Summary

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.

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

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: The applicant must be proficient in spoken and written English? Per VA Handbook 5005 - Part II - Chapter 3 - Section A - Paragraph 3j: No person will be appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C. - chapter 73 or 74 - to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA who is not proficient in written and spoken English
• 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 of social work that are in candidacy status do not meet this requirement until the school of social work is fully accredited
• A doctoral degree in social work may not be substituted for the master's degree in social work
• (Must provide copy of transcript(s) with application)
• Licensure: Persons hired or reassigned to social worker positions in the GS-185 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 on the OHRM website
• (Must provide copy of license(s) with application)
• Exception
• VHA may waive the licensure or certification requirement for persons who are otherwise qualified - pending completion of state prerequisites for licensure/certification examinations
• This exception only applies up to the full performance level
• For grade levels above the full performance level - the candidate must be licensed or certified.to the full performance level
• Preferred Experience: Must have worked with those experiencing homelessness to assist Veterans with obtaining and maintaining independent lives in a community setting
• Applicants with the following certification from American Heart Association (AHA) or Military Training Network (MTN) are highly preferred: Basic Life Support (BLS)
• The selected employee will be required to receive certification prior to assuming clinical responsibilities and ensure current certification after employment is maintained
• Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements - candidates must have the following (your resume will be utilized to adjudicate responses)
• Social Worker - GS-9 Level: Experience - Education - and Licensure
• None beyond the basic requirements.-AND- Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Ability to work with Veterans and family members from various socioeconomic - cultural - ethnic - educational - and other diversified backgrounds utilizing counseling skills
• (b) Ability to assess the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and their family members - and to formulate and implement a treatment plan - identifying the Veterans problems - strengths - weaknesses - coping skills - and assistance needed
• (c) Ability to implement treatment modalities in working with individuals - families - and groups to achieve treatment goals
• This requires judgment and skill in utilizing supportive - problem solving - or crisis intervention techniques
• (d) Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients - staff - and representatives of community agencies
• (e) Fundamental knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses - disabilities - and treatment procedures
• This includes acute - chronic - and traumatic illnesses/injuries
• common medications and their effects/side effects
• and medical terminology
• Social Worker - GS-11 Level: Experience and Licensure
• Appointment to the GS-11 grade level requires completion of a minimum of one year of post-MSW experience equivalent to the GS-9 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
• -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
• -AND- Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above - candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of community resources - how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services - and ability to coordinate services
• (b) Skill in independently conducting psychosocial assessments and treatment interventions to a wide variety of individuals from various socio-economic - cultural - ethnic - educational and other diversified backgrounds
• (c) 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
• (d) Skill 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 goals
• (e) Ability to provide consultation services to new social workers - social work graduate students - and other staff about the psychosocial needs of patients and the impact of psychosocial problems on health care and compliance with treatment
• May 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)
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-9 to GS-11
• Physical Requirements: The position requires some physical effort
• The incumbent must be able to transport veterans and drive a government automobile in the performance of their official duties
• The incumbent must be able to perform community outreach and go into the community including high-homeless areas
• The incumbent must be able to adapt to rapid and changing priorities
• A valid driver's license is required - as the incumbent will be working primarily in the community
• Must complete annual Employee Health requirements to include a driver's assessment and must pass VA driver's physical.

Duties

• Duties Verifies the Veteran's status - eligibility for VA medical care - and eligibility for program participation
• Ensures that homeless Veterans are considered as primary participants for program acceptance
• Provides intensive case management services for a caseload of Veterans in the HUDVASH
• Program as defined in HUD-VASH program rules - regulations and directives
• Utilizes various treatment modalities - including individual and group work - casework - community organization and outreach to alleviate or remove problems that interfere with Veterans' ability to achieve independence
• This includes consulting and collaborating with Homeless Program team members and community organizations on a routine basis
• Coordinates housing services in concert with clinical treatment using evidence-based interventions appropriate for the homeless and chronically homeless Veteran population - including Housing First - Motivational Interviewing - Seeking Safety - Critical Time Intervention and Harm Reduction
• Conducts psychosocial assessments with Veterans to determine their strengths - needs - abilities - preferences and desired outcomes for services
• Actively participates in treatment/discharge planning with Veterans and other disciplines to ensure that plans are executed in a manner that is timely and appropriate
• Reviews agreements between Section 8 - landlords - Public Housing Authorities and the VA in establishing appropriate referral sites for HUD-VASH placements
• Performs site visits of HUD-VASH apartments to ensure that Veterans reside in safe environments in compliance with local housing codes
• Provides consultation and education to Veterans and family members regarding community resources - advance directives and VA benefits
• Collects and enters HUD-VASH program participant data into national data reporting systems as required by the Northeast Program Evaluation Center (NEPEC) and Homeless Operations Management Evaluation System (HOMES).Coordinates the provision of comprehensive healthcare services to Veterans - and ensures equity of access - services and benefits to this population
• Ensures that care provided is of the highest quality - and will serve as an advocate on behalf of Veterans to ensure comprehensive service delivery
• Links and refers Veterans to the Kansas City VA Medical Center - VA Regional Offices and/or community agencies
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 8:00 am - 4:30 pm Rotational Off Duty On-Call is a requirement of this position Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact visn15edrp@va.gov - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
• Learn more Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases
• When setting pay - a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade)
• Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on prior [work experience] or military service experience
• Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment - up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth - adoption - or foster care placement of a child
• Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment - full time employees with a total family income below $144 -000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: ADHOC As needed Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: Social Worker (HUD-VASH) 00000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional