Social Worker

Summary

The position is located within the Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System within the Community Engagement and Reintegration Service (CERS). The incumbent will be assigned to one of the facilities locations where a HUD-VASH team is based. The incumbent is an unlicensed entry level Social Worker assigned to the Housing and Urban Development Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH).

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
• [Transcripts must be submitted at time of application
• Conferral of degree(s) must be stated on transcript(s)
• Unofficial transcripts(s) are acceptable]
• 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
• [COPIES OF LICENSE/CERTIFICATION MUST BE SUBMITTED WITH APPLICATION PACKET] Grandfathering Provision: 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)
• NOTE: If social workers covered under the grandfathering provision of the 1991 Federal law regarding licensure or certification of VHA social workers leave the GS-0185 social work series - they lose the grandfathering protection
• If they choose to return at a later date to the GS-0185 series - they must be licensed or certified to qualify for employment as a social worker
• Preferred Experience: Holds an Independent license 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 and Licensure
• None above the basic qualifications 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
• 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 Knowledge - Skills and Abilities: Knowledge of community resources - how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services - and ability to coordinate services
• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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
• References: VA Handbook 5005/120 - Part II - Appendix G39 - Social Work Qualification Standard - GS-0185 - Veterans Health Administration
• Physical Requirements: Light lifting (under 15 pounds)
• light carrying (under 15 pounds)
• reaching above shoulder
• use of fingers
• both hands required
• walking
• standing
• hearing (aid permitted)
• Frequent travel into the community is required for this position.

Duties

• VA Careers - Social Work: Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Under the supervision of a licensed clinician - the Social Worker duties include working with a multidisciplinary team and interacting with Veterans - family members - significant others - community agencies - VA - and non-VA healthcare providers in addressing Veteran homelessness
• Under the supervision of a licensed clinician - the Social Worker duties include and are not limited to: Provide HUD-VASH case management to Veterans and families in the HUD-VASH program
• Case management is defined as the provision of services by VA clinical staff to homeless Veterans and includes all activities to provide appropriate treatment and maintain Veterans in stable housing
• Perform regular home visits of HUD-VASH apartments to ensure that Veterans reside in environments that foster independence and safety in the community
• Verify the Veteran's status - eligibility for VA medical care - and eligibility of program participation
• Provide a full range of services within commonly accepted standards of practice with includes case work - individual - family and group counseling - discharge planning - case management and other services as appropriate
• Conduct psychosocial assessments to determine needs of Veterans and family members
• Coordinate care including serving as an advocate on behalf of the Veterans to ensure comprehensive service delivery
• The Social Worker links and refers Veterans to the VA Medical Center - VA Regional Offices - and/or community agencies
• Provide consultation/education to Veterans and families on community resources - Advance Directives and VA benefits Provide wellness/prevention education and facilitates Veteran/family support groups as appropriate
• Provide psychoeducation on activities of daily living - budgeting - recovery goals to sustain housing
• Responsible for reviewing agreements between landlords - Public Housing Authorities - and the VA in establishing appropriate referral sites for HUD-VASH placements
• She/He works closely with property managers and/or Landlords and communicates needs or issues when they arise if the Veteran provides consent to release private information
• Collaborate with VA Medical Center multi-disciplinary teams and community agencies to strive for developing more effective and efficient ways of delivering healthcare services to Veterans in the HUD-VASH Program through coordination of treatment and communication
• Acts as a consultant to other team/staff members and takes a lead clinical role with case consultation
• Responsible for collecting and submitting HUD-VASH Program participant data as outlined by CERS and Homeless Operational Management and Evaluation System (HOMES) policies
• Comply with criminal conflict of interest laws and Executive Branch Standards of conduct to avoid conflicts of interest
• The Social Worker fulfills ethical responsibilities to Veterans - colleagues - and VA in accordance with relevant discipline Code of Ethics - VHA Code of Ethics - and local Ethics policies - which includes but is not limited to compliance with all laws and regulations related to confidentiality and release of information and protecting Veterans' personal identifying information
• Responsible for following local policy and Standard Operating Procedures for the HUD- VASH Program
• This includes following policies and documentation requirements as required for CARF and Joint Commission accreditation
• Must be able to operate a government furnished vehicle for the purposes of assisting Veterans with obtaining and maintaining housing Work Schedule: Full-time - Monday-Friday
• 8 am-4:30 pm Telework: Ad hoc
• may be available after 90 days of employment Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 000000

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.