Social Worker (HUD-VASH)

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 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 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 Grade Determinations: GS-9 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 a Veteran centric approach when providing interventions and counseling for Veterans - their family members - caregivers - and survivors

• 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 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 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 - cultural - ethnic - educational and other diversified 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

English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f) Preferred Experience: Community based mental health setting Experience working with chronically homeless 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-9 to GS-11 Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 - Employee Occupational Health Service. Duties VA Careers - Social Work: VA Careers - Licensed Clinical Social Worker: Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional The duties of this position include - but are not limited to: Provides direct care to Veterans experiencing homelessness and housing instability in the community - in their homes - and in shelter environments Incumbent provides intensive case management services and implements psychosocial treatment modalities to patients and families who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric - medical - and socioeconomic problems Assists Veteran in procuring necessary documents to support application for HUD Section 8 program - housing - and identified resources to support community integration Provides case management services to support Veterans with housing stability and community integration - including supporting understanding of tenancy rights and responsibilities - HUD policies and expectations - budgeting - attaining - and maintaining sobriety - harm reduction strategies - and other opportunities to ensure Veterans can maintain stable housing Uses evidence-based treatment modalities that are effective with homeless population including motivational interviewing - crisis intervention - trauma informed care - harm reduction - and holistic whole health approaches to care Uses knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses - common medication effects and medical terminology to aid in the care of enrolled Veterans Completes comprehensive bio-psychosocial assessments assessing the psychological functioning and needs of Veteran households to formulate and implement client-centered treatment plans - using Specific - Measurable - Attainable - Relevant - and Timely (SMART) interventions - including Veteran identified strengths - needs - abilities - and preferences monitoring and updating progress over the course of treatment - meeting Joint Commission and CARF standards Documents all work in the Electronic Health Record (EHR) within the time frames expected by the Mental Health Division and the VA Portland Health Care System Incumbent ensures information in the Homeless Operation Management Evaluation Systems (HOMES) database is maintained - providing timely updates to case management stage and other relevant information as detailed in the VHA Directive 1162.05(1) - making improvements and adjustments as needed to ensure Medical Center performance is met or exceeded Work Schedule:Monday-Friday - 8:00am to 4:30pm Compressed Tour: May be authorized after 90 days Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive Contact View email address on click.appcast.io - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance Learn more Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases When setting pay - a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade) Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on prior [work experience] or military service experience Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment - up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth - adoption - or foster care placement of a child Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment - full time employees with a total family income below $144 -000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66 Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position Functional Statement #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized #J-18808-Ljbffr Direct Jobs