The Social Worker in this position serves as the HCHV Outreach Social Worker for the Finger Lakes Health Care System for the Homeless Programs Department. The HCHV Outreach Social Worker is responsible for monitoring Veterans that are homeless, at risk of homelessness, as well as initiating and coordinating services to ensure housing retention for those at-risk Veterans, in need of ongoing HCHV Case Management and/or disengaged from VA services or not enrolled.

Duties

The HCHV Outreach Social Worker for Finger Lakes Health Care System Homeless Programs is responsible for assessing Veterans that are homeless and/or at risk of homelessness, as well, as initiating and coordinating services to ensure placement and housing retention. The Homeless Programs works closely with community partners to ensure Veteran remain successfully housed. Numerous challenges may arise for this at-risk group and the incumbent in this position must be able to multitask and efficiently navigate complex systems in a high paced environment. The Social Worker will conduct outreach to Veterans that are at-risk and vulnerable to homelessness as needed. Community meeting participation will be expected to ensure all at-risk Veterans in the community are being reached. Along with community outreach for referrals and education, public relationship and marketing of homeless programs services as needed. The Social Worker must demonstrate the knowledge of the changes associated with aging and possess the ability to provide care based upon age-related factors as noted in age specific competencies. The incumbent focuses on the patient in the context of family and community by integrating an assessment of living conditions, individual and family dynamics, resource needs, and cultural background into the patient's plan of care. The Social Worker is responsible for assessing all Veterans that enter into the Homeless Programs Department. This includes identifying all psychosocial needs of the Veteran and determining the appropriate services required. The Social Worker must have great knowledge of VA resources and eligibility criteria for every program. The Social Worker verifies the veteran's status, eligibility for VA medical care, and eligibility of program participation. The Social Worker must have the ability to be able to conduct a thorough clinical assessment of Veteran, offer treatment recommendations, and place consults/referrals to such as needed. HCHV Outreach Social Worker performs community-based outreach activities as directed by the Homeless Programs Coordinator. The Social Worker is responsible for following a process for referrals and working with the community and liaisons on admissions into any Homeless Programs and ensures that Veterans in Homeless Programs Department are considered primary participants for program acceptance. The Social Worker is responsible for collecting and submitting HOMES assessments as indicated. The social worker is responsible for working with the local Continuum of Care (COC), COC subcommittees and Homeless Housing Task Forces committees, along with ensuring VA is in compliance with COC. The Social Worker coordinates care including serving as an advocate on behalf of the veterans to ensure comprehensive service delivery, and linking and referring Veterans to the VA Medical Center, VA Regional Offices and/or community agencies. The Social Worker actively participates in the Homeless Programs clinical meetings and offers insight into Veterans clinical care needs. The Social Worker takes responsibility for improving professional skills, participating in planning and executing specific staff development projects, attending seminars and institutes, and participating in training programs of other disciplines as requested. The Social Worker performs accountability functions: 1) document all contacts with patients/families in the medical charts; 2) completes statistical, administrative, staffing studies and other reports in accordance with VA Medical Center and respective professional discipline service policies. The Social Worker works with VA Medical Center multi-disciplinary teams and community agencies to strive for developing more effective and efficient ways of delivering healthcare services to homeless veterans. The Social Worker is assigned to the Veterans Affair Medical Center and provides comprehensive case management/placement services to veterans and their families. Responsibilities include. the management, coordination and provision of services to veterans and their families in inpatient, outpatient and community settings. In the provision of care in patients from the adult (less than 65 years of age) to the geriatric (greater than 65 years of age), the employee recognizes the age related needs and demonstrates knowledge and care appropriate to that age group. ln the performance of official duties. The Social Worker has regular access to printed and electronic files containing sensitive data which must be protected under provision of the Privacy Act of 1974 and other applicable laws, Federal Regulations, VA statues and policy. Social Worker is responsible for protecting data from unauthorized release of access codes, etc., as stated in the computer access agreement which the incumbent signs. Other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; 7:30am to 4:00pm Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Designated and/or random drug testing may be required
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• You may be required to serve a probationary period
• Subject to a background/security investigation
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process

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). Drivers License. A current drivers license is required. 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). Social Worker, GS-11: 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. OR 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. References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/120 PART II APPENDIX G39. Social Worker Qualification Standard, September 10, 2019. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

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 Canandaigua VA Medical Center 400 Fort Hill Ave Canandaigua, NY 14424 US
• Name: Valerie Rarick
• Phone: 315-425-4400 X56571
• Email: [email protected]