Job Title: SOCIAL WORKER (HUD-VASH) Department: Department Of Veterans Affairs Agency: Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration SALARY RANGE: OPEN PERIOD: $48,403.00 $85,841.00 Per Year, dependent on location and experience. May 5, 2015 to May 19, 2015 SERIES & GRADE: DUTY LOCATIONS : GS-0185-09-11 Applicant must indicate on the first page in the top right corner of the resume for which locations he/she is applying. FAILURE TO INDICATE LOCATION(S) IN THE MANNER REQUIRED FOR WHICH HE/SHE IS APPLYING WILL RESULT IN AN INCOMPLETE APPLICATION PACKAGE, AND THE APPLICATION PACKAGE WILL NOT BE REVEIWED. Multiple vacancies in multiple locations: Iowa: Des Moines; Iowa City Georgia: Atlanta/Decatur; Augusta; Dublin; Alabama: Birmingham; Montgomery; Alaska: Anchorage Arizona: Prescott; Tucson; Phoenix; Yuma, Sierra Vista; Stafford, Casa Grande; Green Valley Arkansas: Little Rock/North Little Rock; Fayetteville California: Fresno; Mather; Palo Alto; San Francisco; Los Angeles; Loma Linda; Long Beach; San Diego Colorado: Denver; Grand Junction Connecticut: West Haven Delaware: Wilmington District of Columbia: Washington Florida: Bay Pines; Orlando; Tampa; West Palm Beach; Lake City Idaho: Boise Illinois: Danville; Chicago; Marion; North Chicago Indiana: Indianapolis Fort Wayne Kansas: Leavenworth/Topeka; Wichita Kentucky: Lexington Louisiana: New Orleans; Alexandria; Shreveport Maine: Augusta Maryland: Baltimore/Perry Point Massachusetts: Bedford; Boston; North Hampton Michigan: Ann Arbor; Battle Creek; Detroit; Saginaw; Iron Mountain Minnesota: Minneapolis; St. Cloud; Brainerd
WHO MAY APPLY: SECURITY CLEARANCE: SUPERVISORY STATUS: United States Citizens Other No JOB SUMMARY: OUR MISSION: To fulfill President Lincoln's promise "To care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan" by serving and honoring the men and women who are America's Veterans. Are you a Social Work professional? Do you want to become part of a dynamic team caring for our Nation s Heroes who have kept us safe and now need our help? If your answer is yes, then this is the career for you! Apply now to explore all VA opportunities, visit VACareers.va.gov/. As a VA professional, your opportunities are endless. Not only is it the largest, most technologically advanced integrated health care system in the Nation, you will work directly with and help our Nation s Heroes. Through a multi-disciplinary team approach, we will work with Veterans to end homelessness. We will find stable housing and employment along with other basic necessities to help our Heroes in their time of need. We will care for those who have given so much already. The Social Worker practices in the Healthcare for Homeless Veterans (HCHV) Program and serves as a case manager in the VA Supported Housing (VASH) program. The Social Worker serves a chronically homeless veteran patient population with highly complex health and mental health problems. VASH is a collaborative effort, supported through the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Section 8 rental assistance program, and VA s provision of intensive case management service, designed to improve Veteran s health and mental health, and enhance their ability to remain stable, housed, and community-integrated. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. TRAVEL REQUIRED Independent and field work required KEY REQUIREMENTS Must pass pre-employment examination. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. Background and-or Security Investigation required. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Licensed by a state at the independent practice level (for the GS-11 level, with exceptions) DUTIES: Page 2
The primary responsibilities of this position include clinical and administrative program monitoring and oversight, and serves as one of the primary contacts with the local Public Housing Authority s (PHA s). Under the supervision of the Senior Social Worker, provides clinical and psychosocial case management services; and ensures that the Veteran s care is coordinated with the VA Medical Center, community health or mental health providers, and agencies that serve homeless populations. The VASH Social Worker will utilize various treatment modalities of individual and group work, casework, community organization, and community outreach; participate in program planning and development, and process improvement activities; and participate in annual community based events. Work Schedule: Full-Time and Part-Time tours of duty, and work schedules will be discussed during the interview and/or selection process. QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED: Basic Requirements U.S. citizenship: Be a citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens 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 the CSWE website to verify if that social work degree meets the accreditation standards for a master of social work. Grade Determining Requirements In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. GS-09 Social Worker Experience: GS-09 is the entry level grade for the GS-0185 social work series and is used for social workers with less than one year of post-msw experience, and for social workers who are not yet licensed or certified at the independent practice level. Social workers at the GS-09 level are working toward completion of prerequisites for licensure or certification. Social workers at the GS-09 level are working toward completion of prerequisites for licensure or certification. In addition, the candidates must demonstrate the KSAs below: 1. 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. 2. Ability to work with patients and families who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric, medical, and social problems utilizing individual, group, and family counseling skills. Work with more complex problems is done under close supervision. With guidance from the social work supervisor, ability to assess the psychosocial functioning and needs of patients and their family members, and to formulate and implement a treatment plan, identifying the patient's problems, strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and assistance needed. Page 3
3. Basic knowledge of psychosocial treatment modalities and, under supervision, 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. 4. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, staff, and representatives of community agencies. Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with people from varied backgrounds. 5. 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. 6. Basic skill in the use of computer software applications for drafting documents, data management, and tracking. Ability to learn and utilize software programs in use by VHA. GS-11 Social Worker Experience: GS-11 is the full performance level, and requires completion of a minimum of one (1) year of post-msw degree experience in the field of health care social work (VA or non-va experience), OR A doctoral degree in social work from a school of social work may be substituted for the required 1 year of professional social work experience in a clinical setting. Licensure: Persons hired or reassigned to Senior Social Worker positions, GS-12, in the GS-0185 series in Veterans Health Administration 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 up to the full performance level (GS-11). For grades below or at the full performance level, VHA social workers who are not licensed or certified at the time of appointment must become licensed or certified at the independent, master s level within 3 years of their appointment as a social worker. Most states require 2 years of post-msw experience as a prerequisite to taking the licensure/certification exam, and VHA gives social workers one additional year to pass the licensure/certification exam. In states such as California, Washington, and others, where the prerequisites for licensure exceed two years, social workers must become licensed at the independent, master s level within one year of meeting the full state prerequisites for licensure. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the KSAs below possess: 1. Knowledge of community resources, how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services, and ability to coordinate services. 2. Ability to independently assess the psychosocial functioning and needs of patients and their family members and to formulate and implement 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. 3. Ability to independently conduct psychosocial assessments and provide psychosocial treatment to a wide variety of individuals from various socio-economic, 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. Page 4
4. Knowledge and experience in the use 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. 5. Knowledge of psychosocial treatment and ability to independently implement treatment modalities in working with individuals, families and groups who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric, medical and social problems to achieve treatment goals. This requires independent judgment and skill in utilizing supportive, problem solving or crisis intervention techniques. 6. Ability to independently provide counseling and/or psychotherapy services to individuals, groups and families. Social workers must practice within the bounds of their license or certification. For example, some states may require social workers providing psychotherapy to have a clinical level of licensure. 7. Ability to provide consultation services to other staff about the psychosocial needs of patients and the impact of psychosocial problems on health care and compliance with treatment. Ability to provide orientation and coaching to new social workers and social work graduate students. Ability to serve as a field instructor for social work graduate students who are completing VHA field placements. 8. Ability to independently evaluate his/her own practice through participation in professional peer review case conferences, research studies, or other organized mean. 9. Knowledge and skill in the use of computer software applications for drafting documents, data management, and tracking, especially those programs in use by VHA. References: VA Handbook 5005/50, Part II, Appendix G39, SOCIAL WORKER QUALIFICATION STANDARD, dated February 2012. A copy can be obtained at the local HR office. 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. Physical Requirements: Must satisfactorily complete a pre-employment physical involving light lifting and carrying (under 15 pounds), walking and standing up 4 hours a day with the ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously, near and far vision including hearing. HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED: Your application, résumé and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment. NOTE: The Professional Standards Board (a peer-review group) will review the selected candidate s education and experience and recommend the grade and salary at which the candidate will be placed. For internal selectees eligible for promotion, the board will determine grade and HR will determine step in accordance with policy. BENEFITS: VA offers a comprehensive benefits package. This link provides is an overview of the benefits currently offered: http://www.vacareers.va.gov/why-choose-va/benefits/index.asp. Page 5
OTHER INFORMATION: It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. HOW TO APPLY: If you re interested in applying, please click on the following link: http://www.vacareers.va.gov/ Page 6