Summary

The VA Portland Health Care System (VAPORHCS) is a Complexity Level 1a Facility and provides extensive primary - secondary - tertiary - and quaternary care in outpatient - inpatient - residential - and community settings. VAPORHCS is a multi-site health care system that includes a major medical facility in Portland - Oregon - outpatient and residential facilities in Vancouver - Washington - and 10 Community Based Outpatient 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 to http://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 to http://vaww.va.gov/OHRM/T38Hybrid/
• ) 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.] (a) 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
• Most states require two years of post-MSW experience as a prerequisite to taking the licensure/certification exam - and VHA gives social workers one additional year to pass the licensure/certification exam
• In states such as California - Washington - and others where the prerequisites for licensure exceed two years - social workers must become licensed at the independent - master's level within one year of meeting the full state prerequisites for licensure
• (b) A social worker who does not yet have a license that allows independent practice must be supervised by a licensed independent practitioner of the same discipline who is a VA staff member and who has access to the electronic health record
• (c) Different states have different levels of licensure or certification - making it difficult for VHA staff to determine the independent practice level
• Each state - Puerto Rico - and the District of Columbia completed surveys identifying the level of licensure or certification allowing independent practice
• Copies of the surveys are on file in the VHA Office of Care Management and Social Work Services - and a summary spreadsheet of the levels of licensure or certification is available to social work professional standards board members for purposes of determining whether the social worker's level of licensure or certification meets the VHA qualification standards
• All states except California use a series of licensure exams administered by the ASWB
• Information can be found at https://www.aswb.org/
• The ASWB is the association of boards that regulates social work
• 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: 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: (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 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 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 GS9 to GS11
• Physical Requirements: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation and would generally not require a pre-placement examination
• Exceptions: A pre-placement examination is required for any occupation or assignment that requires the operation of a government-owned or -leased motor vehicle in order to properly carry out assigned duties
• Examinations may also be required for any occupation or assignment that requires a pre-placement examination by virtue of another policy - regulation - or statute

Duties

• VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU FUNCTIONS OR SCOPE OF ASSIGNED DUTIES The HUD-VASH Social Worker 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
• Incumbent assists Veteran in procuring necessary documents to support application for HUD Section 8 program - housing - and identified resources to support community integration
• The HUD-VASH Social Worker 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
• The HUD-VASH Social Worker 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
• Incumbent is expected to utilize knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses - common medication effects and medical terminology to aid in the care of enrolled Veterans
• The HUD-VASH Social Worker 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
• Incumbent updates treatment plans as determined by service policy and when clinically indicated - collaborating across teams and services
• The HUD-VASH Social Worker establishes and maintains effective professional working relationships with internal and external partners - including Veteran clients - VA colleagues - and representatives of community agencies
• The HUD-VASH Social Worker 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
• The HUD-VASH Social Worker participates with other treatment team members in weekly team meetings - community meetings - family conferences - and other endeavors to support housing stability
• Incumbent collaborates with the Enhanced multidisciplinary Team to support community re-integration and prevent relapse into homelessness
• The HUD-VASH Social Worker functions as an advocate for Veterans within the medical system and community to support housing stability and wellness - linking to services based on eligibility
• Incumbent assists Veterans in determining eligibility - resource brokerage - and collaboration with community and VA providers - including applying for non-service-connected pension - service-connected compensation - mainstream entitlement benefits such as Social Security and state and county benefits including Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) - supporting self-advocacy - and fostering independence when appropriate
• The HUD-VASH Social Worker works with vulnerable Veterans with underlying chronic medical or mental health conditions that substantially impact Veteran's life expectancy and or ability to function
• Incumbent works with appropriate community agencies to support in-home services - placement in supportive living environment - or other appropriate housing to meet the Veteran's needs
• The HUD-VASH Social Worker is responsible for assisting Veterans seeking housing - including outreaching to local shelter(s) - collaborating with community agencies - or working with established VA providers
• Outreach may include street outreach - walk-in clinics - covering homeless consults - supporting discharge planning - and taking referrals from community agencies
• Incumbent is expected to serve homeless program participants using a no wrong door philosophy and will proactively provide linkages as needed
• Work Schedule: 0800-1630 Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized