Career Center

The GPD Social Worker is assigned to the VA Medical Center and provides services to Veterans throughout the South Texas Veterans Health Care System (STVHCS) catchment area who are treated in the Homeless Veteran Program. 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. Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Services. English Language Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). Grade Determinations:GS-09 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 work with Veterans and family members from various socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other diversified backgrounds utilizing counseling skills. (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. 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, cultural, ethnic, educational and other diversified 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 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. Preferred Experience: GS-09 Fully licensed at a Masters Level Former VA Trainee Prior experience in similar role or with population served Preferred Experience: GS-11 EBP Certification Prior experience in similar role or with population served Clinical supervision certification Quality or utilization management experience Former VA Trainee Licensed to practice at independent practice Level References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/120 September 10, 2019 PART II APPENDIX G39The 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-09 to GS-11. Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting, 15-44 pounds; Moderate carrying, 15-44 pounds; Reaching above shoulder; Use of fingers; Both hands required; Walking and standing for 6 hours; Repeat bending 2-4 hours; Operation of crane, truck, tractor, or motor vehicle; Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; Far vision 20/30; Ability to distinguish basic colors; Emotional and mental stability; sitting for extended periods of time; performs independently; Cognitive stability ["The incumbent is responsible for completing the following duties/responsibilities:\n- Knowledge of community resources, able to facilitate coordination of care and appropriately refer Veterans to VA or community homeless resource partners.\n- Evaluating risk of Veteran's in crisis, providing crisis management services, monitoring Veteran's status and stability, and initiate a safety plan as appropriate. Ability to identify behaviors or symptoms of abuse, neglect, exploitation and/or intimate partner violence and use clinical social work skills and knowledge to link veteran to necessary support and resources.\n- Engaging in comprehensive psychosocial assessment with Veterans who are seeking placement in the GPD program, establishing therapeutic rapport, and eliciting relevant information by using interviewing skills and observation. Able to provide psychosocial treatment to a wide variety of individuals from various socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other diversified backgrounds. Additionally, completing a HOMES assessment and referral form.\n- Determining the strengths, needs, abilities, and preferences of each Veteran assessed and using these to collaboratively complete an individualized and comprehensive treatment plan. Able to create treatment plans that include measurable and achievable goals identified by the Veteran. Updating the treatment plan regularly as identified by the changing needs of the Veteran or in accordance with local GPD or Social Work Service policy.\n- Ensuring the documentation of a comprehensive assessment, initial treatment plan, progress notes, and an exit/discharge note in accordance with standards set forth by National VA Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program Directive. Completing a minimum of quarterly case management progress notes.\n- Collecting and submitting GPD Program participant data as outlined by Homeless Operations Management and Evaluation Systems (HOMES) procedures.\n- Addressing Advance Directives in accordance with the standards of their work area.\n- Providing 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.\n- May provide transportation to Veterans as needed to assist with obtaining transitional and permanent housing. Following all local policies and standard operating procedures regarding use of a government vehicle as well as adhering to local community safety standard operating procedures.\n- Providing multi-axial diagnostic evaluations and psychotherapy under the supervision of their LCSW Supervisor, or their Administrative Social Work Supervisor who is an LCSW.\n- Identifying Veterans who are eligible for Homeless Veterans Dental Initiative services and facilitating linkage necessary to coordinate care.\n- Making regular site visits to GPD grantee facilities to assess Veteran progress towards identified treatment plan goals, and to assist Veteran with identifying and securing options for permanent housing post discharge from the GPD program.\n- Providing all necessary direct and indirect care services consistent with the area of assignment. Agreed upon priorities are maintained and caseload is effectively managed while keeping coordinator informed of problem areas.\n- Facilitating and providing access to appropriate treatment and supportive case management services to Veterans in GPD by coordinating Veteran-centered care across service providers, including VA and non-VA providers. Coordinating 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.\n- Actively coordinating care of Veterans in the GPD program with the grantee to include participation in regular staffings and treatment team meetings.\n- Participating in discharge planning with GPD grantee and ensuring that discharge plans are executed in a manner that is timely and appropriate.\n- May establish and maintain ongoing education programs for Veterans, community agencies, students, and staff, to facilitate understanding of social work interventions specific to the Veteran/Military homeless population.\n- Following up with Veterans after GPD program completion to assist with community integration and prevention of future homeless episodes. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; 7:30am- 4:00pm or 8:00am to 4:30pm\nTelework: Available\nVirtual: This is not a virtual position.\nPosition Title/Functional Statement #:Social Worker/PD000000\nRelocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized\nPermanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required"]