Clarification from the agency

This is an open continuous announcement and will remain open until June 5, 2023. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be 15 business days from opening of announcement on March 8, 2023, with subsequent cut-off dates. Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis until positions are filled.

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** A RECRUITMENT INCENTIVE MAY BE AUTHORIZED FOR HIGHLY QUALIFIED CANDIDATE**

The duties of the HUD VASH Senior Social Worker with in the North FL/South GA Veterans Health System, Mental Health Service Line includes:

• The incumbent independently provides clinical psychosocial and case management services at an advanced practice level to eligible veterans and their family members in the VA Supporting Housing (VASH) Program to meet biological, psychological, social and environmental needs located in Gainesville, FL.
• Provides support for the Health Care for Homeless Veterans (HCHV)/Community Care Programs including outreach activities.
• Travels to patient homes and outreach sites is required via government vehicle.
• Responsible for program oversight, monitoring and administration, serving as the primary contact with local Public Housing Agencies (PHAs) and providing case management-based services (directly or through referral) necessary to ensure that veteran care is coordinated with the VA medical center, community health or mental health providers, and agencies that serve homeless populations.
• Works closely with the VA medical center's homeless programs, residential and community care programs, and domiciliary programs to ensure that coordination between these entities is facilitated and veterans direct care, referral, and follow up is contiguous and based on a continuum of services.
• Independently provides clinical psychosocial and case management services at an advanced practice level for eligible veterans and their family members in the program.
• Provides support to the local Medical Center through the assignment of special projects and/or committees.
• Provides support and mentoring to social work interns and newly hired social workers.
• Provides support to the HCHV/ Community Care program and Mental Health Service Line by service on task forces and special assignments.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm
Compressed/Flexible: Not available.
Telework: Not available.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: Senior Social Worker (HUD/VASH), FS #50298F.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized - As determined by Facility/Agency
EDRP Authorized: Contact Geraldin Louis at geraldin.louis@va.gov and/or Lajuanta Mitchell at lajuanta.mitchell@va.gov, the NF/SG EDRP Coordinators for questions/assistance. Learn more
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

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: Be a citizen of the United States. 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: 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.
• Licensure: Persons hired or reassigned to social worker positions in the GS-185 series at the 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/. Once licensed or certified, social workers must maintain a full, valid, and unrestricted independent license or certification to remain qualified for employment. Loss of licensure or certification will result in removal from the GS-0185 social worker series and may result in employment termination.

Grade Determinations. In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.

Senior Social Worker GS-12

• Experience and Education: The candidate must have at least two (2) years of experience post advanced practice clinical licensure and should be in a specialized area of social work practice of which, one (1) year must be equivalent to the GS-11 grade level. Senior social workers have experience that demonstrates possession of advanced practice skills and judgment. Senior social workers are experts in their specialized area of practice. Senior social workers may have certification or other post-masters training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university that includes a defined curriculum/course of study and internship or equivalent supervised professional experience in a specialty.
• Licensure/Certification: Senior social workers must be licensed or certified by a state at the advanced practice level which included an advanced generalist or clinical examination, unless they are grandfathered by the state in which they are licensed to practice at the advanced practice level (except for licenses issued in California, which administers its own clinical examination for advanced practice) and they must be able to provide supervision for licensure.

While we no longer require essay-style responses to our Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities, (KSA's), you must be able to demonstrate that you possess the (below) competencies which are necessary to perform the work of the position. Please ensure your resume/CV/application contains sufficient information to support the level of experience/education/training. Otherwise, we will not be able to award you credit for the experience/education/training you claim. The GS-12 KSA's for this subject position are;

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

• Skill in a range of specialized interventions and treatment modalities used in specialty treatment programs or with special patient populations. This includes individual, group, and/or family counseling or psychotherapy and advanced level psychosocial and/or case management.
• Ability to incorporate complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice.
• Knowledge in developing and implementing methods for measuring effectiveness of social work practice and services in the specialty area, utilizing outcome evaluations to improve treatment services and to design system changes.
• Ability to provide specialized consultation to colleagues and students on the psychosocial treatment of patients in the service delivery area, as well as role modeling effective social work practice skills.
• Ability to expand clinical knowledge in the social work profession, and to write policies, procedures, and/or practice guidelines pertaining to the service delivery area.

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).

Preferred Experience: Experience in Mental Health Social Work, experience in community based work, experience working with persons who are experiencing homelessness.

References: VA Handbook 5005/120 Part II Appendix G39, Qualification Standard for DVA Social Workers.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12.

Physical Requirements: The work requires extreme patience and controlling of emotions. The work may require using appropriate techniques to physically restrain patients who present a danger to self or others. The work may also require assisting physically disabled Veterans. Day-to-day work involves sitting, walking, standing and carrying light objects. The work is typically performed in a clinical setting that exposes the incumbent to the communicable diseases common to the homeless populations. Much of the work is performed in a setting nay from the office, where the environment cannot be controlled.

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.

If you are interested in being a part of a LEAN organization and putting other's needs before your own this may be the organization for you. Yours might be the first face they see when they come through our doors. Yours might be the voice they hear right after a surprise diagnosis. Yours might be the eyes they look into as they are pushed in a wheelchair to a frightening procedure. Your attitude reflects us and everything we are proud of in this organization. By applying for this position, you have chosen to help serve our patients and we appreciate you.

The North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System serves veterans across a large geographical area in North Florida (33 counties) and South Georgia (19 counties). In addition to our two medical centers in Gainesville and Lake City, we offer a number of services to our patients in several VA community-based outpatient clinics.

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.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.