Social Worker (Outreach/Prevention Case Manager & HCHV/HUD VASH)

Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP)

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

Qualifications

• Citizenship: Must be a United States citizen. Non‑citizens may be appointed only when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens (38 U.S.C. 7407(a)).
• Education: Master’s degree in social work from a school fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). Schools in candidacy status do not meet this requirement. A doctoral degree in social work cannot substitute for the master’s degree. Verification can be done at http://www.cswe.org/Accreditation.
• Licensure: Must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master’s level. VHA may waive the requirement at the GS‑9 level pending completion of state prerequisites; for GS‑11 and above, licensure/certification is required at the time of appointment. The supervising chief social worker will provide written licensure requirements and deadlines.
• English Language Proficiency: Must be proficient in spoken and written English (38 U.S.C. 7403(f)).
• Physical Requirements: See “Physical Requirements” section.

Creditable Experience

• Must have knowledge of current professional social work practices.
• Experience must be post‑MSW and involve paid or unpaid professional practice as defined by the state licensing board.
• Experience must be active professional practice directly related to the position.
• Quality of experience must be comparable to the next lower social work level.
• Part‑time experience is creditable proportionally (e.g., two weeks part‑time = one week full‑time).
• Fellowships or post‑graduate training in specialized clinical areas may be substituted on a year‑for‑year basis.
• VA practicum experience cannot be substituted for post‑graduate experience.

Grade Determinations

• GS‑9: Requires only the basic requirements (citizenship, education, licensure). Candidates must demonstrate the following KSAs:
  • Ability to work with Veterans and families from diverse backgrounds using counseling skills.
  • Ability to assess psychosocial functioning, formulate and implement treatment plans.
  • Ability to implement treatment modalities (supportive, problem‑solving, crisis intervention).
  • Ability to establish effective working relationships and communicate with clients, staff, and community agencies.
  • Fundamental knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities, treatment procedures, common medications, and medical terminology.
• GS‑11: Requires at least one year of post‑MSW experience equivalent to the GS‑9 level in health‑care or related social‑work settings (VA or non‑VA) and state licensure, **or** a doctoral degree in social work may substitute for the experience requirement. Additional KSAs:
  • Knowledge of community resources and ability to make appropriate referrals.
  • Skill in independently conducting psychosocial assessments and treatment interventions for diverse populations.
  • Knowledge of medical and mental‑health diagnoses, disabilities, treatment procedures, medications, and terminology to formulate treatment plans.
  • Skill in independently implementing various treatment modalities for individuals, families, and groups.
  • Ability to provide consultation to new social workers, graduate students, and other staff regarding psychosocial needs and their impact on health‑care compliance.

Physical Requirements

Work is primarily sedentary but also requires standing, walking, bending, twisting, and carrying light items. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 – Employee Occupational Health Services for detailed requirements.

Duties

• Serve as Outreach/Prevention Case Manager and point of entry for Bath VAMC’s Healthcare for Homeless Veterans (HCHV) Program.
• Monitor homeless or at‑risk Veterans in the community and coordinate services to ensure housing retention for those in the HUD‑VASH program.
• Participate in community meetings to reach all at‑risk Veterans and conduct outreach, public relations, and marketing of HCHV services.
• Provide case management for veterans enrolled in HCHV and HUD‑VASH, an intensive case‑management program that pairs psychosocial services with HUD Section 8 vouchers.
• Act as the primary contact for HCHV referrals and consults from VA facilities and community resources.
• Assess all veterans entering HCHV, identify psychosocial needs, develop treatment plans, and complete clinical documentation.
• Verify veteran eligibility for VA and non‑VA resources and ensure compliance with program criteria.
• Collect and submit HCHV participant data per NEPEC evaluation procedures.
• Maintain referral and admission processes for HCHV participants and ensure they are primary program participants.
• Collect and submit HOMES assessments as required.
• Collaborate with local Continuum of Care (COC) subcommittees and Homeless Housing Task Forces to ensure VA compliance.
• Review agreements between Section 8 landlords, public housing authorities, and the VA to establish appropriate referral sites for HUD‑VASH placements.
• Conduct site visits of HUD‑VASH apartments to verify safe living environments and compliance with local housing codes.
• Comply with criminal conflict‑of‑interest laws and Executive Branch standards.