Social Worker - Homeless Outreach

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Coatesville (Chester County); On-site; USD 75,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

The Health Care for Homeless Veterans (HCHV) Social Worker position at the Coatesville VA Medical Center provides outreach and case management to Veterans experiencing homelessness across Delaware, Montgomery and Chester Counties. You will coordinate with VA and community resources, assess needs, and help veterans access required services.

Responsibilities include developing treatment plans, performing psychosocial assessments, participating in discharge planning, and working with an

Qualifications

• US citizenship is required.
• Master's degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited program.
• Licensed or certified to independently practice social work at MSW level.
• Preference for demonstrated homelessness services experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide outreach and case management to Veterans experiencing homelessness.
• Assess Veterans' eligibility and coordinate access to VA and community services.
• Develop and implement individualized treatment plans.
• Conduct psychosocial assessments and provide counseling as needed.
• Participate in discharge planning and interdisciplinary team meetings.
• Maintain a field presence and ensure crisis intervention when required.

Skills

Veteran-centric care

Psychosocial assessment

Treatment planning

Crisis intervention

Community referrals

Team collaboration

Education

MSW degree (CSWE accredited)

Job description

Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval - award amount (up to $200 -000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.

Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval - award amount (up to $200 -000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.

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
• 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: 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 a Veteran centric approach when providing interventions and counseling for Veterans - their family members - caregivers - and survivors
• 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
• 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
• Demonstrate 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 - cultural - ethnic - educational and other diversified 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
• Preferred Experience: Homeless programs centers on direct community engagement - crisis intervention - and specialized clinical knowledge
• Direct experience working with homeless populations - understanding shelter utilization - housing rules - and conducting active outreach in community settings
• Short-term solution-focused counseling - community referrals - and discharge planning
• Handling mental health conditions and Substance Use Disorders (SUD)
• 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: You may be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination as part of the pre-employment process for this position
• Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of examination.

Duties

• The Health Care for Homeless Veterans (HCHV) incumbent at the Coatesville VA Medical Center - provides Outreach and Case Management throughout Delaware - Montgomery and Chester Counties
• The HCHV Social Worker identifies and engages Veterans who are experiencing homelessness or marginally housed by assessing program eligibility through referral and outreach efforts
• The incumbent provides Veterans with a range of social work services - including assessment and referrals - clinical treatment through individualized psychosocial needs - clinical case management - advocacy and service coordination - and linkage with VA and community services
• This is accomplished in concert with other members of the HCHV team
• Additional duties include - but are not limited to: Ability to work with Veterans and family members from various socioeconomic - cultural - ethnic - educational - and other diversified backgrounds utilizing counseling skills
• 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
• Participate in interdisciplinary team meetings and discharge planning of Veterans and families from homeless programs
• Maintain a field presence more than 75% of the time and transport Veterans to scheduled appointments when alternative transportation options cannot be arranged
• 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
• Will maintain a caseload
• provide outreach services
• verify Veteran status/eligibility for VA health care
• accept the referrals for screening/admission to all HCHV programs
• Complete assessments to ensure appropriateness of placement into such programs
• Conduct comprehensive biopsychosocial assessments
• complete the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale Screen (C-SSRS) at admission - reassessment - or when clinically indicated
• Complete standardized tools - screenings and reminders
• Provides crisis intervention/stabilization
• Ensure all required Healthcare for Homeless Veterans (HCHV) Homeless Veteran (HV) Case Manager - Social Worker documentations occur in Homeless Operations Management and Evaluation System (HOMES)
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
• Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized