Summary

The Health Care for Homeless Veterans and Contract Emergency Residential Services Liaison located at the San Francisco VA Health Care System in San Francisco identifies and engages Veterans who are homeless - marginally housed - and/or who underutilize VA services. The Social Worker provides Veterans with a range of social work services - including assessment and referrals - clinical treatment - short-term case management - advocacy and service coordination - and linkage with VA and community services.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

• 1
• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
• 2
• English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f)
• 3
• Education: Candidates 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
• 4
• 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/
• 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 and meet the criteria)
• Grade Determinations: Senior Social Worker - GS-12 Experience/Education: The candidate must have at least two years of experience post advanced practice clinical licensure and should be in a specialized area of social work practice of which - one year must be equivalent to the GS-11 grade level
• Senior social workers have experience that demonstrates possession of advanced practice skills and judgment
• Senior social workers are experts in their specialized area of practice
• Senior social workers may have certification or other post-masters training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university that includes a defined curriculum/course of study and internship or equivalent supervised professional experience in a specialty
• Licensure/Certification: Senior social workers must be licensed or certified by a state at the advanced practice level which included an advanced generalist or clinical examination - unless they are grandfathered by the state in which they are licensed to practice at the advanced practice level (except for licenses issued in California - which administers its own clinical examination for advanced practice) and they must be able to provide supervision for licensure
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities: In addition to the experience above - candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Skill in a range of specialized interventions and treatment modalities used in specialty treatment programs or with special patient populations
• This includes individual - group - and/or family counseling or psychotherapy and advanced level psychosocial and/or case management
• Ability to incorporate complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice
• Knowledge in developing and implementing methods for measuring effectiveness of social work practice and services in the specialty area - utilizing outcome evaluations to improve treatment services and to design system changes
• Ability to provide specialized consultation to colleagues and students on the psychosocial treatment of patients in the service delivery area - as well as role modeling effective social work practice skills
• Ability to expand clinical knowledge in the social work profession - and to write policies - procedures - and/or practice guidelines pertaining to the service delivery area
• The full performance level of this vacancy is 12
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-12
• References: VA Handbook 5005 - Part II - Appendix G39 - Dated September 10 - 2019
• Physical Requirements: The physical demands of this position involve primarily walking - talking - driving - use of the telephone - etc
• Strenuous physical activity is not required although the incumbent is expected to withstand pressure and stress as part of their daily activities
• Light lifting and carrying - under 15 pounds
• Hearing aid permitted as needed.

Duties

• The Social Worker is responsible for administrative and clinical oversight of CERS programs - which includes but is not limited to oversight of assessment - referrals - admissions - treatment planning - ongoing clinical case management and discharges as well as ensuring program participants are receiving services as outlined in the provider's contract
• The Social Worker participates in clinical case conferencing with providers and program participants
• The Social Worker ensures billing is processed and provides guidance to providers to ensure performance measures are achieved
• This is accomplished in concert with other members of the San Francisco CBOC and SFVA Medical Center interdisciplinary teams
• The position is based and provides services at the SFVAHCS' San Francisco CBOC and in the community
• The Social Worker possesses knowledge and is sensitive to the needs of Veterans experiencing homelessness
• The Social Worker is aware of and competent in delivering services to the special challenges in working with Veterans with co-morbid physical - mental health and substance abuse diagnoses
• The Social Worker participates in the San Francisco CBOC's triage services to ensure Veteran needs are met within the CBOC milieu
• The Social Worker has knowledge and experience in the use of medical - mental health - and substance abuse treatment modalities
• Can complete a comprehensive psychosocial assessment to identify strengths - needs - social support systems - disabilities - and barriers to accessing housing and available treatment options
• Has general knowledge of Veteran's benefits and services related to special programs - service-connected compensation - non-service-connected pensions - and benefits that are available on the federal and state levels - and through city/county social services
• The Social Worker is responsible for outreach to Veterans experiencing homelessness and can work confidently with city/county agencies to increase resources for \"on-the-street\" or marginally housed Veterans
• The goal is to increase stability in Veterans' lives and assist Veterans in returning to independent - healthy - productive lifestyles
• The Social Worker is familiar with community resources and can assist and refer Veterans to appropriate community service providers
• The Social Worker is available to work evening hours - as needed - to meet the needs of Veterans that are not able to be seen from 8:00am to 4:30 pm or for evening groups
• The Social Worker provides leadership - direction - orientation - coaching - in-service training - staff development - and continuing education programs for assigned staff
• developing and monitoring staff compliance with practice - standards and guidelines on documentation - workload - data entry - ethical practice and service delivery
• The Social Worker demonstrates the ability to independently conduct a psychosocial assessment with a wide variety of individuals from various socio-economic - cultural - ethnic - educational - and other diversified backgrounds
• The assessment includes documentation of identified behaviors or symptoms of abuse - neglect - exploitation and/or intimate partner violence - as well as strengths - limitations - coping skills - and internal/external supports and service needs to optimize the Veteran's functional status
• The Social Worker develops the assessment in collaboration with the interdisciplinary treatment team - the Veteran - available family members and significant others
• The Social Worker identifies family/caregiver stressors and provides specific interventions
• The complete psychosocial assessment will be completed at admission
• Information for the assessment is gathered from the Veteran - such as CPRS - HOMES - and collateral sources such as family/agencies with appropriate ROI's
• Time frames and requirements for assessments are completed as outlined by Social Work Service policy - and accreditation agencies such as Joint Commission and CARF
• All other required screenings are to be completed thoroughly in required time frames as outlined in program - service - MC or national policy/guidelines
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday
• 8:00am to 4:30pm or as determined by supervisor
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 000000/Social Worker Recruitment Incentive: Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required