HUD-VASH is an intensive case management program for chronically homeless veterans aimed at providing psychosocial services to veterans while residing in stable housing through HUD's Section 8 voucher system. The incumbent is assigned to Mental Health Service. This position functions as the Housing Specialist for Housing and Urban Development / VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) and provides housing services to all HCHV programs; Grant and Per Diem (GPD), HUDVASH, and Veterans Justice Outreach. 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 Requirement - Per VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, Section A, Paragraph 3j: No person will be appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C., chapter 73 or 74, to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA who is not proficient in written and spoken English. Education - Candidates must 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 - Social workers at the GS-11 level 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. 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. 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: Experience: In additional to meeting the basic requirements as stated above, you must have the following: GS-9 Level: Social Worker - Experience/Education: The candidate must have knowledge of current professional social work practices. 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. Must also be able to demonstrate the following knowledge, skills and abilities: Ability to work with Veterans and family members from various socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other diversified backgrounds utilizing counseling skills. 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. GS-11 Social Worker - Experience/Education: 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 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. Must also be able to demonstrate the following knowledge, skills and abilities: 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, cultural, ethnic, educational and other diversified 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: Case Management, Community Resources, Housing References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/120 PART II APPENDIX G39 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-9 to GS-11. Physical Requirements: All candidates must be physically and mentally able to perform efficiently the essential functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation, without hazard to themselves or others. Candidates must meet the physical requirements outlined in Section II and Section VI of the OPM Operating Manual, Qualification Standards for General Schedule Positions and must possess emotional and mental stability. ["VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU The GS-9 Housing Specialist Social Worker requires clinical supervision and at least one year of clinical Social Work experience prior to functioning at the full performance level. Promotion to the GS-11 full performance level requires completion of a minimum of 1 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 professional social work experience in a clinical setting. The incumbent is responsible for the following duties included but not limited to: Providing outreach services to engage Veterans experiencing homelessness. Completing assessments of the Veteran in collaboration with the referral source, the Veteran, family members, and significant others. 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. Interpreting psychosocial and environmental factors that impact the level of care required to meet the treatment needs of the Veteran. 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. Referring Veterans to appropriate VA and other government/community services. Providing housing search assistance to HUD-VASH participants with rental vouchers. Making rapid assessments and developing crisis management plans to facilitate admission inpatient psychiatric services, residential rehabilitation and medical detoxification services. 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. Providing liaison services with other programs referring Veterans to ensure continuity of care and promote successful transition of Veterans from the HUD-VASH program following discharge/graduation from the program. Participating in policy making, goal setting, and treatment service planning discussions with other members of HCHV and MH programs. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday 7:45am- 4:30pm Telework: Adhoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized 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.
