Social Science Technician

Summary

The Wm. Jennings Bryan Dorn Columbia VA Health Care System (VAHCS) opened in 1932 at its current location. The facility has 204 skilled nursing beds - which includes acute medical - surgical - psychiatric - and long-term care. The hospital provides primary - secondary - and some tertiary care. The facility is a complex teaching hospital - providing a full range of patient care services - with state-of-the-art technology - education - and research.

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
• 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: Specialized Experience: Experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge - skills - and abilities (KSA's) to perform successfully the duties of the position - and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled
• To be creditable - specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-6)
• Examples of specialized experience would typically include - but are not limited to: interview potential clients - provide direct social services to veterans - makes referrals to various homeless programs - and communicate effectively both verbally and in writing - etc
• Education: As a General rule is not creditable however graduate education may be credited in few instances where graduate education is related directly to the position
• Combination: Applicants may combine directly related graduate education and specialized experience to meet the total qualification requirement
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-7. Physical Requirements: The physical demands of this position involve primarily walking - talking - driving - climbing stairs - standing - use of telephone - etc. - and may handle and carry light to moderately heavy objects
• No special physical demands are required to perform work.

Duties

• Develops working relationships with various community agencies - SSVF partners and other governmental agencies - often serving as the VA liaison or contact person
• Have frequent contact with staff from various community agencies and maintains a good relationship that fosters interagency collaboration and allows for the coordinated care for Veterans
• Interviews potential clients - confirms eligibility and attempts to complete a bio - psychosocial assessment screening for admission including the completion of HOMES form - discharge planning - evaluation for ongoing psychosocial service - evaluation of progress of treatment and the evaluation of the Veterans adjustment in their immediate environment - including assessment of need for environmental changes
• Provides information - referrals and linkage to Veterans and families to VA healthcare - community resources - VA financial benefits - and assists with paperwork to obtain these services
• Makes referrals to the various homeless programs - as appropriate - for further evaluation and indicated treatment such as HCHV intake - GPD transitional housing - CWT/CEC employment services - VJO and HUD/VASH
• Incumbent interviews potential clients - confirms eligibility and attempts to complete a bio-psychosocial assessment and completes the HOMES forms - discharge planning and evaluation for ongoing services and interprets and explains the VA's treatment and benefit programs
• Develops and appropriate treatment plan using known available resources and information from the psychosocial assessment
• Provides direct social services to Veterans to include case management - transportation - crisis intervention - short focused individual and group intervention as appropriate directed at a specific limited objective such as assisting the Veteran with specific change in his/her normal lifestyle or overall treatment choice to affect an improvement in the Veterans level of functioning - employment status - family situation - etc
• Maintain data and statistical compilations to comply with JCAHO - CARF - VA and medical center policy and procedures
• Maintain familiarity and shares responsibility for all performance measures relating to VA's Health Care for Homeless Veterans Programs
• Incumbent will assist with verifying Veterans' eligibility for VA hospital care and medical services and assist with linkage as appropriate by helping Veterans with completing VA Form 10-EZ - Application for Medical Benefits - for those Veterans not seen at the medical facility and/or will transport them to the VA eligibility office for services
• Additional duties as assigned
• Work Schedule: 8:00am to 4:30pm - M-F Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 01926-A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,321 health care facilities, including 172 VA Medical Centers and 1,138 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics) to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. VHA Medical Centers provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy. In addition, most of our medical centers offer additional medical and surgical specialty services including audiology & speech pathology, dermatology, dental, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, podiatry, prosthetics, urology, and vision care. Some medical centers also offer advanced services such as organ transplants and plastic surgery.