The GS-12 HUD-VASH Senior Social Worker (GS-12) is assigned to the Housing and Urban Development (HUD)- Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) Program, an integral part of the Health Care for Homeless Veterans (HCHV) Program within the Mental Health Service.

Duties

The referral into the HUD-VASH Program has multiple steps to ensure appropriateness for the program and quality care. Initially, the Senior Social Worker verifies the Veteran's eligibility status for program participation and begins the assessment and screening process. During the assessment period, the social worker completes a comprehensive psychosocial assessment, administers mental health screenings, to include the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale Screener (C-SSRS) for suicide risk management and completes an acuity matrix for identification of case management needs. Due to the complexity of this population, the Senior Social Worker is expected to identify and communicate complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment when supported by completed assessments, within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice. The Senior Social Worker is able to provide, as necessary, a DSM diagnosis of the Veteran and determines the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and/or their families. As part of treatment planning, the Senior Social Worker develops a Housing Stability Plan with each Veteran on their caseload. The Senior Social Worker coordinates with the VA Medical Center staff and Mental Health multidisciplinary teams to ensure appropriate continuity of care and, when appropriate, incorporates coordination/collaboration into the Veteran's treatment plan. The Senior Social Worker acts as the Veteran's primary contact person (e.g., requests for consultations, misunderstandings regarding program policies, rules, procedures, communications to and from staff, etc.) and develops a working relationship with the designated HUD point of contact to coordinate the housing voucher application and award processes for each Veteran. The Senior Social Worker analyzes the results of the C-SSRS and, if necessary, works with the Veteran to identify a plan to manage suicide risk in various settings. he Senior Social Worker provides consultation to other treatment team and staff members regarding psychosocial needs of Veterans and/or their families and the impact of the identified psychosocial problems on the Veteran's healthcare planning, compliance with treatment, and discharge planning. The Senior Social Worker's clinical duties are the provision of intensive case management and psychotherapy to Veterans with complex medical and psychological presentations. The Senior Social Worker provides individual, group and/or family psychotherapy when clinically indicated/appropriate and when of therapeutic benefit to the recipients. The incumbent establishes and maintains effective therapeutic relationships with Veterans and/or their families. The incumbent possesses a thorough knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities, and treatment procedures, including acute, chronic and traumatic illnesses, common medications and their effects/side effects, and medical terminology. Performs other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00 am - 4:30 pm Telework: Available - Ad-hoc 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

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). Grade Determinations: Senior Social Worker, GS-12 (1) Experience/Education. The candidate must have at least two years of experience post advanced practice clinical licensure and should be in a specialized area of social work practice of which, one year must be equivalent to the GS-11 grade level. Senior social workers have experience that demonstrates possession of advanced practice skills and judgment. Senior social workers are experts in their specialized area of practice. Senior social workers may have certification or other post-masters training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university that includes a defined curriculum/course of study and internship or equivalent supervised professional experience in a specialty. (2) Licensure/Certification. Senior social workers must be licensed or certified by a state at the advanced practice level which included an advanced generalist or clinical examination, unless they are grandfathered by the state in which they are licensed to practice at the advanced practice level (except for licenses issued in California, which administers its own clinical examination for advanced practice) and they must be able to provide supervision for licensure. (3) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Skill in a range of specialized interventions and treatment modalities used in specialty treatment programs or with special patient populations. This includes individual, group, and/or family counseling or psychotherapy and advanced level psychosocial and/or case management. Ability to incorporate complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice. Knowledge in developing and implementing methods for measuring effectiveness of social work practice and services in the specialty area, utilizing outcome evaluations to improve treatment services and to design system changes. Ability to provide specialized consultation to colleagues and students on the psychosocial treatment of patients in the service delivery area, as well as role modeling effective social work practice skills. Ability to expand clinical knowledge in the social work profession, and to write policies, procedures, and/or practice guidelines pertaining to the service delivery area. References: VA Handbook 5005/120, Part II, Appendix G39 dated September 10, 2019 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. Physical Requirements: 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 where incumbent conducts interviews with the Veterans, family members, representatives of community health, welfare and law enforcement agencies.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application.

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 James E Van Zandt VA Medical Center 2907 Pleasant Valley Boulevard Altoona, PA 16602 US
• Name: Andrea Vick
• Phone: 5736731031
• Email: [email protected]