The incumbent in this social work position is assigned to the Housing Urban Development VA Supportive Housing (HUD VASH) Program, a Social Work program within the Mental Health Service Line (MHSL), This program is a collaborative program with HUD, supported through HUD's Section 8 rental assistance vouchers and VA's provision of intensive case management services. The primary goal of HUD-VASH is to move Veterans out of homelessness and into permanent housing.

Duties

The Social Worker makes professional decisions and recommendations with close supervisory guidance. Specific duties are as follows (including but not limited to): Plans, develops and maintains a network of relationships with community resources and other advocates for the homeless to effectively screen and identify Veteran members of the homeless population. Depending upon need, the Social Worker makes VA or community based referrals, advocates for scarce resources, confirms referrals are completed and provides intensive follow-up and coordination with these agencies. Interviews potential clients, interprets VHA guidelines and eligibility requirements and completes a psychosocial history and assessment. Initiates eligibility determination, and forwards to VA eligibility staff members. Establishes an initial assessment at the time of the first visit. Develops an appropriate treatment plan. Using known available resources and the initial assessment makes initial and continuing decisions regarding the services available and referrals needed. Decisions are based upon the employee's professional judgment with regards to the individual's rehabilitative potential and possible - consequences of less controlled rehabilitative efforts. Documents the patient assessment and all treatment plans in accordance with the requirements of Medical Center policy and requirements of various accrediting bodies. Provides clinical services to clients. Provides guidance, emotional support and other assistance. Involves clients in individual or group counseling. Makes provision for referral services to other agency organizations, community resources, or other Governmental resources to resolve problems. Highly developed professional skills are routinely used to motivate dysfunctional clients to resume more effective control of their own life. Employs casework methods and techniques to maintain a therapeutic relationship that will help the client work towards the best way of dealing with his/her problems. Establishes a continuing relationship with the client, evaluating progress towards goals, performing follow-up after referral and adjusts treatment plan when needed. Monitors client's progress, maintains comprehensive case documentation, and shows competent discretion in the decision to adjust treatment. Explains client's treatment and progress towards rehabilitation to third parties with jurisdiction, remaining unbiased in the presentation even though consequences are far-reaching and potentially permanent. Demonstrates an understanding of the range of treatment and skills needed for all adult patients including geriatric patients related to their physical limitations, psychological needs and age associated illnesses and conditions. Contributes to policy formulation and participates in establishing procedures within the assigned service area. May be assigned administrative responsibilities such as NEPEC data reporting, preparation for CARF surveys, and asked to carry out special projects as required. Incumbent may be required to perform case management functions within client's home community, and these functions may include transportation of patients. Incumbent may also require training and participation in dealing with violent and disruptive patients. The incumbent is responsible for the development and coordination of emergent and temporary housing opportunities and services and to ensure that these components are commensurate with the goals and objectives of the recovery model of care. The incumbent is required to reassess in an ongoing manner the changing and evolving needs. of the veteran population. The incumbent will interface with colleagues from other VA facilities, as well as local community partners, including shelters, landlords, Veteran Service Organizations and municipal, State and Federal agencies in order to ensure efficiently coordinated services to homeless veterans and their families. Incumbent is expected to participate in clinical staff meetings and program planning meetings within their assigned area as appropriate to the effective execution of their assignment. Incumbent is expected to assume responsibility for all cases in their assigned area requiring social work services, and at times be required to provide appropriate clinical backup and guidance to social work and other unit staff. As a member of the social work discipline, the incumbent will be expected to attend service and unit meetings, and to serve on committees and task forces related to the effective operation of the Mental Health Service Line and Social Work. Work Schedule: M-F 08:00-04:30 Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Title/Functional Statement #:Social Worker HUD-VASH Case Manager/PD000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

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. 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/. 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.] 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). Grade Determinations: GS-9 Experience, Education, and Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Ability to work with Veterans and family members from various socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other diversified backgrounds utilizing counseling skills. (b) 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. (c) 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. (d) Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients, staff, and representatives of community agencies. (e) 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 Experience and Licensure. 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. Education. 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. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of community resources, how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services, and ability to coordinate services. (b) 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. (c) 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. (d) 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. (e) 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. References: VHA Handbook 5005 Appendix G39 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS9 to GS11. Physical Requirements: Physical demands may include repetitive body movements including the following: frequent reaching, standing, walking, and lifting of equipment and/or patients to provide patient care. This position requires extension of the hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction including above or below shoulder level, during the provision of patient care, including retrieval of needed equipment, supplies and to make contact with the patient. This position may require the maintenance of an upright position to perform duties associated with patient care. This position is typically non-sedentary, and frequently involves being in the standing position. This position may require moving about accomplish tasks, such as assisting with patient ambulation and moving one patient area to the next. This position may require the raising of objects from a lower position to a higher position or the movement of objects horizontally position to position. Lifting may be done to move a patient from one location to the next, i.e.- from the exam table to the chair, and in the movement of equipment or supplies. Note: Must have Basic Life Support (BLS) certification prior to assuming clinical duties. The BLS requirement is satisfied by successfully completing an American Heart Association (AHA) BLS Healthcare Provider Course or Military Training Network (MTN). BLS courses are normally offered within 1-5 days of entry on duty. No online certifications will be accepted.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address Edward Hines Junior Hospital 5000 South 5th Avenue Hines, IL 60141 US
• Name: Vanessa Houliston
• Phone: 725-210-2766
• Email: [email protected]