Summary

Specially designated HUD funding for the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program provides rental assistance under a supportive housing program for homeless veterans. Known as the HUD-VASH program - it combines Section 8 rental assistance with case management and clinical services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) at its medical centers and in the community clinics.

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 tohttp://www.cswe.org/Accreditation 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 tohttp://vaww.va.gov/OHRM/T38Hybrid/
• 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-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: Ability to utilize counseling skills when working with Veterans and family members
• 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
• 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
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients - staff - and representatives of community agencies
• 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 paragraph 3c
• 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: 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 - educational - and other 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
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS11
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS09 to GS11
• Physical Requirements: The work is sedentary
• Typically - the incumbent sits comfortably while working
• However - there may be some light exertion required when walking - standing - bending - climbing stairs - carrying of light items such as papers - books - small objects - or driving an automobile
• No special physical demands are required to perform the work
• Ability to complete a Basic Life Support (BLS) course is a position requirement.

Duties

• The incumbent is responsible for providing case management for a caseload of veterans in the HUD-VASH program
• The incumbent is responsible for reviewing agreements between Section 8 - landlords - Public Housing Authorities and the VA in establishing appropriate referral sites for HUDVASH placements
• The incumbent performs site visits of HUD-VASH apartments to ensure that veterans reside in safe environments in compliance with local housing codes
• The incumbent verifies the veteran's status - eligibility for VA medical care - and eligibility of program participation
• The incumbent is responsible for collecting and submitting HUD-VASH Program participant data as outlined by NEPEC evaluation procedures and HOMES
• The incumbent coordinates care including serving as an advocate on behalf of the veterans to ensure comprehensive service delivery - and linking and referring veterans to the VA Medical Center - VA Regional Offices and/or community agencies
• The incumbent complies with criminal conflict of interest laws and Executive Branch Standards of conduct so as to avoid conflicts of interest while serving as the HUD-VASH Case Manager
• The incumbent actively participates in the HUD-VASH Program conference calls and attends training offered by the HUD-VASH and HCHV program
• The incumbent is responsible for following local policy and SOP for the Medical Center and the HUD-VASH Program
• This includes following policies and documentation requirements as required for CARF and JCAHO accreditation
• The incumbent actively participates in program planning and development - advising the supervisor of shifting trends with caseloads and identifying the need for and making recommendations on program procedure or policy changes based upon work experiences
• The incumbent takes responsibility for improving professional skills - participating in planning and executing specific staff development projects - attending seminars and institutes - and participating in training programs of other disciplines as requested
• The incumbent performs accountability functions: 1) document all contacts with patients/families in the medical charts
• 2) completes statistical and other reports in accordance with VA Medical Center and respective professional discipline service policies
• The incumbent works with VA Medical Center multi-disciplinary teams and community agencies to strive for developing more effective and efficient ways of delivering healthcare services to HUD-VASH Program veterans
• The incumbent will provide a full range of social work services within commonly accepted standards of social work practice which includes case work - individual - family and group counseling - discharge planning - case management and other services as appropriate
• Performs other related duties as assigned
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 554-53163-O - 554-53164-O Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized