Summary

The selected Social Worker (HUD-VASH) will be responsible for case management services to Veterans in the HUD-VASH Program in the VAOHCS. HUD-VASH is an intensive case management program for chronically homeless Veterans aimed at providing psychosocial services to Veterans while residing in stable housing through HUD's Section 8 Voucher system.

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: Must 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 http://www.cswe.org/Accreditation to verify that the social work degree meets the accreditation standards for a masters of social work
• Licensure: 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 http://vaww.va.gov/OHRM/T38Hybrid/
• (NOTE: For those who have a Florida LCSW license - you must be registered with the state as a "Qualified Supervisor" in order to provide supervision for licensure or specialty certification
• All others must meet the requirements of their state of licensure to be able to provide supervision for licensure.) Applicants with Puerto Rico LSW must be an active member of the College of Social Work Professionals of Puerto Rico (CPTSPR) and must provide CPTSPR active membership certification
• For additional information - please visit Membership - CPTSPR
• English Language: Must be proficient in spoken and written English Driver's License: A current - valid state-issued Driver's License is required for this position
• NOTE: We cannot accept photographs - therefore
• please do not submit a copy of your license with your application package
• 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)
• All persons employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title - series and grade held - including positive education and licensure or certification that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation
• For employees who do not meet all of the basic requirements in this standard - but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it - the following provisions apply: Such employees in an occupation that requires a licensure or certification - may be reassigned - promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level - or changed to lower grade within the occupation - but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions
• Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed - on a temporary or permanent basis - until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard
• Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation - who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all of the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation
• If an employee who was retained in an occupation listed in 38 U.S.C. § 7401 (3) under this provision leaves that occupation - the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation
• Grade Determinations: Social Worker - GS-9 Experience - Education - and Licensure: None beyond the basic requirements
• 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
• 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
• Preferred Experience: Those candidates with experience in the following - are highly preferred
• Communicate effectively with people from different backgrounds Complete comprehensive psychosocial assessments Drive a government vehicle and valid drivers license Work with people with complex mental health - substance use and medical concerns Work in community based settings including home visits and community agencies Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• 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: The position requires performance of work which involves light physical effort - such as that involved in lifting light files - bending - standing - reaching - operating office equipment such as telephone - copier - fax machine - scanner - etc
• The physical demands of the work requires use of fingers
• moderate walking and standing
• near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4
• far vision correctable in on eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other
• hearing aid permitted
• clear speech
• emotional stability
• moderate duty.

Duties

• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional The HUD-VASH Program requires continuous coordination with the community's homeless providers and coalitions as well as with other local - state - and Federal agencies
• In 1992 - the Departments of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and Veterans Affairs (VA) established the HUD-VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) Program
• The program is a collaborative effort - supported through HUD Section 8 rental assistance vouchers
• The primary goal of HUD-VASH is to move Veterans and their families out of chronic homelessness
• A primary component of the program is VA case management - which are designed to improve Veterans' health and mental health - and to enhance their ability to remain stable - housed - and community integrated
• Some of the duties include - but are not limited to
• Responsible for providing case management for a caseload of Veterans in the HUD-VASH program
• Responsible for reviewing agreements between Section 8 - landlords - Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) - and the VA in establishing appropriate referral sites for HUD-VASH placements
• Performs home visits in the community to ensure that Veterans reside in safe environments in compliance with local housing codes
• Conducts community-based visits - made with safety in mind - and follow the Home Visit Safety policy
• Responsible for ensuring that homeless Veterans are considered as primary participants for program acceptance
• Completes all required documents for the HUD-VASH Program including those which are included in the data collection for NEPEC and within HOMES
• Participates in ongoing performance improvement for the HUD-VASH Program including activities related to program specific performance measures
• Responsible for providing HUD-VASH case management to Veterans in case management stages of Maintenance and Preparation for Discharge
• Coordinates care including serving as an advocate on behalf of the Veterans to ensure comprehensive service delivery - and linking and referring Veterans to VA providers - VA Regional Offices - and/or community agencies
• Identifies housing options in the community while coordinating with landlords and property managers to negotiate the needs of the Veterans in the program
• Works towards identifying resources for Veterans with special needs that make routine housing plans more difficult
• Treats Veterans with complex problems - histories of non-compliance with treatment and inability - or unwillingness to participate in treatment
• Reviews all data - subjective and objective and makes clinical assessment - identifying needs and strengths
• Uses professional judgment and advanced practice skills to make psychosocial diagnosis
• Establishes a continuing relationship with the client - evaluating progress towards goals - performing follow-up after referral - and adjusts treatment plan when needed
• Monitors client's progress - maintains comprehensive case documentation - including HOMES Database documentation - and shows competent discretion in the decision to adjust treatment
• Responds to calls from the National Homeless Call Center and may provide coverage for other staff in the Homeless Program as needed or assigned by supervisor
• Maintains a current and productive network of referral resources - makes provision for referral services from other agencies - community resources - and other governmental agencies to assist Veterans with resolving problems or support continued transition to independence
• Other duties as assigned
• Work Schedule: The primary tour of duty will be M-F 8am to 4:30pm
• However - the selectee may also be required to work various shifts on a permanent or temporary basis - based on the needs of the service and patient care
• Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not authorized
• Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not authorized
• Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases 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) 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 #: Social Worker - HUDVASH GS-9/11 82501F/80397F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized.