The Healthcare for Homeless Veterans (HCHV) Social Worker is assigned to the Durham VA Health Care System and provides services to Veterans/significant others experiencing or at risk of homelessness. Services include provision of high-quality case management, clinical treatment, advocacy, and coordination of linkages to other appropriate VA or community service providers/agencies as needed by the Veteran.

Duties

VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU The Social Worker completes program specific forms, including Homeless Operations Management and Evaluation (HOMES) forms. The Social Worker's efforts are directed toward using a therapeutic relationship to assist the individual/family gain more control over their lives and resolve issues, which have led to homelessness. The Social Worker provides a full range of social work services within commonly accepted standards of social work practice, which includes casework, individual, family and group counseling, discharge planning, case management and other services as appropriate. The Social Worker provides ongoing therapeutic intervention with the patient/family to assist them in dealing and coping with the psychosocial issues of mental health, aging, illness, and disability, dealing with loss and grief. The Social Worker has the ability to provide psychosocial treatment to a wide variety of individuals from various socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other diversified backgrounds. This requires knowledge of human development and behavior (physical and psychological), and the differential influences of the environment, society, and culture. They have the ability to work with Veterans and families who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric, medical, and social problems utilizing individual, group, and family counseling skills. Functions or scope of assigned duties include but are not limited to: Respond to Homeless Program consults. Respond to referrals from the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans. Assist with Homeless Program Walk In clinic. Participate in discharge planning with other disciplines and provide consultation to inpatient teams to ensure that discharge plans are executed in a manner that is timely and appropriate. Provide case management to Veterans and families, as needed, throughout the continuum of care. Address Advance Directives and Organ Donation in accordance with the standards of their work area. Provide wellness/prevention education and facilitate Patient/family support groups as appropriate. Participate in committee assignments, as deemed necessary by the service manager. Maintain data and statistical compilations to comply with The Joint Commission, VA and medical center policy and procedures. Document social work interventions and activities in patient's clinical record utilizing the electronic health record and ensure appropriate hand off when transferring of patient care. Screening/Assessment - In conjunction with outpatient providers (primary care, MH/SUD, and other specialty clinics) the Social Worker will develop a psychosocial assessment identifying Veteran's needs, strengths, limitations, internal and external supports to optimize Veteran's functional status and facilitate access to appropriate VA and community resources. Treatment Planning/Goal Setting- Through collaborative working relationships with the Veteran, family, and outpatient providers, the Social Worker will develop the initial treatment plan and set achievable treatment goals with the Veteran/family. They will adjust the treatment plan as appropriate. Treatment-The Social Worker will provide individual, family and group counseling as appropriate. Referral to service providers - Throughout the course of treatment the Social Worker is the subject matter expert on VA and/or community resources. The Social Worker will collaborate with other service providers in reassessing the Veteran's needs. The Social Worker is responsible for educating the Veteran and/or caregiver of the available services and assisting them in establishing the appropriate referrals based on the Veteran's preference or that of his surrogate decision-maker. Resource Referral/Development - The Social Worker will provide consultation/education to Veterans and families on community resources and VA benefits. The Social Worker will function as liaison between VA and community Administrative responsibilities - The Social Worker will enter all Veteran/family contacts in the electronic record using appropriate formats and templates. This information will be entered in a complete, confidential, timely, and professional manner to ensure information on the patient is shared with other VA staff. Advocacy - The Social worker understands the intimidation of bureaucracy and will act as an advocate when it serves the best interest of the Veteran/family. When appropriate and feasible, social worker will educate and encourage the Veteran/family to advocate on their own behalf, thus fostering a sense of independence and empowerment. Work Schedule: Tour of duty to be discussed during interview (Mandatory rotating weekends) Telework: May be available Virtual: This is not a virtual position Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized 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. 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/. English Language Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f) 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. 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-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. Preferred Experience: Mental Health/Substance Abuse /Medical experience preferred 2 years post MSW Advanced independent license preferred References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/120 PART II APPENDIX G39 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS11 Physical Requirements: Must be in overall good health, able to sit at a desk working at a computer, engage in light to moderate physical activity including sitting, walking, bending, and carrying supplies. The Social Worker must be able to perform primarily light and sedentary duties with occasionally moderate physical demands, exercise patience, and control emotions, with reasonable accommodation if necessary, without endangering the health and safety of the Social Worker or others.

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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Contacts

• Address Durham VA Medical Center 508 Fulton Street Durham, NC 27705 US
• Name: Tierra White
• Phone: 919-827-2514
• Email: [email protected]