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. 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.

Duties

The Social Worker serves in the Homeless Patient Aligned Care Team (HPACT) Program at the Menlo Park location. The HPACT clinic team will strive to improve continuity of care and coordination of services for Veterans who are either unhoused or at risk for homelessness by working with existing clinical and community care programs. As a member of the team, the incumbent is responsible for identifying, engaging, and working directly with veterans in a variety of settings both within the VA Divisions and outpatient clinics and in the community in shelters, drop-in centers and community housing settings. The HPACT Social Worker will work to engage the veteran and link them to needed services with the goal of psychosocial stabilization and increased residential stability. The HPACT Social Worker partners with community agencies through informal outreach agreements and more formalized contracts and agreements. Major duties include, but are not limited to: Provide psychosocial support services at the full extent of their relevant clinical privileges, credentials, scope of practice, elements of practice, certification, functional statement, position description, or other VHA or local facility approved documentation of competency. Participate in team meetings/huddles to develop plans for intervening in homelessness with Veterans and will use harm reduction, and motivational interviewing with homeless Veterans in the HPACT clinic. Conduct comprehensive assessments of Veterans and develop treatment plans that are sensitive to Veterans' diverse needs and abilities. Independently perform a full range of clinical services including Individual, group and family interventions. Provides on and off-site crisis intervention, individual sessions, assists and coordinates hospitalizations in coordination with the team when required, coordination of treatment with collaterals (family, housing programs, nursing homes, mental health etc.) to maximize the successful stabilization and integration of Veterans in the community both in crisis and non-crisis situations. Provides a full range of concrete services including completion of applications to ensure Veterans receive all benefits and services for which they are entitled (e.g. nursing home placement, board and care, SSDI/SSI, and State Veterans Homes). Incumbent provides assistance in the procurement and retention of benefits, housing and where specialized services are required (e.g. legal issues, home care, shelter evaluation and referrals, financial, transportation, food, substance abuse, patient education) and will assist the Veteran in linking to the appropriate resources they require. Performs community-based outreach activities to engage homeless Veterans. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM Telework: Telework, if approved, would be on an AD-HOC basis. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #:640-03095F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: may be authorized for highly qualified applicants EDRP Authorized: Contact [email protected], the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): 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. 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. 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: 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: GS-9 Entry Level Social Worker 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: Ability to work with Veterans and family members from various socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other diversified backgrounds utilizing counseling skills. 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 Full Performance Social Worker 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. OREducation. 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: 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, cultural, ethnic, educational and other diversified 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. References: VA handbook 5005 Part II Appendix G39 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: This position requires operation of a motor vehicle to transport patients and equipment.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application.

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 Palo Alto VA Medical Center 3801 Miranda Avenue Palo Alto, CA 94304 US
• Name: Tyler Jennings
• Phone: 775-486-3377
• Email: [email protected]