Senior Social Worker (Homeless Outreach)

About the role

The Tibor Rubin VA Medical Center - Long Beach is seeking a Senior Social Worker for the Health Care for Homeless Veterans (HCHV) Outreach Program. Responsibilities include outreach to vulnerable - unsheltered Veterans living on the streets - in encampments - parks - and other locations. The position engages Veterans in shelters - drop-in centers - Stand Downs - and community events - connecting them with VA services and resources to reduce homelessness and improve access to care.

Responsibilities

• Serve as clinical team lead for the HCHV Homeless Outreach Program - supporting staff who assist Veterans with high-acuity needs and complex barriers
• Conduct targeted street - community - and facility-based outreach to Veterans experiencing or at risk of homelessness
• Provide high-risk triage - psychosocial assessments - counseling - education - crisis intervention - referrals - and resource coordination
• Verify Veteran status - eligibility for VHA care - and eligibility for HCHV and related programs
• Coordinate comprehensive care and advocate for Veterans by linking them with VHA services - VA benefits - and community resources
• Provide housing-related assistance - including referrals for rental arrears - HUD-VASH - emergency services - and other supportive programs
• Manage HCHV-Contract Emergency Residential Services (HCHV-CERS) transitional beds in Long Beach and Orange County - including budget oversight and eligibility coordination
• Serve as the primary liaison and clinical resource for HCHV-CERS grantees - community agencies - and other homeless-service partners
• Participate in case conferences - by-name list activities - Coordinated Entry System efforts - and community planning meetings
• Provide consultation - education - and clinical support to outreach staff - interdisciplinary teams - Veterans - families - and community providers
• Screen Veterans for suicide risk and social determinants of health
• Provide safety planning - interventions - referrals - and timely clinical documentation
• Maintain accurate medical records - program data - performance measures - statistical reports - and accountability documentation in accordance with VA policies
• Participate in program development - staff training - committees - special events - quality improvement activities - and initiatives addressing the changing needs of homeless Veterans

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

• Citizenship: Must be a citizen of the United States
• 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
• Education: Must 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