Social Worker (HUD VASH Program)

Summary This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) – a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval – award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application. 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 4 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. 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: In addition to the basic requirements for employment - the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates Social Worker GS-09: Experience - Education and Licensure None beyond the basic requirements Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities: In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Ability to utilize counseling skills when working with Veterans and family members

• 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 Social Worker GS-11: 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 NOTE: For appointment licensure or certification at this level please refer to above 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 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: Working with homeless and/or mentally ill and/or substance abusing populations Current social work license required Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit 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-09 to GS-11 Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 Driver's License Requirement: A valid - unrestricted State driver's license is required This position requires the operation of a government-owned or -leased motor vehicle to properly carry out assigned duties Creditable Experience The candidate must have knowledge of current professional social work practices To be creditable - the experience must have required the use of knowledge - skills - abilities - and other characteristics associated with current professional social work practice The experience or education must be post-Masters of Social Work (MSW) degree Experience and education satisfying this requirement must be active professional practice - which is paid/non-paid employment as a professional social worker - as defined by the appropriate state licensing board Quality of Experience Experience is only creditable if it is obtained following graduation with a master's degree in social work and if it includes work as a professional social worker directly related to the position to be filled Qualifying experience must also be at a level comparable to social work experience at the next lower level. Duties The Brooklyn VA Medical Center is seeking a highly qualified full-time Social Worker to serve as a member of the HUD VASH Case Management Service Line The incumbent is a licensed social worker who provides specialized case management and clinical services to homeless veterans through the Housing and Urban Development - Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD VASH) program Entry Level (GS-09) Assignments: Individuals assigned at GS-9 are considered to be at the entry level and are closely supervised - as they are not yet functioning at the independent practice level Social workers at the GS-9 entry level are assigned to program areas that do not require specialized knowledge or experience Duties may include: identifying behaviors or symptoms of abuse - neglect or exploitation providing education on advance directives and advanced care planning providing social work case management acting as an advocate with appropriate VA and community service providers/agencies when it serves the best interest of the Veteran and family members/caregiver assessing the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and their family members identifying the Veteran's strengths - weaknesses - coping skills and psychosocial acuity - in collaboration with the Veteran - family - and interdisciplinary treatment teams maintaining a current network of internal and external resources to educate the Veteran and/or family members/caregivers and assist with the appropriate referrals Since social workers at this level are not practicing at an independent level - they should not be assigned to program areas where independent practice is required - such as in a CBOC - unless there is a licensed social worker in the program area who can provide supervision for practice GS-9 social workers provide psychosocial services in the assigned area under supervision Full Performance Level (GS-11) Assignments: Social workers at this level are licensed or certified to independently practice social work Incumbents are assigned to all program areas - including: inpatient or outpatient medicine - surgery - mental health - neurology - rehabilitation medicine - and geriatrics Duties include: assessing and documenting identified behaviors or symptoms of abuse - neglect - exploitation and/or intimate partner violence use of clinical social work skills and knowledge to maintain Veteran privacy and confidentiality per policies - handbooks or directives and acts as an advocate with appropriate VA and community service providers and agencies when it serves the best interest of the Veteran and family members/caregiver Incumbent independently assesses the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and their family members - identifying the Veteran's strengths - weaknesses - coping skills - and psychosocial acuity In collaboration with the Veteran - family/caregiver - and interdisciplinary treatment team - the social worker facilitates the delivery of health care services The social worker identifies family/caregiver stressors - conducts assessment and provides specific interventions The incumbent provides case management and care coordination to facilitate appropriate delivery of health care services - incorporates complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment of Veterans - including making psychosocial and psychiatric diagnoses within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice The social worker links the Veteran with services - resources - and opportunities - in order to maximize the Veteran's independence - health - and well-being The social worker conducts timely assessment of at-risk Veterans in crisis to identify immediate needs - evaluate risk - and initiate safety plan as appropriate The social worker provides interventions independently with Veterans and their families/caregivers who are experiencing a wide range of complicated medical - behavioral health - financial - legal - and psychosocial problems They provide a range of interventions and treatment modalities which may include individual - group - and/or family counseling or psychotherapy They independently formulate and implement a treatment plan including measurable - achievable goals identifying the Veterans' needs - strengths - weaknesses - coping skills - and psychosocial acuity Social workers serve on committees - work groups - and task forces at the facility and VISN level or in the community They provide subject matter consultation to colleagues and students on the psychosocial treatment of Veterans offering professional opinions based on experience - expertise and role modeling effective social work practice skills The social worker establishes and maintains ongoing education programs for Veterans - community agencies - students - and staff - to facilitate understanding of social work interventions specific to the Veteran/Military population Work Schedule: Monday through Friday from 8:00am to 4:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. #J-18808-Ljbffr Direct Jobs