Summary

The Senior Social Worker - HUD-VASH Coordinator provides case management services within the Housing and Urban Development - VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) Program. HUD-VASH is an intensive case management program for chronically homeless and highly vulnerable Veterans - combining permanent housing support through HUD Section 8 vouchers with ongoing psychosocial and clinical services delivered by the Dayton VA.

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
• 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
• 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
• English Language Proficiency: Social workers must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005 - Part II - chapter 3 - section A - paragraph 3j - this part
• 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: 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: (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
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.
• Physical Requirements: The incumbent must be a mature - flexible - sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations and able to shift priorities based on patient needs
• The incumbent must complete annual Employee Health requirements - such as annual physical/TB screening or testing as a condition of employment
• The incumbent may be exposed to isolation situations or home settings that may require donning of protective clothing due to factors such as bedbugs - infected patients - and contaminated materials
• The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to experiencing delirium - dementia - or psychiatric disorders
• The Incumbent may also be exposed to patients who may be experiencing psychosis or suicidal ideation and who may require evaluation for inpatient treatment
• The incumbent must be able to drive for a minimum of a four-hour period and stay mentally alert
• If the driver realizes they are not mentally alert they must use good judgement in pulling over at the first safe area - road-checking vehicle with walk-around inspection - and continue driving as soon as possible
• In addition to any other annual employee health requirements - the Incumbent must pass a VA Physical and adhere to all VA and DOT drug and alcohol testing and guidelines.

Duties

• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Duties: Serves as a case manager for the HUD-VASH Program
• Assesses Veteran situations - including medical/mental conditions and vulnerabilities
• Conducts comprehensive psychosocial assessments involving Veterans and their families
• Makes clinical assessments identifying strengths - needs - and psychosocial diagnoses
• Supports high-risk Veterans with complex psychosocial challenges Develops individualized psychosocial treatment plans involving Veterans and families
• Coordinates care and referrals using internal and external resources
• Adapts plans based on evolving needs and response to treatment
• Works with diverse populations - addressing conflicting values and barriers to care
• Provides direct mental health and substance abuse services to Veterans and their families or significant others
• Offers individual - group - and crisis counseling to support Veteran stability and treatment adherence
• Gives advice - emotional support - and practical guidance to assist Veterans in resolving problems and making life decisions
• Maintains treatment plans based on ongoing clinical assessment - reviewed quarterly and updated as needed
• Conducts regular home visits to assess the Veteran's living environment and deliver continuing clinical services
• Demonstrates acceptance and encouragement while maintaining therapeutic relationships that involve the Veteran in their own care
• Responds to complex consults from interdisciplinary team members - applying advanced clinical skills and expertise
• Assists Veterans with housing searches - including identifying suitable units and navigating the housing application process
• This position requires operation of a government-owned or leased motor vehicle (GSA Vehicle) to properly carry out assigned duties
• This position requires operation of a government-owned or leased motor vehicle (GSA Vehicle) to properly carry out assigned duties
• A valid state-issued driver license is required - along with the need to pass a pre-employment driving physical through Occupational/Employee Health to transport Veterans in a government vehicle Incumbent will be given the responsibility of safeguarding all assigned Mobile Data Computer (MDC) units as well as all other technical and non-technical equipment such as scanners - cell phones - two-way radios - GPS devices - etc. - which is associated with their assigned duties inside and outside of vehicles The HUD-VASH Coordinator establishes a continuing relationship with the Veteran - evaluating progress towards goals and adjusting the treatment plan as appropriate
• The HUD-VASH Coordinator documents independently in the medical records utilizing paper and/or electronic formats - including psychosocial assessments - diagnostics - treatment - progress notes - follow up and referral
• The incumbent provides training to students - residents - interns - and fellows from other disciplines
• The incumbent develops working relationships and agreements with other organizations and directly coordinates with the designated PHA regarding housing voucher application and award process for each veteran
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday - 8:00am-4:30pm Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases 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) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 93279-A