Social Worker

Summary

This position provides clinical case management and intervention support to Housing and Urban Development-Veterans Affairs Supported Housing (HUD-VASH) Program in a shared - team oriented - recovery-based program. The Social Worker independently provides clinical psychosocial treatment and ongoing-case management services at an advanced practice level to eligible Veterans and their family members.

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
• English Language Proficiency
• In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) - no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English
• 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
• Note: 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
• NOTE: TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED Licensed or certified Senior social worker must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work 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
• NOTE: A COPY OF YOUR LICENSE/CERTIFICATION IS REQUIRED Grade Determinations: Senior Social Worker - GS-12 In addition to the basic requirements stated above - the following qualification criteria must be met for each grade
• The candidate's qualifications must clearly demonstrate the level of competence required for the grade
• Experience: 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 and 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
• 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
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12
• 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
• Senior social workers are licensed or certified to independently practice social work at an advanced level
• Senior social workers typically practice in a major program area such as but not limited to: Polytrauma Rehabilitation Center or Polytrauma Network Site
• a Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation Center - or a national VHA referral center - such as a national Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder or a national Transplant Center - or other program areas of equivalent scope and complexity
• The senior social worker may be assigned administrative responsibility for clinical program development and is accountable for clinical program effectiveness and modification of service patterns
• Assignments include clinical settings where they have limited access to onsite supervision such as CBOCs or satellite outpatient clinics
• The senior social worker collaborates with the other members of the treatment team in the provision of comprehensive health care services to Veterans - ensures equity of access - service - and benefits to this population - ensures the care provided is of the highest quality
• The senior social worker provides leadership - direction - orientation - coaching - in-service training - staff development - and continuing education programs for assigned social work staff
• They serve on committees - work groups - and task forces at the facility - VISN and national level - or in the community as deemed appropriate by the supervisor - Social Work Executive or Chief of Social Work Services
• This assignment is to be relatively few in number based on the size of the facility/service and applying sound position management
• This assignment must represent substantial additional responsibility over and above that required at the full performance grade level and cannot be used as the full performance level of this occupation
• References: VA Handbook 5005/Part II/Appendix G39The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12
• For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• 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
• 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
• Position requires walking throughout the clinic and/or Medical Center - standing for extended periods of time - and involves sitting at a computer and in counsel and consultation with Veterans and interdisciplinary teams
• Position may require regular travel into the community to meet with community agencies and partners who aid and support to the HUD-VASH Program and its Veterans
• Must be able to lift 10 to 15 pounds - drive a GSA Vehicle - climb stairs - and regularly be out in the community in the local weather
• This position also requires close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures
• transcribing
• viewing a computer terminal
• extensive reading
• and repetitive motions of the wrists - hands - and/or fingers.

Duties

• The Social Worker independently provides clinical psychosocial treatment and ongoing-case management services at an advanced practice level to eligible Veterans and their family members to meet biological - psychological - social - and environmental needs in obtaining and maintaining subsidized permanent housing
• This position spends 80%-100% of the time providing direct-patient care
• Major duties include - but not limited to: Intensive - The Social Worker works with the Veteran to obtain clinical stability
• At a minimum - weekly face-to-face home visits are required - but even more frequent interactions may be needed
• Stabilization - The Social Worker supports the Veteran in managing their housing responsibilities and their physical - mental health - and substance use disorders
• The Social Worker assists the Veteran on addressing those issues that are most likely to lead to housing instability
• At least twice a month face to-face home visits are required - with additional interactions as needed
• Maintenance - The Social Worker ensures that needed treatment - support - and mentoring assistance is provided to the Veteran and continues after placement in housing
• Face-to-Face home visits need to occur at least once every month
• Once the Veteran demonstrates stability - independence - and improved coping skill use and recovery other interactions - such as phone calls - may be included
• Preparation for Discharge - The Social Worker provides case management services to the Veteran in their home - community - or at the medical center
• During this phase - face-to-face contacts occur at least quarterly and the focus of case management address steps towards graduation from case management - and/or discharge planning
• Graduation/Discharge - Veterans who no longer need the case management services of a Social Worker and are no longer required to participate in case management
• The Social Worker provides annual contact to the Veteran to ensure they are housed and no longer need to participate in case Work in a high-stress environment - possibly in austere conditions or an emergency setting Treat or provide direct patient care within the requirements of practice/privileges/licensure Participate in CDT training activities and demonstrate readiness to apply professional skills to a range of emergency situations Ensure qualifications and required certifications are maintained - including Basic Life Support (BLS) - Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) - or Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) certification Maintain CDT physical readiness requirements - vaccinations - and safety precautions related to infection control The Senior Social Worker selected for this position will need to have experience that demonstrates possession of advanced practice skills and judgment - especially in crisis intervention and working with an interdisciplinary team
• They will be using short-term - solution focused counseling with individuals and families who may be in crisis as well as providing education and referral for resources and benefits - case management - and post-intervention follow-up
• Provides psychosocial treatment
• Independently assesses the psychosocial functioning and needs of patients and their family members
• Formulates and implements a treatment plan - identifying the patient's problems - strengths - weaknesses - coping skills - and assistance needed - in collaboration with the patient - family - and interdisciplinary treatment team
• Independently provides a full range of assessment and evaluation services appropriate to the care setting
• Works with medical center staff on a wide variety of patient care issues to include patient's decision-making capacity regarding health care
• Develops treatment plans to address the needs of patients
• Creates plans of action to ensuring assessment and crisis intervention services are maximized based on circumstances and availability of resources
• Conducts crisis intervention strategies - including assessment and diagnosis
• Conducts outreach to vulnerable populations - including disadvantaged areas
• Identifies impacted Veterans and connect them with VA and community resources
• Assists with contacting hospitals or other relevant locations to locate medical records or emergency documentation The Social Worker may conduct and participate in outreach activities including field interviews - assessments and referrals for homeless Veterans contacted in the community - shelters - and on the streets - as well as those who are referred by VA residential programs - medical centers - or outpatient clinics
• The Social will perform othe Work Schedule: Monday -Friday - 7:30am - 4:00 pm May vary depending on deployment and/or assigned facility needs Travel: Up to 50% may be required
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position Functional Statemen t#: 01065F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized