Social Worker - Healthcare for Homeless Veterans (HCHV)

About the role

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) – a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program approval – award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.

Responsibilities

• Conduct psychosocial assessments to determine needs of veterans and family members
• Participate in the treatment planning process with other disciplines
• Participate in discharge planning with other disciplines and ensure discharge plans are executed timely and appropriately
• Provide individual, family, and group counseling as appropriate
• Provide consultation/education to veterans and families on community resources, advance directives, and VA benefits
• Act as a consultant to other team/staff members
• Participate in annual homeless initiatives (e.g., homeless stand down and CHALENG) required by the Northeast Program Evaluation Center (NEPEC)
• Act as liaison between VA and community resources, including marketing and public relations duties as needed
• Provide case management services to veterans and families as needed throughout the continuum of care
• Provide a full range of social work services within commonly accepted standards (case work, individual/family/group counseling, discharge planning, case management, etc.)
• Address Advance Directives and Organ Donation in accordance with work area standards
• Provide wellness/prevention education and facilitate patient/family support groups as appropriate
• Supervise the practice of social work students or less experienced social workers as appropriate
• Coordinate treatment and communicate with other services to facilitate continuity of care for veterans
• Participate in committee assignments as deemed necessary by supervisor or service chief
• Maintain data and statistical compilations to comply with JCAHO, CARF, VA, and medical center policies and procedures
• Assist patients and significant others with coping and dealing with loss and grief experiences in disability, terminal illness, and death
• Document social work interventions and activities in patient's clinical record using CPRS and ensure appropriate hand-off during patient care transfers
• Perform other duties as assigned
• Keep supervisor apprised of problems and recommended solutions
• Maintain familiarity and share responsibility for all performance measures relating to the HCHV program

Requirements

• United States Citizenship: Must be a citizen of the United States; non‑citizens may be appointed only when qualified citizens cannot be recruited per VA policy
• English Language Proficiency: Proficiency in spoken and written English per VA Handbook 5005 – Part II – chapter 3 – section A – paragraph 3j
• Education Requirement: Master’s degree in social work from a school fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE); doctoral degree cannot substitute for the master’s; verify accreditation at www.cswe.org
• Licensure Requirement: Must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master’s level; VHA may waive licensure for GS