This is an open continuous announcement until October 31, 2023 to fill Social Worker (HUDVASH) vacancies. Qualified applicants will be considered and referred as vacancies become available.

Duties

The Social Worker - HUDVASH Case Manager serves at the Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center, Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOC), or community settings providing case management and supportive interventions to Veteran patients who may have health, mental, and/or substance use disorders and who are engaging in case management services. The primary goal of HUD-VASH is to move Veterans and their families out of chronic homelessness. The Social Worker serves as a practitioner in this specialty at the facility and provides direct patient care services in the program area. Major duties include but are not limited to: Independently provides case management services in shelters, on the streets, or in a Veteran home utilizing the Housing First model. Independently conducts psychosocial assessments. Develops treatment plans in collaboration with the Veteran/family and with the interdisciplinary treatment team. The HUD-VASH Case Manger offers psychosocial interventions and measures outcomes to interventions to coordinate community-based services, including information and referral for additional services from other VA programs, other government programs and community agency programs. Responsible for data collection, administrative record keeping, and monitoring patient or program clinical indicators, thresholds, and performance measurements. 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. The incumbent is responsible to review the agreements between Section 8 landlords, PHAs, and the VA to establish appropriate referral sites for placements. Evaluates the Veteran's situation, abilities, and capabilities, and arrives at a reasoned conclusion including an assessment of vulnerability to determine level of case management needs. Provides referral to VA medical and mental health inpatient and outpatient treatment and to other VA services including VA benefits, as well as community-based social services and other non-VA entitlement programs. Assists Veterans who encounter problems obtaining services from the VA and other service delivery agencies through advocacy, linking, and/or by assisting with their problem solving/social interaction skills. Responsible for assisting Veterans with housing search, placement, and locating furniture and household good items. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Telework: Adhoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: Social Worker (HUDVASH)/00000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required NPI/Taxonomy code: Required; must be eligible for an NPI number as a condition of employment.

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: In addition to the basic requirements as stated above, the GS-09 Social Worker must meet the following requirements: 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. In addition to the basic requirements as stated above, the GS-11 Social Worker must meet the following requirements: 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 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. 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. Preferred Experience: Experience in homeless services. Experience with home visits and community work. References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II Appendix G39 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary. It may require some lifting (10-25 lbs) occasionally. Reaching above shoulder; frequent keyboarding (4-7 hours per day); sitting (4-7 hours per day); Walking up to 6 hours per day; Standing up to 8 hours a day; Infrequent climbing/ descending of stairs; some bending; ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; correctable near sighted and far sighted vision; hearing (aid permitted). The HUDVASH Social Worker will need to pass a pre-employment driving physical through Occupational/Employee Health to transport Veterans in a government vehicle and must be able to obtain a Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.

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 Robert J Dole VA Medical and Regional Office Center 5500 East Kellogg Drive Wichita, KS 67218 US
• Name: Trellis Harris
• Phone: 316-685-2221 X53625
• Email: [email protected]