Clarification from the agency

The area of consideration will be referred in the following order: 1. Current permanent Facility employees 2. Current permanent Agency (Department of Veterans Affairs) employees 3. Current permanent employees of other Federal agencies 4. Current, Federal HPTs

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The HCHV Social Worker functions as the Department's subject matter expert for the provision of outreach services to Veterans experiencing homelessness. The HCHV Social Worker provides assessment and case management initiated through outreach with the focus on providing access to housing resources and monitoring of Veteran involvement with appropriate VA and community-based providers throughout the continuum of services. The major duties and responsibilities of the Senior Social Worker are as follows:

Clinical:
1. Independently performs case finding functions and outreach, assessments, referrals and case management services to homeless Veterans identified in the community to include homeless Veterans receiving treatment in contracted residential treatment and supportive housing programs.
2. Independently conducts assessments, referrals and provides short term case management services to homeless Veterans presenting to the VA Medical Center and to other medical center-based walk-in clinics and/or community-based outreach clinics operated by VA CHOS staff, as assigned.
3. May be assigned to staff the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans (NCCHV) hotline, providing crisis intervention (as clinical indicated), and referrals and linkages to community and VA basic needs resources.
4. Independently identifies high-risk Veterans and provides short-term case management services. Provides crisis intervention services, seeking to address the cause as well as the presenting complaint, coordinates family conferences and serves as liaison to family members.
5. Conducts routine suicide risk screens, comprehensive assessments and collaborative safety plans when clinically indicated; provides follow-up appointments for all Veterans upon initiation on the "High Risk for Potential Suicide List" in compliance with VACO directives to include follow-up with Veterans who fail to attend appointments per local procedures.
6. Conducts psychosocial assessments. Develops treatment plans in collaboration with the Veteran/family and with the interdisciplinary treatment team, including referrals to appropriate housing intervention programs within and outside of the VA, as well as other medical and/or mental health programs, as determined by the assessment and taking into consideration the Veteran's self-determination as well as program eligibility.
7. Provides ongoing therapeutic intervention with the Veteran and significant other to assist them in dealing and coping with the psychosocial issues of mental health, aging, illness and disability, loss and grief, and terminal illness and dying.
8. Coordinate treatment and communicate with the care lines to facilitate continuity of care for Veterans including participating 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.
9. Collaborates in identifying and addressing ethical issues that impact patients and staff, including initiating and participating in ethical consultations. Maintains complete Veteran confidentiality. Analyzes ethical/care issues, applying appropriate theoretical principles and ensures application of institutional policy.
10. May participate in a rotation of on-call social workers, including modification of tour of duty to accommodate patient care needs on weekends. The incumbent will be expected to perform a large part of their work in community settings. The incumbent must have an unrestricted State Driver's License and be cleared to drive a government vehicle for transporting Veterans.

Administrative:
1. The incumbent will document social work interventions and activities in Veteran's electronic health record, in accordance with prescribed timelines and ensure appropriate hand off when transferring of Veteran care through care coordination.
2. Collects and reports program specific data and completes associated forms, including HOMES, HMIS/CES assessments, and triage forms for homeless Veterans receiving outreach, NCCHV, walk-in based services within CHOS.
3. Attends and participates in regular Service Line, Team meetings, applicable National Homeless Programs Office (HPO) calls and trainings, and community-based provider meetings. Participate in committee assignments, as deemed necessary by the supervisor and/or service manager.
4. May assist in the development of and/or oral presentation of VA homeless program information to community partners and/or community groups, as assigned.
Work Schedule: Mon-Fri 8:00am-4:30pm
Telework: Not Available.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized.
EDRP: Not Authorized.
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• 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. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• 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).
• Must currently possess a valid drivers' license and be cleared to transport veterans.

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 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. Verification of the degree can be made by going to http://www.cswe.org/Accreditation to verify that the social work degree meets the 4 accreditation standards for a masters of social work. A COPY OF YOUR TRANSCRIPT WITH CONFER DATE IS REQUIRED WITH YOUR APPLICATION.
• 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/. A COPY OF YOUR LICENSURE IS REQUIRED WITH YOUR 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 at the GS-9 grade level.
  • For appointments at the GS-9 grade level: VHA social workers who are not licensed or certified at the time of appointment must become licensed or certified at the independent, master's level within three years of their appointment as a social worker.
  • Failure to Obtain License or Certification. In all cases, social workers must actively pursue meeting state prerequisites for licensure or certification starting from the date of their appointment. Failure to become licensed or certified within the prescribed amount of time will result in removal from the GS-0185 social worker series and may result in termination of employment.
  • Loss of Licensure or Certification. 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 termination of employment.

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 Experience: None beyond the basic requirements.

GS-11 Experience: 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. 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.

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, educational, and other 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.

Preferred Experience: Experience working with veterans.

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: Operating a motor vehicle, distinguish basic colors, moderate lifting and pushing up to 44 pounds, working inside and outside, alone and closely with others.

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, resume, 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.

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.