Social Worker-Homeless Program/Substance Use Disorder Specialist

Summary

This position is located within the Orlando VA Healthcare System - a Level 1a facility - which provides a state-of-the-art continuum of services - education and resources to Veterans and caregivers of Veterans with complex needs. This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - Please see below.

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 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
• 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 the GS-11 grade level and above - the candidate must be licensed or certified
• At the time of appointment - the supervisor - chief social work or social work executive will provide the unlicensed/uncertified social worker with the written requirements for licensure or certification - including the time by which the license or certification must be obtained and the consequences for not becoming licensed or certified by the deadline.] 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
• Most states require two years of post-MSW experience as a prerequisite to taking the licensure/certification exam - and VHA gives social workers one additional year to pass the licensure/certification exam
• In states such as California - Washington - and others where the prerequisites for licensure exceed two years - social workers must become licensed at the independent - master's level within one year of meeting the full state prerequisites for licensure
• 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: In addition to meeting the basic requirements stated above - the following qualifications criteria must be met in determining the appropriate grade assignment of candidates
• GS-09 (Entry Level) Experience - Education - and Licensure: None beyond the basic requirements
• GS-11 (Full-Performance Level) Experience and Licensure: Appointment to the GS-11 grade level requires completion of a minimum of one (1) 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 (1) year of professional social work experience in a clinical setting
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit
• Preferred Experience: Experience in performing assessments - treatment planning - care coordination - crisis intervention - and advocacy
• Experience working with client populations experiencing homelessness and substance use disorders
• Able to work independently providing psychosocial support to client populations with highly complex health - mental health - and/or substance use problems and the provision of short-term - solution-focused counseling with clients and/or their families
• Experience in locating and obtaining community resources and assisting with linkage to appropriate referrals
• Ability to drive a government vehicle
• Ability to provide care coordination for people experiencing housing insecurity
• Physical Requirements: The incumbent must be in overall good health - able to sit at a desk working at a computer - engage in light to moderate physical activity including sitting - walking - bending - and carrying supplies
• The incumbent must be able to perform primarily light and sedentary duties with occasionally moderate physical demands with reasonable accommodation - if necessary - without endangering the health and safety of others
• Position requires walking throughout the clinic and/or Medical Center - standing for extended periods of time - and involves sitting at a computer and in counsel and consultation with Veterans and interdisciplinary teams
• Position requires regular and recurring periods of standing - walking - lifting - accessing transportation - and driving a government car or van
• Work requires being physically able to lift and carry objects up to 15 pounds - conducting street outreach in the community in the extreme heat and unpredictable inclement weather of Central Florida - walking a moderate to high distance to obtain a government vehicle and to make contact with Veterans for face-to-face visits as a part of outreach efforts - ability to climb and descend several flights of stairs - and to maintain an individual level of self-preservation in the community.

Duties

• The Incumbent must be clinically knowledgeable to provide and complete assessments with understanding of complex and diverse populations
• Clients tend to have frequent and severe crises and lack a family or community support network
• Clients also may be poor at self-monitoring and frequently fail to comply with medical or legal instructions
• They may have significant deficits in coping skills and require continuing professional support
• The incumbent provides direct SUD services - case management - and outreach
• Independently conducts intake and needs assessments of Veterans experiencing homelessness
• Identifies symptoms leading to clinical diagnoses of SUD
• Provides al necessary assessment functions and SUD-specific assessments to aid in the development of treatment plans
• Develops comprehensive treatment plans collaboratively with the Veteran that address the factors that contributed to homelessness - including SUD concerns and other co-occurring psychosocial factors within a recovery model framework
• Works with the Veteran to achieve the Veteran's treatment goals and reassesses and revises goals as indicated by the Veteran's engagement in treatment
• Organizes and conducts individual and group case management and SUD treatment - to include early interventions and supportive follow-up to ensure stability through home visits and facility-based contacts
• Serves as a member of a multidisciplinary HCHV team
• Provides training for other members of the HCHV multidisciplinary team in areas related to SUD assessment - anger management - life skills - and SUD with co-occurring disorders
• Provides support to HCHV community partners as a functional member of their teams - to include consultation - interventions - or accompanying other case managers on home visits when there is an indication of problematic substance use
• Provides liaison services with HCHV team and community partners to ensure continuity of care and promote successful transition of Veterans from one program to another
• Plans - develops - and maintains a network of relationships with community resources and other advocates for the homeless to effectively screen and identify Veteran members of the homeless population
• Depending upon need - the HCHV SUD Specialist makes VA or community-based referrals - advocates for scarce resources - confirms referrals are completed - and provides intensive follow-up and coordination with these agencies
• Interviews potential clients - interprets VHA guidelines and eligibility requirements - and completes a psychosocial history and assessment
• Has knowledge and experience in the use of mental health diagnoses - disabilities - and treatment procedures
• Work Schedule: Monday through Friday 07:30am - 04:00pm 08:00am - 04:30pm 08:30am - 05:00pm Virtual: This is not a virtual position Functional Statement #: 82703F - 82704F EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact View email address on careers.biausa.org - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
• Learn more VA Careers - Social Work:

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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.

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