Career Center

The Healthcare for Homeless Veterans (HCHV) Outreach Social Worker is responsible for the identification, engagement, case management, coordination, and provision of social work services to homeless Veterans. The Outreach Social Worker is assigned to the VA Medical Center and provides services to patients throughout the South Texas Veterans Health Care System catchment area. 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. English Language Proficiency: Must be proficient in written and spoken English. 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 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. 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. In all cases, social workers must actively pursue meeting state prerequisites for licensure or certification starting from the date of their appointment. Failure to become licensed or certified within the prescribed amount of time will result in removal from the GS-0185 social worker series and may result in termination of employment. Once licensed or certified, social workers must maintain a full, valid, and unrestricted independent license or certification to remain qualified for employment. Loss of licensure or certification will result in removal from the GS-0185 social worker series and may result in termination of employment. 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 for each grade level. GS-11 Social Worker 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: 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. Assignments. This is the full performance level. Social workers at this level are licensed or certified to independently practice social work. Incumbents are assigned to all program areas, including but not limited to: inpatient or outpatient medicine, surgery, mental health, neurology, rehabilitation medicine, and geriatrics. Employees provide professional, independent social work services in the assigned area. Duties include but are not limited to: assessing and documenting identified behaviors or symptoms of abuse, neglect, exploitation and/or intimate partner violence; use of clinical social work skills and knowledge to maintain Veteran privacy and confidentiality per policies, handbooks or directives. Social Worker 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 PART II APPENDIX G39, September 10, 2019The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. ["Knowledge of community resources, able to facilitate coordination of care and appropriately refer Veterans to VA or community homeless resource partners.\nInitiating outreach to the community to identify homeless Veterans encountered in encampments, shelters, drop-in centers, and other community locations. Also performs community-based outreach activities as directed by the HCHV Coordinator. Evaluating risk of Veteran's in crisis, providing crisis management services, monitoring psychiatric 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.\nEngaging in comprehensive psychosocial assessment with Veterans who are seeking placement in the HCHV programs, establishing therapeutic rapport, and eliciting relevant information by using interviewing skills and observation. Abel to provide psychosocial treatment to a wide variety of individuals from various socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other diversified backgrounds.\nVerifying the Veteran's status, eligibility for VA medical care, and eligibility for program participation. Assisting Veterans as needed in completing VA Form 10-10EZ, Application for Medical Benefits, for those Veterans not seen at the medical facility. Completing eligibility procedures, such as discharge upgrades, statements in support of benefits claims, etc.\nAbility to independently provide supportive counseling group services and psycho-educational groups to veterans and families at VA facilities and community agencies. Providing multiple causation diagnostic evaluations and psychotherapy to Veterans, including making psychosocial and psychiatric diagnoses within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice; and under the supervision of their LCSW Supervisor, or their Administrative Social Work Supervisor who is an LCSW. Social workers must practice within the bounds of their license or certification. For example, some states may require social workers providing psychotherapy to have a clinical level of licensure.\nDocumenting social work interventions and activities in patient's clinical record utilizing CPRS and ensure appropriate hand off when transferring of patient care. Collecting and submitting participant information as outlined by NEPEC evaluations procedures in the HOMES system. Addressing CPRS Reminders and Advance Directives in accordance with the standards of their work area.\nResponding to National Homeless Hotline calls and documenting appropriately in both CPRS and the hotline database.\nRoutinely addressing homeless consults by reaching out to the Veteran and providing information, resource, and referral as needed. Closing out the consults in the timeframes set forth by Social Work Service.\nProviding 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.\nThe incumbent engages in coordination with community agencies, organizations, and groups to learn of services or resources available for homeless Veterans as well as provides current information on services and benefits available in the VA. Acting as a liaison between VA and community resources, to include marketing and public relation duties as needed. Participating in a wide array of community meetings related to Veteran homelessness.\nProviding education about VA housing programs to both internal and external stakeholders.\nActively participating in the HCHV Program conference calls, broadcasts, and trainings. Participating in committee assignments, work groups, and task forces at the facility and VISN level or in the community as deemed necessary by the service manager.\nCross training in other areas to be able to provide emergent coverage when deemed necessary to meet patient care needs. Providing up to 4 hours a week focused on Contract Emergency Residential Services (CERS) case management support and providing coverage as needed for CERS social worker; to include visits to contract facility, providing case management support, documenting in HOMES and CPRS, tracking admissions and discharges, reconciling bed days of care and verifying monthly billing. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.\nTelework: Not available\nVirtual: This is not a virtual position.\nFunctional Statement #: 0000 Social Worker (HCHV outreach)\nRelocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized\nPermanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required"]