A Social Work Case Managers for the MHVAHS Health Care for Homeless Veterans (HCHV), HUD-VASH Program at the William C. Tallent Outpatient Clinic. The HUD-VASH Program combines the HUD Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) rental assistance for homeless Veterans and their families with case management and clinical services provided by the VA HUD-VASH assists homeless Veterans and their families to afford decent, safe, and sanitary housing through the distribution of housing vouchers. 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). 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. 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: Social Worker, GS-11 (1) 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. NOTE: For appointment licensure or certification at this level please refer to paragraph 3c. OR (2) 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. (3) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of community resources, how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services, and ability to coordinate services. (b) Skill in independently conducting psychosocial assessments and treatment interventions to a wide variety of individuals from various socio-economic, cultural, ethnic, educational and other diversified backgrounds. (c) 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. (d) 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. (e) 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. (4) Assignments. This is the full performance level. Social workers at this level are licensed or certified to independently practice social work. Incumbents are assigned to all program areas, including but not limited to: inpatient or outpatient medicine, surgery, mental health, neurology, rehabilitation medicine, and geriatrics. Employees provide professional, independent social work services in the assigned area. Duties include but are not limited to: assessing and documenting identified behaviors or symptoms of abuse, neglect, exploitation and/or intimate partner violence; use of clinical social work skills and knowledge to maintain Veteran privacy and confidentiality per policies, handbooks or directives; and acts as an advocate with appropriate VA and community service providers and agencies when it serves the best interest of the Veteran and family members/caregiver. References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/120 PART II APPENDIX G39. SOCIAL WORKER QUALIFICATION STANDARD GS-0185. September 10, 2019. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. Physical Requirements: This position is mostly sedentary and requires walking, kneeling, bending, standing, and light lifting. ["VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU VA case management services are designed to improve Veterans' medical and mental health by enhancing their ability to remain stable, housed, and community integrated. Functions include, but are not limited to: Providing outreach services to engage Veterans experiencing homelessness, especially Veterans who are in the following groups: chronically homeless, those with families, women, with disabilities, and those who served in the Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), and the Operation New Dawn (ONO) eras. Verifying the Veteran's status, eligibility for VA care, and clinical need for program participation. Completing assessments of the Veteran in collaboration with the referral source, the Veteran, family members, and significant others. The goal of the assessment is to highlight the Veteran's strengths, needs, abilities, preferences, limitations, and internal/external supports. This facilitates the identification of the services needed to optimize the Veteran's functional status by formulating a diagnoses and laying the foundation for HUD-VASH and referrals to other programs. Understanding of the specialized needs, interventions and treatment modalities used in providing individual and group treatment to patients presenting with a wide variety of psychosocial issues and mental health diagnoses found in the DSM-5. In particular, SMI (including PTSD), dual diagnosis, personality disorders, substance use disorder, and how these issues manifest and contribute to Veteran homelessness. Utilizing assessment tools and assessment methods that best serve the Veteran. Interpreting psychosocial and environmental factors that impact the level of care required to meet the treatment needs of the Veteran. Working closely with referral sources to assure that the appropriate clinical services are offered. Screening and completing an assessment to ensure appropriateness of placement into the HUD-VASH program. Assessing Veterans through comprehensive psychosocial evaluations to determine case management needs and recovery goals. Providing access to appropriate treatment and intensive case management services to potential HUD-VASH Program participants. Maintaining expert knowledge of eligibility requirements for VA/community services and resources. Reviewing the progress notes from providers to accurately determine the strengths and limitations of each Veteran being referred for additional or transitional services. The HUD-VASH Social Work Case Manager works with the referring providers to coordinate the most effective care available. Referring Veterans to appropriate VA and other government/community services. Throughout the course of HUDVASH case management, the HUD-VASH Social Work Case Manager is a subject matter expert on VA and community resources. The Case Manager collaborates with other service providers to assess the Veteran's needs. Making regular home visits to assess Veterans' housing stability, social connection and recovery, and acting as a liaison with other VA and community resources, landlords, and PHA. Regular re-assessment and revision of treatment plans is done as needed. Incumbent independently assesses the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and their family members, identifying the Veteran's strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and psychosocial acuity. The social worker establishes and maintains ongoing education programs for Veterans, community agencies, students, and staff, to facilitate understanding of social work interventions specific to theVeteran/Military population. Effectively communicates with and utilizes other disciplines (e.g., nursing, medicine) to facilitate treatment planning and implementation. With few exceptions, participates effectively in team meetings, treatment planning conferences, etc. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday from 7:45AM to 4:30PM Telework: Not available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 0000/HUD-VASH Social Work Case Manager Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]
Providing Health Care for Veterans: The Veterans Health Administration is America’s largest integrated health care system, providing care at 1,255 health care facilities, including 170 medical centers and 1,074 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics), serving 9 million enrolled Veterans each year.
