U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is hiring: Social Worker in Los Angeles

Overview

The Greater Los Angeles VA Healthcare Network is recruiting for Social Workers in the Community Engagement & Enrichment Services (CERS), HUD-VASH program. S/he will be assigned to a Project Based site in the community. Incumbent's primary assignment is to provide direct services conducting bio/psycho/social assessments and case management of previously homeless Veterans who are now residing in these Project Based sites.

Responsibilities

• Provide HUD-VASH case management to Veterans and families in the HUD-VASH program. Case management is defined as the provision of services by VA clinical staff to homeless Veterans and includes all activities to provide appropriate treatment and maintain Veterans in stable housing.
• Perform regular home visits of HUD-VASH project-based apartments to ensure that Veterans reside in environments that foster independence and safety in the community.
• Verify the Veteran's status, eligibility for VA medical care, and eligibility of program participation.
• Provide a full range of services within commonly accepted standards of practice with includes case work, individual, family and group counseling, discharge planning, case management and other services as appropriate.
• Conduct psychosocial assessments to determine needs of Veterans and family members.
• Coordinate care including serving as an advocate on behalf of the Veterans to ensure comprehensive service delivery. The Social Worker links and refers Veterans to the VA Medical Center, VA Regional Offices, and/or community agencies.
• Provide consultation/education to Veterans and families on community resources, Advance Directives and VA benefits.
• Provide wellness/prevention education and facilitates Veteran/family support groups as appropriate.
• Provide psychoeducation on activities of daily living, budgeting, recovery goals to sustain housing.
• Review agreements between landlords, Public Housing Authorities, and the VA in establishing appropriate referral sites for HUD-VASH placements. Works closely with resident managers and project management teams and communicates needs or issues when they arise if the Veteran provides consent to release private information.
• Collaborate with VA Medical Center multi-disciplinary teams and community agencies to improve the delivery of healthcare services to Veterans in the HUD-VASH Program through coordination of treatment and communication.
• Collect and submit HUD-VASH Program participant data as outlined by CERS and HOMES policies.
• Comply with applicable ethics, confidentiality, and privacy requirements relevant to Veterans' information.

TRAVEL REQUIRED: Occasional travel by car to Veterans homes, to assist Veterans with housing, and to conduct site visits of contract agencies.

Work Schedule: Full Time, 40 hours/week, Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM

Compressed/Flexible: Not Available

Telework: Not Authorized

Virtual: Not a virtual position

Position Title/Functional Statement #: Social Worker/000000

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

PCS: Not Authorized

PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized

Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• You may be required to serve a probationary period
• Subject to a background/security investigation
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)
• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Personnel
• Must be able to operate a Government furnished vehicle for the purposes of assisting Veterans with obtaining and maintaining housing.

Licensure and Education:

• Master's degree in social work from a school of social work fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). Doctoral degree may not substitute for the master's degree.
• Verification of the degree and transcripts must be submitted with the application.
• Applicants must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's level.

Note: Grandfathering provisions may apply for current VA employees in this occupation. If licensed or certified requirements are not met upon change or return to this position, licensure or certification is required.

Preferred Experience: Holds an Independent license

Grade and Experience

In addition to the basic requirements, the following criteria apply for determining grade levels:

• GS-11: Appointment requires completion of at least one year of post-MSW experience at the GS-9 level, in health care or related settings, and licensure or certification at the independent practice level. Doctoral degree may substitute for one year of experience.
• Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities include: knowledge of community resources; ability to conduct psychosocial assessments; knowledge of medical/mental health diagnoses; ability to implement treatment modalities; ability to provide consultation to staff.

Physical Requirements

Travel throughout the medical center and community is required; activities include sitting, walking, standing, bending, and carrying items. Travel to conduct interviews in the community may be required.

Education

Important: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education may be used to qualify for Federal employment. Foreign education may require additional documentation.

Additional information

Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual Leave: VA may offer credit for prior non-federal experience or active duty service. This credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date.

This position is in the Excepted Service.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. If you cannot apply online, contact the agency for alternate submission methods.

The Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act information and complaint process are available at the VA or OCHCO offices. See the job posting for contact details.