The Health Care for Homeless Outreach and Coordinated Entry Specialist is responsible for organizing, coordinating, and participating in outreach services throughout the local catchment area and facilitating the VAMC's involvement in the Continuums of Care coordinated entry system. Central goals of the programs and services that fall under HCHV are to reduce homelessness, conduct outreach, assist with engagement in treatment and rehabilitation, provide linkages to VA and community programs.

Duties

VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU The HCHV OCES will work closely with community partners; coordinate and participate in Stand Downs and CHALENG events; provide supportive services assistance; participate in team performance improvement and sustainment activities; assist with enrollment for services; collaborate with JEVZ VAMC staff to include Health Eligibility Center (HEC) staff; assist with applying for discharge upgrades and benefits claims; arrange for provision of care through VA or community resources; provide education to Veterans about available resources and ensure linkages to those programs/services is completed; complete HOMES assessments, clinical screening tools, biopsychosocial assessments and treatment plans; compose DSM diagnosis/diagnoses; provide crisis intervention, working collaboratively with Suicide Prevention Coordinators (SPC) and other mental health professionals as needed. THE HCHV OCES will provide leadership in the community by actively participating in the local plans to end Veteran homelessness; develop and maintain relationships with community stakeholders and is responsible for communicating potential CoC policy or protocol changes to local VA leadership; facilitate VA involvement in the CoC's CES and will be responsible for helping VA meet federal guidelines on CES; and function as a liaison, participating in case conferencing and other pertinent community meetings. Duties: Effectively communicates with and utilizes other disciplines (e.g., nursing, medicine) to facilitate treatment planning and implementation. Expected to participate effectively in team meetings, treatment planning conferences, etc. Collaborates with divergent multidisciplinary team members in a manner that enhances coordination of comprehensive patient care. Effectively communicates with and utilizes community agencies to facilitate treatment, discharge planning, and continuity of care. With few exceptions, gives evidence of having regular contact and interaction with a variety of community agencies and resources. Collaborates with a variety of community agencies and engages in problem resolution activities. Relationships with supervisors, co-workers, patients, visitors, and the general public is consistently courteous and cooperative in nature, and overall contributes to the effective operation of the service. Any failure in this area must be limited, minor and have no significant adverse impact on the service or JEVZ VAMC. Anticipates and avoids potential causes of conflict and actively promotes cooperation among co-workers. Willingly accepts additional and special assignments that are necessary to meet program goals or customer needs. Protects printed and electronic files containing sensitive data in accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act of 1974 and other applicable laws, Federal regulations, VA statutes and policy, and VHA policy. Protects the data from unauthorized release or from loss, alteration, or unauthorized deletion. Follows applicable regulations and instructions regarding access to computerized files, release of access codes, etc. Uses word processing software to execute several office automation functions such as storing and retrieving electronic documents and files; activating printers; inserting and deleting text, formatting letters, reports, and memoranda; and transmitting and receiving e-mail. Uses the Veterans Health Information and Technology Architecture (VistA) to access information in the Medical Center Computer System. Age specific care provided is appropriate to the cognitive, emotional, cultural, and chronological maturation age of the Veteran. Demonstrates knowledge of changes associated with aging and principles of growth and development relevant to the adult and geriatric age groups. Possesses ability to identify age specific needs and provides the appropriate care based upon age related factors. Interaction with Veterans, family/friends, and staff need to reflect life stage considerations. The HCHV OCES will monitor and assure completion of all local National Call Center for Homeless Veterans (NCCHV) hotline calls; attend monthly NCCHV Point of Contact (POC) meetings ; attend Local Housing Options Team (LHOT) meetings and other coalitions and collaboratives; attend local Point in Time (PIT) counts; possess advanced knowledge of VA and community resources; advanced knowledge of the purpose and operations of a CoC and the CoC's responsibility for community planning and implementation of CES; and ensure service delivery is consistent with VA's Housing First principles. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Compressed/Flexible:May be autorized by manager. Telework: May be authorized by manager. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 / Health Care for Homeless Veterans (HCHV) Program Outreach and Coordinated Entry Specialist Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: 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. 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/. Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Services. English Language Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). GRADE DETERMINATIONS. In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. Social Worker (Program Coordinator), GS-12 Experience and Education. One year of experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level. Experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment, demonstrating progressively more professional competency. Candidate may have certification or other post-master's degree training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university that includes a defined curriculum/course of study and internship, or equivalent supervised professional experience. Licensure/Certification. Individuals assigned as social worker program coordinator must be licensed or certified at the advanced practice level, and must be able to provide supervision for licensure. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Knowledge of program coordination and administration which includes consultation, negotiation, and monitoring. Knowledge and ability to write policies, procedures, and/or practice guidelines for the program. Ability to supervise multidisciplinary staff assigned to the program. Skill in organizing work, setting priorities, meeting multiple deadlines, and evaluating assigned program area(s). Ability to provide training, orientation, and guidance within clinical practice. Assignments. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty), and variety and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. Program coordinators at the GS-12 grade level are administratively responsible for a clinical program providing treatment to Veterans in a major specialty area, such as but not limited to: Spinal Cord Injury, Homeless Continuum Veteran Program, Hospice and Palliative Care Program, Suicide Prevention Program, Veterans Justice Outreach, Caregiver Support Program and Community Nursing Home Program. The program coordinator oversees the daily operation of the program, develop policies and procedures for program operation, and prepare reports and statistics for facility, VISN, and national use. They may be responsible for the program's budget, developing and monitoring staff compliance with practice, standards and guidelines on documentation, workload, data entry, ethical practice and service delivery. The program coordinator provides analysis and evaluation of clinical program data and computerized programs to identify system-wide trends and needs to enhance the quality of service. They may be responsible for, or contribute to, the program's resource and fiscal management, monitoring control points developing the annual budget, operating within that budget, and accounting for appropriated funds. The program coordinator is administratively responsible for the clinical programming and prepares reports and statistics for facility, VISN, and national use. They provide leadership, direction, orientation, coaching, in-service training, staff development, and continuing education programs for assigned staff. They initiate and conduct a variety of program or service audits and complete designated clinical practice audits and reports, including productivity assessments. They oversee program operations and evaluations, identifying areas for improvement, gathering relevant data, assessing the data, developing and implementing ideas for improvement and evaluating efficacy of improvement efforts. References: VA Handbook 5005/120 Part II Appendix G39, Dated September 10, 2019. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. Physical Demands: The work requires sitting, bending, stooping, and walking consistent with the delivery of services in the office, hospital and community. The position may entail lifting of no more than 25 pounds on an occasional basis. Whenever possible, carts and dollies will be utilized as an alternative to lifting. In carrying out responsibilities, operation of a motor vehicle with a valid driver's license is required. The social worker must meet the requirements to use a government vehicle in accordance with VHA directive 2008-020. It may be necessary for the incumbent to travel throughout the Altoona VAMC catchment area to conduct interviews with Veterans, family members, representatives of community health, welfare and law enforcement agencies.

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 James E Van Zandt VA Medical Center 2907 Pleasant Valley Boulevard Altoona, PA 16602 US
• Name: Tianna Miller
• Phone: 404-680-6127
• Email: [email protected]