Social Worker - HUD VASH Case Manager

About the role

The Clinical Social Worker is a critical position in the Columbia VAMC Housing and Urban Development/VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) Program and is under the supervision of the Supervisory Social Worker for the HUD/VASH Program/Program Specialist for the HCHV/CWT/HUD-VASH Program. The HUD/VASH Program is a collaborative effort supported through HUD Section 8 rental assistance vouchers and VA's provision of intensive case management services by acuity level.

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: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f).
• Education: 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 in candidacy status do not meet this requirement until the school is fully accredited. A doctoral degree in social work may not be substituted for the master's degree. Verification of accreditation can be made at http://www.cswe.org/Accreditation.
• Licensure: 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 level. Current state requirements may be found at http://vaww.va.gov/OHRM/T38Hybrid/.
  • Exception for GS-09: VHA may waive the licensure/certification requirement for persons otherwise qualified, pending completion of state prerequisites for licensure/certification examinations. This exception only applies at the GS-09 grade level. For GS-11 and above, the candidate must be licensed or certified at the time of appointment.
  • At the time of appointment, the supervisor, chief social work, or social work executive will provide the unlicensed/uncertified social worker with written requirements for licensure/certification, including the deadline and consequences for not obtaining it.
  • GS-09 timeline: Unlicensed social workers must become licensed/certified at the independent master's level within three years of appointment. Most states require two years of post-MSW experience as a prerequisite to taking the exam; VHA gives one additional year to pass. In states where prerequisites exceed two years (e.g., California, Washington), social workers must become licensed within one year of meeting full state prerequisites.
  • Supervision requirement: A social worker without a license allowing independent practice must be supervised by a licensed independent practitioner of the same discipline who is a VA staff member with access to the electronic health record.
  • State licensure levels: Different states have different levels of licensure/certification. Each state, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia completed surveys identifying the level allowing independent practice. Copies are on file in the VHA Office of Care Management and Social Work Services; a summary spreadsheet is available to social work professional standards board members. All states except California use ASWB examinations. Information at https://www.aswb.org/.
  • Grandfathering Provision: May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard (only applicable to current VHA employees in this occupation who meet the criteria).

Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements, the following criteria must be met for each grade level.

Social Worker – GS-09

Experience, Education, and Licensure: None beyond the basic requirements.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): The candidate must demonstrate all of the following:

• Ability to utilize a Veteran-centric approach when providing interventions and counseling for Veterans, their family members, caregivers, and survivors.
• Ability to assess the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and their family members, and to formulate and implement a treatment plan identifying the Veteran's problems, strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and assistance needed.
• Ability to implement treatment modalities in working with individuals, families, and groups to achieve treatment goals, requiring judgment and skill in utilizing supportive, problem-solving, or crisis intervention techniques.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients, staff, and representatives of community agencies.
• Fundamental knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities, and treatment procedures, including acute, chronic, and traumatic illnesses/injuries; common medications and their effects/side effects; and medical terminology.

Social Worker – GS-11

Experience and Licensure: Appointment 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) and licensure or certification in a state at the independent practice level. Note: For appointment, licensure or certification at this level is required.

OR Education: In 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 setting.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the experience above, candidates must demonstrate all of the following:

• Knowledge of community resources, how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services, and ability to coordinate services.
• Skill in independently conducting psychosocial assessments and treatment interventions to a wide variety of individuals from various socio-economic, educational, and other backgrounds.
• Knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities, and treatment procedures (i.e., acute, chronic, and traumatic illnesses/injuries; common medications and their effects/side effects; and medical terminology) to formulate a treatment plan.
• Skill in independently implementing different treatment modalities in working with