CHA Career Center

This position provides clinical case management & intervention support to Housing and Urban Development-Veterans Affairs Supported Housing (HUD-VASH) Program in a shared, team oriented, recovery-based program. Independently provides clinical psychosocial treatment & ongoing-case management services at an advanced practice level in the Veteran's home to meet biological, psychological, social, and environmental needs in obtaining and maintaining subsidized permanent housing. 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: Traveling throughout the medical center and the community is required, as is performing activities involving sitting, walking, and standing, bending and carrying such items as books, papers, and files. In carrying out responsibilities it may be necessary for the incumbent to travel into the community where they conduct interviews with the Veterans, their families, their support systems, representatives of community health and welfare agencies and law enforcement agencies. The incumbent must possess current driver's license and drive a government vehicle in carrying out professional duties when deemed necessary. ["Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 7:30am to 4:00pm Telework: Available - occasional Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Title/Functional Statement #:000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized for highly qualified candidates Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required The Social Worker must demonstrate the ability to provide intense case management treatment to Veterans whose health care and psychosocial needs are complex and require a high degree of clinical oversight, creative problem solving, and the ability to manage multi-level needs of a clinical caseload of at least 40 to 50 Veterans. Each Veteran assigned to the Social Worker's caseload must be visited regularly in the Veteran's residence according to the assigned acuity level of the Veteran's needs. The primary goal of the HUD-VASH Social Worker is to move Veterans and their families out of chronic homelessness through intensive case management services. The Social Worker must be able to manage a fast pace, high stress environment while maintaining the ability to multi-task and track program deadlines. The Social Worker must also be able to adhere to documentation requirements in several databases, and support other HUD-VASH team members in providing clinical case management services, which improve Veteran's physical health and mental health, and enhance their ability to remain steady housed, and integrated in their communities. Duties of the position include, but are not limited to: Establishes, implements, and maintains referral, screening, and admission procedures for HUD-VASH participants to meet national standards as well as the requirements of the HUD-VASH Program. Responsible to ensure screening criteria and procedures are maintained and adhered to. Maintains a clinical caseload of at least 40 to 50 Veterans, depending on the assigned team. Responsible to provide the appropriate level of clinical case management and supportive services, primarily in the community or in the home, to Veterans based on their acuity needs and wants. Works with the Veteran to obtain clinical stability. At a minimum, weekly face-to-face home visits are required, but even more frequent interactions may be needed. Supports the Veteran in managing their housing responsibilities and their physical, mental health, and substance use disorders. The Social Worker assists the Veteran on addressing those issues that are most likely to lead to housing instability. At least twice a month face-to-face home visits are required, with additional interactions as needed. Ensures that needed treatment, support, and mentoring assistance is provided to the Veteran and continues after placement in housing. Face-to-Face home visits need to occur at least once every month. Once the Veteran demonstrates stability, independence, and improved coping skill use and recovery other interactions, such as phone calls, may be included. Provides case management services to the Veteran in their home, community, or at the medical center. Provides annual contact to the Veteran to ensure they are housed and no longer need to participate in case management. Responsible to provide groups based on need or specific areas of focus, such as understanding the Public Housing Authority (PHA), the housing search process, tenancy rights and responsibilities, developing interpersonal skills, budgeting, substance abuse and maintaining sobriety, mental health process, and/or harm reduction strategies. Evaluates the Veteran's situation, abilities, and capabilities, and arrives at a reasoned conclusion including an assessment of vulnerability and prioritization for admission. Assesses at-risk factors and develops a preliminary plan, involving the Veteran and family or significant others. Organizes community services on behalf of the Veteran in developing and coordinating procedures for use of additional services to support Veterans in obtaining and maintaining their permanent housing. Develops working relationships with other organizations, maintains a current and productive network of referral resources, and may make provision for referral services from other agencies, community resources, and other governmental agencies. Must have a valid driver's license. Other duties as assigned by management."]

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