Social Worker - HUD-VASH Case Manager

Summary This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval - award amount (up to $200 -000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.

Qualifications Basic Requirements

Citizenship - You must be a citizen of the United States

English Language Proficiency - You must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f)

Education and/or Experience Combination - You must possess 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

Note: A doctoral degree in Social Work may NOT be substituted for the master's degree in Social Work

License or Certification* - You must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level

*Exception - For assignments at the GS-9 level - VHA may waive the licensure or certification requirement for persons who are otherwise qualified - pending completion of state prerequisites for licensure/certification examinations

VHA social workers who are not licensed or certified at the time of appointment must become licensed or certified at the independent - master's level within three years of their appointment as a social worker

Grandfather Provision

A Social Worker employed in VHA on the effective date of the qualification standard (9/10/2019) who did not meet all the basic requirements in this standard - but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed - the following provisions apply: Employees 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 journeyman level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions

Employees in an occupation that requires a licensure/certification/ registration only at higher grade levels must meet the licensure/ certification/registration requirement before they can be promoted to those higher grade levels

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 who are converted to title 38 hybrid status under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of re-entry to the occupation

Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation

Grade Determinations:GS-09 Social Worker Knowledge - Skills and Abilities: In addition to meeting the basic requirements - to qualify for the GS-09 - you must demonstrate the following Knowledge - Skills and Abilities: Ability to utilize a Veteran centric approach when providing interventions and counseling for Veterans - their family members - caregivers - and survivors

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 GS-11 Licensure Requirement: You must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level

GS-11 Experience or Education Requirement: In addition to meeting the basic requirements - to qualify for the GS-11 - you must possess 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

Examples of specialized experience include but are not limited to: Working under close supervision in program areas that do not require specialized knowledge or experience

Identifying behaviors or symptoms of abuse - neglect or exploitation

providing education on advance directives and advanced care planning

providing social work case management

acting as an patient/family member/caregiver advocate with community service providers/agencies

assessing the psychosocial functioning and needs of patients and their family members

In collaboration with the patient - family - and interdisciplinary treatment teams - identifying strengths - weaknesses - coping skills and psychosocial acuity

Maintaining a current network of internal and external resources to educate the patient and/or family members/caregivers and assist with appropriate referrals

OR 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

Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities: In addition to the experience above - candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: 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 - educational - and other 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

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.Social Worker Qualification Standard 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-09 to GS-11

Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position

Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.

Duties

Functions as one of the Medical Center's Case Managers for VA Black Hills HCS - Health Care for Homeless Veterans Program HUD/VASH Program

The HUD/VASH program is a collaborative effort - supported through HUD Section 8 rental assistance vouchers and VA's provision of intensive case management services

The primary goal of HUD/VASH is to move Veterans and their families out of chronic homelessness

The primary component of the program is VA case management services - designed to improve Veteran's health and mental health - enhancing their ability to remain stable - housed and community-integrated

Monitors and administers HUD Vouchers for homeless Veterans - serving as the primary contact with local Public Housing Agencies (PHAs) and provides case management-based services (directly or through referral) necessary to ensure that Veteran care is coordinated with the VA medical center - community health or mental health providers - and agencies that serve homeless populations

Establishes - implements - and maintains referral and screening procedures for potential HUD/VASH Veteran participants that meet national policy as well as the needs of medical center mental health services and residential programs

Conducts and participates in outreach activities including field interviews - assessments and referrals for homeless Veterans

Assesses at-risk factors and develops a preliminary plan - involving the Veteran and family or significant others - and performs an insightful assessment of serious and complicated cases involving psychiatric illness which may also include - catastrophic medical condition - dementia - traumatic brain injuries - and other high risks diagnoses

Assists Veterans in maintaining appointments at VA medical centers and other community agencies for medical - psychiatric - substance abuse - vocational and other services consistent with Veteran's goals associated with healthful independent living

Gives advice - guidance - emotional support and other assistance and provides individual and group counseling services as well as crisis management services needed to maintain the Veteran safely in their residence

Establishes a continuing relationship with the Veteran - evaluating progress towards goals and adjusting the treatment plan as appropriate

The incumbent meets Veterans to assess accomplishments and re-establish goals and monitors Veteran's progress - maintains comprehensive documentation - ensures expert diagnosis and treatment of clinical disorders

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Work Schedule: 7:30 a.m.-4:00 a.m

Monday-Friday Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not available Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive

Contact vhaedrpprogramsupport@va.gov - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance

Learn more Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases

When setting pay - a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade)

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 #: 00000

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