crisis management plans for admission to mental health inpatient programs
• The HCHV Outreach Social Worker has access to multiple resource directories in addition to previously developed resources to meet the demands of a crisis
• In the event of a medical or psychiatric emergency - the Social Worker will follow Psychiatry Service - Social Work Service - and Community Outreach Division crisis procedures
• Resource Usage/Development - With keen awareness of the programs/services and resources available to homeless Veterans through both VA and the community - the HCHV Outreach Social Worker will monitor and collaborate with CES programs and partners on patterns of resource availability
• The HCHV Outreach Social Worker will communicate with appropriate stakeholders (e.g. - Homeless Coordinator - the Social Work Practice Council - supervisory controls - other VA programs - community partners) to encourage the development of new and innovative resources
• Advocacy - The HCHV Outreach Social Worker will advocate for Veterans to ensure that they have access to all needed care and resources within VA and in the community
• Education/Health promotion and prevention - The incumbent provides education related to VA and community resources - entitlements - Advance Directives/Living Will and will refer Veterans/families to the appropriate interdisciplinary team member for identified health education need VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU VA Careers - Licensed Clinical Social Worker: https://youtube.com/embed/U_xC25QsN0w Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Work Schedule: 7:00AM-3:30pm - Monday- Friday 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) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on prior [work experience] or military service experience
• 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) Functional Statement #: 91995-0 (GS-9) and 91996-0 (GS-11)