As an independent practice level social worker, you will function as a Health Care for Homeless Veterans (HCHV) Outreach Social Worker for Veteran Health Indiana (VHI) in the continuum of homeless programs. The Outreach Social Worker provides primary outreach and case-management services supporting the functional abilities of Veterans who are experiencing issues of homelessness within the Indianapolis metropolitan area.

Duties

VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU Duties include but are not limited to the following: Outreach and Consultation - Engages in regular outreach (community outreach and street outreach) to missions, shelters, day centers, outdoor living locations, halfway houses and community-sponsored events for homeless people to offer homeless Veterans' information about HCHV services, VA medical care (HPACT), mental health and/or substance abuse treatment options. Screening/Assessment - In conjunction with the Veteran, family/social supports, and appropriate collateral contacts, the incumbent screens eligible veterans for HCHV services following VHA Directive 1162.08 and the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act definition of homelessness. Outreach Social Worker then completes a psychosocial assessment per HCHV and Medical Center policy. Care Planning/Goal-Setting - The incumbent utilizes the assessment alongside with the Veteran to develop a mutually agreed upon care plan building on strengths, perceived barriers identified by the veteran and provider to address the primary needs, eg: housing, treatment needs of the Veteran experiencing homelessness. Supportive Case Management and Counseling - Provide case-management services in which the homeless Veteran is agreeable to participate, both through VA and the CES. Upon HCHV Case-Management admission, and provide supportive case-management services as clinically appropriate to the Veteran, alongside and appropriate collaterals. Crisis Intervention - The incumbent is experienced in making rapid assessments and developing crisis management plans for admission to mental health inpatient programs. Resource Usage/Development - Monitor and collaborate with CES programs and partners on patterns of resource availability and communicate with appropriate stakeholders (e.g., Homeless Coordinator, the Social Work Practice Council, supervisory controls, other VA programs, community partners) to encourage the development of new and innovative resources. Advocacy - Advocate for Veterans to ensure that they have access to all needed care and resources within VA and in the community. Education/Health promotion and prevention - The incumbent provides education related to VA and community resources, entitlements, Advance Directives/Living Will and will refer Veterans/families to the appropriate interdisciplinary team member for identified health education needs. Non-patient care responsibilities include: Documents all Veteran/family contacts in the electronic record using appropriate formats and templates. Collaborate with VA Medical Center Health Eligibility to initiate verification of Veteran's eligibility and in assisting Veterans in completing eligibility procedures. Assist Veterans in linkage and application for discharge upgrades and benefit claims Utilizing and ensuring all documentation is completed in the VA Homeless Operations Management and Evaluation System (HOMES) per VHA policy. Establish and maintain positive working relationships with employees, volunteers, patients/consumers and other stakeholders within the VA and in outside community agencies. Attend all appropriate internal staff meetings (interdisciplinary treatment team meetings, social work staff meetings, other committees as appropriate or as assigned) as well as be coordinating within the CES. Participates in performance improvement activities related to the HCHV and homeless continuum supporting compliance with performance measures as required by the VA for their specific population and/or program. Assist in coordinating educational and marketing services to Veterans, staff and the community partners Engages in all Stand Downs collaboratively with other VA homeless staff members/programs within the VHI catchment area to provide information on VA homeless programs and services to Veterans, community providers and agencies Attends VA and Non-VA trainings, meetings, and conferences relevant to the population served in order to enhance coordination of care for veterans. Work Schedule: Mon - Fri 8:00-4:30pm Telework: Regular telework 3+ days each pay period may be authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 91995-0 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): 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: The basic requirements for employment as a VHA social worker are prescribed by statute in 38 U.S.C. ? 7402(b)(9), as amended by section 205 of Public Law 106-419, enacted November 1, 2000. To qualify for appointment as a social worker in VHA, all applicants must meet the following: Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g this part). 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 appointments at the GS-9 grade level, 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 A social worker who does not yet have a license that allows independent practice must be supervised by a licensed independent practitioner of the same discipline who is a VA staff member and who has access to the electronic health records. 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: Social Worker, GS-9 (Graduate): 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. Social Worker, GS-11 (Full Performance Level): 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. Preferred Experience: MSW/LSW or LCSW preferred. Experience in outreach services and with homeless populations. References: VA Handbook 5005/120 PART II 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 GS09 to GS11. Physical Requirements: The work of the social worker is community based with moderate physical activity. The incumbent must be able to operate a government vehicle several hours each day, walk up to a mile at a time, climb 2 to 3 flights of stairs at a time, and lift small objects . The incumbent must be capable of using a computer given all clinical charting is electronic.

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 Richard L Roudebush VA Medical Center 1481 West Tenth Street Indianapolis, IN 46202 US
• Name: Justina Saucedo
• Phone: 785-409-9018
• Email: [email protected]