Social Worker

Summary The incumbent in this position functions as a Case Manager for Tuscaloosa VAMC's Housing and Urban Development-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH)Program. The incumbent is responsible for coordination of case management and clinical services for Veterans receiving housing provided through HUD Section 8 housing vouchers. 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 PolicyEnglish Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C.7403(f)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 accreditedA doctoral degree in social work may not be substituted for the master's degree in social workVerification 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 workLicensure: 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 levelCurrent state requirements may be found by going to http://vaww.va.gov/OHRM/T38Hybrid/[(1) ExceptionVHA may waive the licensure or certification requirement for persons who are otherwise qualified - pending completion of state prerequisites for licensure/certification examinationsThis exception only applies at the GS-09 grade levelFor the GS-11 grade level and above - the candidate must be licensed or certifiedAt 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.] (a) For appointments at the GS-09 grade 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 three years of their appointment as a social workerMost states require two 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 examIn 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(b) A social worker who does not yet have a license that allows independent practice must be supervised by a licensed independent practitioner of the same discipline who is a VA staff member and who has access to the electronic health record(c) Different states have different levels of licensure or certification - making it difficult for VHA staff to determine the independent practice levelEach state - Puerto Rico - and the District of Columbia completed surveys identifying the level of licensure or certification allowing independent practiceCopies of the surveys are on file in the VHA Office of Care Management and Social Work Services - and a summary spreadsheet of the levels of licensure or certification is available to social work professional standards board members for purposes of determining whether the social worker's level of licensure or certification meets the VHA qualification standardsAll states except California use a series of licensure exams administered by the ASWBInformation can be found at https://www.aswb.org/The ASWB is the association of boards that regulates social workASWB develops and maintains the social work licensing examination used across the country and is a central resource for information on the legal regulation of social workThe ASWB offers three examinationsMay 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: In addition to the basic requirements for employment - the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidatesSocial Worker - GS-11 Experience and LicensureAppointment to the GS-11 grade level requires completion of a minimum of one year of post-MSW experience equivalent to the GS-09 grade level in the field of health care or other social work-related settings - (VA or non-VA experience)Examples of specialized experience include but are not limited to: working under close supervision in program areas that do not require specialized knowledge or experienceidentifying behaviors or symptoms of abuse - neglect or exploitationproviding education on advance directives and advanced care planningproviding social work case managementacting as an advocate with community service providers/agencies when it serves the best interest of the patient and family member/caregiversassessing the psychosocial functioning and needs of patients and their family members identifying strengths - weaknesses - coping skills and psychosocial acuity - in collaboration with the patient - family - and interdisciplinary treatment teamsmaintaining a current network of internal and external resources to educate the patient and/or family member/caregivers and assist with the appropriate referralsAnd possess licensure or certification in a state at the independent practice levelOR EducationIn 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 settingDemonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and AbilitiesIn 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 servicesSkill in independently conducting psychosocial assessments and treatment interventions to a wide variety of individuals from various socio-economic - educational - and other backgroundsKnowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses - disabilities and treatment procedures (i.eacute - chronic and traumatic illnesses/injuries - common medications and their effects/side effects - and medical terminology) to formulate a treatment planSkill 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 goalsPreferred Experience: Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder (SUDs) experienceReference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11Physical Requirements: This work requires some physical exertion such as prolonged periods of standing - bending - reaching - crouching - stooping - stretching - and lifting moderately heavy items such as manuals - record boxes - equipment or assisting patients. Duties VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU Major duties include but are not limited to: Providing case management to a minimum caseload of 25 Veterans in the HUD-VASH ProgramInterviewing clients - complete psychosocial assessments and treatment plans and updates as outlined by the program and CARF/TJC accreditationVerifying the veteran's homeless statusEnsuring that chronically homeless veterans are considered the primary participants for program acceptanceCompeting HOMES electronic forms in a a timely mannerReviewing agreements between Section 8/housing authority staff - private landlords and the VA in establishing appropriate referral sites for HUD-VASH placementsVisiting sites of HUD-VASH apartments to ensure the veterans reside in safe environments in compliance with local housing codesCoordinating care - including serving as an advocate on behalf of veterans to ensure comprehensive service delivery and linking and referring veterans to the VA Medical Center - VA Regional Office and/or community agenciesComplying with criminal conflict of interest laws and Executive Branch Standards of conduct to avoid conflicts of interest while conducting regular dutiesActively participating in the HUD-VASH Program conference calls and attending training offered by VA Central Office and/or VISN 7Following local policy and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the HUD-VASH ProgramPerforming accountability functions to document all contacts with patients/facilities in the electronic medical record and also completes any required/requested reports as needed per VAMC and respective professional service policiesWorking with VAMC inter-disciplinary teams and community agencies to strive for developing more effective and efficient ways of delivering services to HUD-VASH Program participantsParticipating in discharge planning with other disciplines and is responsible for ensuring that discharge plans are executed in a manner that is timely and appropriateProviding individual - family and group counseling as neededActing as liaison between the VA and community agencies - to include marketing and public relations duties as neededProviding a full range of social work services within commonly accepted standards of social work practice - which includes case work - individual - family and group counseling - discharge planning - advocacy - case management and other services as appropriateCoordinating treatment and communicates with care/service lines to facilitate continuity of care for veteransProviding transportation and support to veterans in order to locate housing or obtain needed documentation/servicesSocial Workers responsible for transporting veterans must possess and maintain a valid state driver's license - provide information about their driving record - satisfactorily complete a pre-placement and then bi-annual physical examination - to include visual and hearing screensThe incumbent must also complete mandatory annual Safe Driving training - both in class and electronicallyPerforms other related duties as assignedWork Schedule: Monday through Friday - 8:00am - 4:30pmWork schedule is subject to change based on agency needsTelework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual positionFunctional Statement #: 62502F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized