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.

Duties

The Social Worker is responsible for providing case management for a caseload of Veterans in the HUD-VASH program. The Social Worker performs site visits of HUD-VASH apartments to ensure that Veterans reside in safe environments in compliance with local housing codes. Verifies the Veteran's status, eligibility for VA medical care, and eligibility of program participation. Is responsible for ensuring that homeless Veterans are considered as primary participants for program acceptance. The Social Worker is responsible for collecting and submitting HUD-VASH Program participant data as outlined by NEPEC evaluation procedures. The Social Worker is responsible for providing HUD-VASH case management. Case management is defined as the provision of services by VA clinical staff to homeless Veterans and includes all activities to provide appropriate treatment and maintain Veterans in HUD approved stable housing. 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 complies with criminal conflict of interest laws and Executive Branch Standards of conduct to avoid conflicts of interest. The Social Worker actively participates in the HUD-VASH Program conference calls and attends training offered by the HUDVASH. The Social Worker is responsible for following local policy and SOP for the HUD-VASH Program. This includes following policies and documentation requirements as required for CARF and Joint Commission accreditation. 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 FWD-VASH Program Veterans. The Social Worker provides comprehensive psychological/social work services to Veterans and their families. Responsibilities include the management, coordination and provision of psychological/social work services to Veteran and their families in 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. In 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. The Social Worker is responsible for protecting data from unauthorized release of access codes, etc., as stated in the computer access agreement which the Social Worker signs. The Social Worker is responsible for completing the following duties/responsibilities: Conduct psychosocial assessments to determine needs of Veterans and family members. Participate in discharge planning with other disciplines and will be responsible for ensuring that discharge plans arc executed in a manner that is timely and appropriate. Provide consultation/education to Veterans and families on community resources, advance directives and VA benefits. Act as a consultant to other team/staff members. Provide case management to Veterans and families, as needed, throughout the continuum of care. Provide a full range of services within commonly accepted standards of practice which includes case work, individual, family and group counseling, discharge planning, case management and other services as appropriate. Address Advance Directives in accordance with the standards of their work area. Provide wellness/prevention education and facilitate patient/family support groups as appropriate. Coordinate treatment and communicate with the care lines to facilitate continuity of care for Veterans. Participate in committee assignments, as deemed necessary by the service manager. Will maintain familiarity and responsibility for all performance measures relating to the HUD-VASH Program. Performs other related duties as assigned. Works other shifts or days as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday thru Friday 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: AD-HOC Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation Incentives: May be Authorized EDRP Authorized: Contact [email protected], for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement. 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. 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. Loss of Licensure or Certification: Once licensed or certified, social workers must maintain a full, valid, and unrestricted independent license or certification to remain qualified for employment. Loss of licensure or certification will result in removal from the GS-0185 social worker series and may result in termination of employment. English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). 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 Experience/Education: None beyond the basic requirements. *In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs Ability to work with Veterans and family members from various socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other diversified backgrounds utilizing counseling skills. 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. 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. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients, staff, and representatives of community agencies. 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 Experience/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. *In addition to the experience above, candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Knowledge of community resources, how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services, and ability to coordinate services. 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. 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. 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. 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. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-9 to GS-11. Physical Requirements: Use of fingers, both hands required, operation of motor vehicle, must see computer screen and hearing (aid may be permitted). Environmental Factors include outside and inside, working around moving objects or vehicles, working closely with others and working alone.

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 Jonathan M Wainwright Memorial VA Medical Center 77 Wainwright Drive Walla Walla, WA 99362 US
• Name: Jovita Murphy
• Phone: 253-583-3850
• Email: [email protected]