Social Worker - Mental Health

About the Role

This Social Worker position is assigned to the Healthcare for Homeless Veterans (HCHV) Team under Mental Health, providing community-based clinical psychosocial and case management services for chronically homeless Veterans and their families. The role works closely with VA homeless, residential, and domiciliary programs to ensure continuous, coordinated care, and requires travel to meet with Veterans, community agencies, and partners supporting the Syracuse VAMC and its Veterans and caregivers.

Responsibilities

• Provides intensive case management services to assigned Veterans and significant others, consistent with the goals and methods of the Health Care for Homeless Veterans (HCHV) program.
• Maintains frequent direct contact with Veterans to provide therapy and support aimed at maintaining housing, increasing contact during times of crisis, and strengthening Veterans' ability to independently address acute and chronic problems.
• Delivers care within the framework established by National HUD-VASH Directives.
• Collaborates and consults with interdisciplinary treatment teams to promote and enhance Veteran care.
• Provides individual, family, and group psychotherapy as applicable.
• Maintains strong working relationships with community agencies, including reviewing agreements between Section 8, landlords, and Public Housing Authorities.
• Establishes and maintains appropriate referral sites for HUD-VASH placements.
• Conducts site visits of HUD-VASH apartments to ensure Veterans reside in safe environments compliant with local housing codes.
• Completes psychosocial assessments, initial and updated treatment plans, and discharge summaries as clinically indicated.
• Collects and submits HUD-VASH program participant data as outlined by the Homeless Operations Management and Evaluation System (HOMES).
• Stays current on National HUD-VASH directives by participating in conference calls and attending HUD-VASH Team trainings.
• Follows all local policies and procedures, including documentation requirements for CARF and Joint Commission accreditation.
• Participates in program planning and development, advises supervisor on caseload trends, identifies needs for procedure or policy changes, and makes recommendations.
• Communicates effectively, both orally and in writing, with people from varied backgrounds.
• Evaluates own practice through professional peer review, case conferences, and other organizational means.
• Documents social work interventions and activities in the patient's clinical record and ensures appropriate hand-off when transferring patient care.
• Provides consultation to other staff regarding Veterans' psychosocial needs and the impact of psychosocial problems on health care and treatment adherence.
• Coordinates treatment and communicates with other services to facilitate Veteran care.
• Maintains general knowledge of Veterans' benefits and services, including special programs, service-connected compensation, and non-service-connected pension.
• Facilitates referrals based on Veteran needs and eligibility.
• Participates in committee assignments, discipline-specific meetings, and initiatives as deemed necessary by the service manager.
• Participates in a rotation of on-call social workers, including modification of tour of duty to accommodate patient care needs on weekends.

Qualifications

• United States Citizenship (Non-citizens may be appointed under specific conditions).
• Master's degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited school.
• Licensure or certification by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level (exceptions apply for GS-9 level).
• English language proficiency.

Grade Determinations

Social Worker - GS-9:

• No experience beyond basic requirements.
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs):
• Veteran-centric approach in interventions and counseling.
• Assessment of psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and their families.
• Implementation of treatment modalities for individuals, families, and groups.
• Effective communication and relationship-building with clients, staff, and community agencies.
• Fundamental knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities, and treatment procedures.

Social Worker - GS-11:

• One year of post-MSW experience equivalent to GS-9 in healthcare or related settings and licensure/certification at the independent practice level, OR a doctoral degree in social work.
• Demonstrated KSAs (same as GS-9, with increased proficiency and complexity).

Physical Requirements

See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Services.

Work Schedule

Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm

Additional Information

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. Applicants must meet specific eligibility requirements and submit their 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.

Recruitment/Relocation Incentives and Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance) are not authorized. Former EDRP participants are ineligible to apply for the incentive. Contact vhaedrpprogramsupport@va.gov for EDRP coordination.