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.

Duties

The duties of the Senior Social Worker in the CVAMC HUD-VASH program include, but are not limited to: Regularly conducts and participates in outreach activities including field interviews and assessments for homeless veterans identified by the Homeless outreach team in the community, shelters, and on the streets, as well as those referred by the VA residential programs, medical centers or outpatient clinics. Provides a concise summary of the veteran's history of homelessness, case management needs, and eligibility factors as well as any serious concerns about the veteran's safety living independently in the community to the HUD-VASH Determination Committee. Develops psychosocial treatment plans, actively involving the veteran and their family or significant others, in coordination with interdisciplinary team members, based on on the psychosocial assessments, with goals focused on obtaining/sustaining permanent housing. Responsible for data collection, administrative record keeping, and monitoring patient clinical indicators for each of the veterans assigned to him/her on their caseload. Documents independently in the medical records utilizing CPRS, including psychosocial assessments, service or treatment plans, diagnostics, treatment, progress notes, follow up and referral. Must work collaboratively, flexibly, and professionally with all teammates. Must possess the ability to assess the effects of the age, ethnicity, culture, sexual orientation, gender identity, values, and beliefs of the veterans served and develop appropriate treatment plans and provide appropriate services. Assessing the effectiveness of particular interventions on individual veterans, assessing patient satisfaction, motivational interviewing/motivational enhancement techniques, suicide prevention, relapse prevention, or implementing harm reduction protocols . Work Schedule: Monday thru Friday; 08:00am to 4:30pm Telework: Available Travel: Up to 50% may be required. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Available for well-qualified applicants EDRP Authorized: 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. Contact [email protected], the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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. English Language Proficiency. In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. 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. 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. (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED) Licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the advanced practice level which included an advanced generalist or clinical examination, unless they are grandfathered by the state in which they are licensed to practice at the advanced practice level (except for licenses issued in California, which administers its own clinical examination for advanced practice) and they must be able to provide supervision for licensure.(LICENSE REQUIRED) Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements stated above, the following qualification criteria must be met for each grade. The candidate's qualifications must clearly demonstrate the level of competence required for the grade. GS-12 (Above Full Performance) To qualify for the Senior Social Worker Position at the GS-12 level, the following experience must be demonstrated on your resume. Experience/Education: The candidate must have at least two years of experience post advanced practice clinical licensure and should be in a specialized area of social work practice of which, one year must be equivalent to the GS-11 grade level. Senior social workers have experience that demonstrates possession of advanced practice skills and judgment. Senior social workers are experts in their specialized area of practice. Senior social workers may have certification or other post-masters training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university that includes a defined curriculum/course of study and internship or equivalent supervised professional experience in a specialty. Licensure/Certification. Senior social workers must be License Clinical Social Work (LCSW) licensed or certified by a state at the advanced practice level which included an advanced generalist or clinical examination, unless they are grandfathered by the state in which they are licensed to practice at the advanced practice level (except for licenses issued in California, which administers its own clinical examination for advanced practice) and they must be able to provide supervision for licensure. Senior Social workers may have certification or other post-masters training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university that includes a defined curriculum/course of study and internship or equivalent supervised professional experience in a specialty. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Skill in a range of specialized interventions and treatment modalities used in specialty treatment programs or with special patient populations. This includes individual, group, and/or family counseling or psychotherapy and advanced level psychosocial and/or case management. Ability to incorporate complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice. Knowledge in developing and implementing methods for measuring effectiveness of social work practice and services in the specialty area, utilizing outcome evaluations to improve treatment services and to design system changes. Ability to provide specialized consultation to colleagues and students on the psychosocial treatment of patients in the service delivery area, as well as role modeling effective social work practice skills. Ability to expand clinical knowledge in the social work profession, and to write policies, procedures, and/or practice guidelines pertaining to the service delivery area. Preferred Experience: Minimum 2 years experience working with individuals with homelessness, serious mental illness, and or chronic addictions. Reference: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-39 Social Worker Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office. Physical Demands: Physical demands of the work are generally moderate. The work may be performed 50% or more of the time in the community. Physical activity involves driving, getting in and out of the vehicles, sitting, standing, walking, bending, stooping, climbing stairs (generally no more than 3 floors), and carrying light items such as papers, books or supplies. Due to the community-based nature of the work and the unpredictable population, staff must be CPR/BLS and PMDB certified. The incumbent uses a computer and standard office equipment to complete tasks. The emotional demands can be stressful in working with the patient population and their families. A level of self-awareness is essential. Work Environment: Part of the work is performed in an office environment, as well as clinic and inpatient areas. This environment involves everyday risks or discomforts that require normal safety precautions typical of such places as offices, meeting and training rooms, libraries, residences, or commercial vehicles, e.g., use of safe work practices with office equipment, avoidance of trips and falls, observance of fire regulations and traffic signals. The work area is adequately lighted, headed and ventilated. In addition, patient contact will be made. Appropriate principles of infection control will nee to be applied to the work.

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 Coatesville VA Medical Center 1400 Black Horse Hill Road Coatesville, PA 19320 US
• Name: Deborah Jackson
• Phone: 208-2498842
• Email: [email protected]