Clarification from the agency

If you are not a current, permanent VA employee or Federal employee from another agency, you should apply under CBST-10942940-21-SMB

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The social worker recognizes the age-related needs and demonstrates knowledge and care appropriate to that age group. The social worker provides outreach, assessments, referrals and case management services to homeless Veterans identified in the community and the HCHV Walk-In Clinic. Services are also provided to homeless Veterans receiving treatment in contract residential treatment and supportive housing programs. Referrals come from various shelters, soup kitchens, drop-in centers, social service agencies and the medical center. The Social Worker completes program specific forms, including Northeastern Program Evaluation Center (NEPEC) forms, on Homeless Veterans receiving outreach services. Efforts are directed toward using a therapeutic relationship to assist the individual/significant other gain more control over their lives and resolve issues which have led to homelessness.
-The Outreach Social Worker with the Health Care for Homeless Veterans (HCHV) Program engages in psychosocial/diagnostic assessment with patient/family on each active case. The incumbent establishes therapeutic rapport and elicits relevant information by using interviewing skills and observation. The incumbent initiates outreach to the community to identify Homeless Chronically Mentally III (HCMI) Veterans. The target population consists of Veterans who are homeless, and who are chronically mentally ill, including substance abusers.
- Provides a full range of social work services within commonly accepted standards of social work practice, which includes case work, individual, family and group counseling, discharge planning, case management and other services as appropriate. The Social Worker provides ongoing therapeutic intervention with the patient and significant other to assist them in dealing and coping with the psychosocial issues of mental health, aging, illness and disability, dealing with loss and grief.
-Ensures continuity of patient care in the development and implementation of the plan of care. Facilitates evaluation and treatment of Veterans in contract facilities and participates in case conferences with those Veterans. Plans will reflect continuity of care, including expected short and long-range outcomes.
- Provides all necessary direct and indirect care services consistent with the area of assignment. Agreed upon priorities are maintained and caseload is effectively managed while keeping coordinator informed of problem areas.

The incumbent is responsible for completing the following duties/responsibilities:
- Conduct psychosocial assessments to determine needs of Veterans and family members.
- Be an active participant in the treatment planning process with other disciplines.
- Will participate in discharge planning with other disciplines and will be responsible for ensuring that discharge plans are executed in a manner that is timely and appropriate.
- Will provide individual, family and group counseling as appropriate.
- Will provide consultation/education to Veterans and families on community resources, advance directives and VA benefits.
- Will act as a consultant to other team/staff members.
- Provide consultation/education to medical residents on social work practice and VA policy and procedure.
- Act as liaison between VA and community resources, to include marketing and public relation duties as needed.
- Provide case management to Veterans and families, as needed, throughout the continuum of care
- Provide a full range of social work services within commonly accepted standards of social work practice which includes case work, individual, family and group counseling, discharge planning, case management and other services as appropriate
- Address Advance Directives and Organ Donation in accordance with the standards of their work area.
- Provide wellness/prevention education and facilitate Patient/family support groups as appropriate.
-Supervise the practice of social work students, or a less experienced social worker.
- Coordinate treatment and communicate with the care lines to facilitate continuity of care for Veterans.
- Participate in committee assignments, as deemed necessary by the service manager.
- Maintain data and statistical compilations to comply with JCAHO, VA and medical center policy and procedures.
- Assist patients and their significant others with coping and dealing with the loss and grief experiences in disability, terminal illness and death.
- Document social work interventions and activities in patient's clinical record utilizing CPRS and ensure appropriate hand off when transferring of patient care.
- Coordinate appointments and provide transportation, as needed, to ensure all Mental Health performance measures are completed according to requirements.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday with occasional weekends and evenings.
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Designated and/or random drug testing may be required
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• You may be required to serve a probationary period
• Subject to a background/security investigation
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process

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.
• Education. Have a 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. Verification of the degree can be made by going to http://www.cswe.org/Accreditation to verify that the social work degree meets the accreditation standards for a masters of social work.
• 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 by going to http://vaww.va.gov/OHRM/T38Hybrid/.
• 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 at the GS-9 grade level.
• English Language Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).

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).

Grade Determinations:
GS-9
(1) Experience, Education, and Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements.
(2) 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.

GS-11
(1) 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
(2) 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.
(3) 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.

References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G39.

The full performance level of this vacancy is Grade 9. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of Grade 9 to Grade 11.

Physical Requirements: Most of the work occurs within a typical office setting (could work outside at times) and will work closely with others. The physical demands involve moderate lifting and carrying (15-44 pounds), light lifting and carrying (under 15 pounds), reaching above shoulders, walking and standing two or more hours per day, use of fingers and manual dexterity. Will also need to meet the following: near vision (with or without correction), far vision 20/20 (one eye) and 20/40 (in other eye) with or without correction, hearing (with or without aid) and other areas as required.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, résumé, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.