Social Worker (HUD/VASH Program)
Location: Lincoln Nebraska
Description: Department of Veterans Affairs is employing Social Worker (HUD/VASH Program) right now, this occupation will be placed in Nebraska. More complete informations about this occupation opportunity kindly see the descriptions. Vacancy Identification Number (VIN): 910445
OUR MISSION:
To fulfill President Lincoln's promise - "To care for him who shall have borne the ! battle, and for his widow, and his orphan" - by serving and honoring the men and women who are America's Veterans.
How would you like to become a part of a team providing compassionate care to Veterans?
As a VA professional, your opportunities are endless. With many openings in the multiple functions of VA, you will have a wide range of opportunities at your fingertips. Not only is it the largest, most technologically advanced integrated health care system in the nation, but we also provide many other services to Veterans through the Benefits Administration and National Cemeteries.
NOTE:
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. The Professional Standards Board (a peer-review group) will review the selected candidateÂ's education and experience and recommend the grade and step at which the candidate will be placed. The sa! lary is based on the grade and step approved for the selected ! candidate.
VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.
Important:
Current permanent VA Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System employees will be given first consideration.
Note:
External candidates eligible for veterans preference will receive consideration prior to considering external non-preference applicants.
Relocation Expenses:
Relocation expenses are not authorized for this position.
KEY REQUIREMENTS
Valid Driver's License
Full unrestricted Licensure, Certification, or Registration required.
Must pass pre-employment examination.
Designated and/or Random Drug Testing required.
Background and/or Security Investigation required.
English Language Proficiency required.
DUTIES:
This positi! on is located in the Mental Health service, Health Care for Homeless Veterans HUD/VASH Program.
The Department of Housing and Urban Development - VA Supportive Housing (HUD/VASH) program is a joint effort between HUD and VA to move Veterans and their families out of homelessness and into permanent housing. HUD/VASH case managers are responsible for providing direct clinical services to Veterans that are admitted to the HUD/VASH Program.
The HUD/VASH case manager is responsible for (but not limited to):
Performing case finding functions and outreach; identifying and screening veterans for psychosocial needs
Conducting psychosocial assessments and developing treatment plans in collaboration with the veteran, family and the interdisciplinary treatment team
Coordinating community-based services, including information and referral for additional services from other VA, other government and community agency programs
Identifyin! g high risk patients and providing case management services
Es! tablishing and maintaining effective therapeutic relationships with veterans and their families
Providing consultation services to other staff regarding the psychosocial needs of Veterans and the impact of psychosocial problems on health care and adherence to treatment plans
Documenting required information in the computerized Veterans record and national reporting databases for the program
Making community visits to shelters, soup kitchens or street areas where homeless Veterans might live
Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm and will include evening and weekend hours
Duty location for this position will be located at the at the Lincoln Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC).
QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:
BASIC REQUIREMENTS:
U.S. citizenship.
Valid Driver's License.
Education:
Have a masterÂ's degree in social work from a school of social work fully acc! redited 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 masterÂ's degree in social work. Verification of the degree can be made by going to the CSWE website to verify if that social work degree meets the accreditation standards for a master of social work.
IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.
GRADE DETERMINATIONS:
GS-9 Social Worker
(a) Experience, Education and Licensure. GS-9 is the entry level grade for the GS-185 social work series and is used for social workers with less than one year of post-MSW experience and for social workers who are not yet licensed or certified at the independent practice level. Social workers at the GS-9 level are working t! oward completion of prerequisites for licensure or certification. In ad! dition, the candidates must demonstrate the KSAs in subparagraph (b) below.
NOTE: Social workers with more than one year of post-MSW experience may be appointed at an advanced step within the GS-9 grade commensurate with their years of experience.
(b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
1. Ability to provide psychosocial treatment to a wide variety of individuals from various socio-economic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other diversified backgrounds. This requires knowledge of human development and behavior (physical and psychological), and the differential influences of the environment, society, and culture.
2. Ability to work with patients and families who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric, medical, and social problems utilizing individual, group, and family counseling skills. Work with more complex problems is done under close supervision. With guidance from the social work supervisor, ability to assess t! he psychosocial functioning and needs of patients and their family members, and to formulate and implement a treatment plan, identifying the patientÂ's problems, strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and assistance needed.
3. Basic knowledge of psychosocial treatment modalities and, under supervision, 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.
4. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, staff, and representatives of community agencies. Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with people from varied backgrounds.
5. 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.
6. Basic skill in the u! se of computer software applications for drafting documents, data management, and tracking. Ability to learn and utilize software programs in use by VHA.
(c) Assignments. Individuals assigned as GS-9 social workers are considered to be at the entry level and are closely supervised, as they are not yet functioning at the independent practice level conferred by independent licensure or certification. Social workers at the GS-9 entry level are typically assigned to VHA program areas that do not require specialized knowledge or experience. Since these social workers are not practicing at an independent level, they should not be assigned to program areas where independent practice is required, such as in a CBOC, unless there is a licensed social worker in the program area who can provide supervision for practice. GS-9 social workers provide psychosocial services in the assigned area under supervision.
GS-11 Social Worker
(a) Experience, Education and L! icensure. Promotion to the GS-11 full performance level requires completion of a minimum of 1 year of post-MSW degree experience in the field of health care social work (VA or non-VA experience) and licensure or certification in a state at the independent practice level. NOTE: For appointment licensure or certification at this level please refer to paragraph 2c.
OR,
In addition to meeting basic requirements, a doctoral degree in social work from a school of social work may be substituted for the required 1 year of professional social work experience in a clinical setting. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the KSAs in subparagraph (b) below.
(b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
1. Knowledge of community resources, how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services, and ability to coordinate services.
2. Ability to independently assess the psychosocial functioning and ! needs of patients and their family members and to formulate and impleme! nt a treatment plan, identifying the patientÂ's problems, strengths, weaknesses, coping skills and assistance needed, in collaboration with the patient, family and interdisciplinary treatment team.
3. Ability to independently conduct psychosocial assessments and provide psychosocial treatment to a wide variety of individuals from various socio-economic, cultural, ethnic, educational and other diversified backgrounds. This requires knowledge of human development and behavior (physical and psychological) and the differential influences of the environment, society and culture.
4. Knowledge and experience in the use 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.
5. Knowledge of psychosocial treatment and ability to independently implement treatment modalities in working with individu! als, families and groups who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric, medical and social problems to achieve treatment goals. This requires independent judgment and skill in utilizing supportive, problem solving or crisis intervention techniques.
6. Ability to independently provide counseling and/or psychotherapy services to individuals, groups and families. 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.
7. Ability to provide consultation services to other staff about the psychosocial needs of patients and the impact of psychosocial problems on health care and compliance with treatment. Ability to provide orientation and coaching to new social workers and social work graduate students. Ability to serve as a field instructor for social work graduate students who are completing VHA field placements.
! 8. Ability to independently evaluate his/her own practice through parti! cipation in professional peer review case conferences, research studies, or other organized means.
9. Knowledge and skill in the use of computer software applications for drafting documents, data management, and tracking, especially those programs in use by VHA.
(c) Assignments. This is the full performance level for social workers. GS-11 social workers are licensed or certified to independently practice social work. They are assigned to all program areas, including inpatient or outpatient medicine, surgery, mental health, neurology, rehabilitation medicine, and geriatrics. Employees provide professional, independent social work services in the assigned area.
References:
VA Handbook 5005/50, Part II, Appendix G39, SOCIAL WORKER
QUALIFICATION STANDARD
, dated February 2012, and OPM Group Coverage Qualification Standard for Professional and Scientific Positions at
http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/standards/IORs! /GS0100/0185.htm
.
PLEASE NOTE:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications (particularly positions with a positive education requirement.) Therefore, applicants must report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website:
http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html
All education claimed by applicants will be verified by the appointing agency accordingly. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Light li
fting, under 15 pounds; Light carrying, under 15 pounds; use of fi! ngers; Walking 1-2 hours; Standing 1-2 hours; operation of a motor vehi! cle. Work is divided between office, clinical and community settings. Possibility of violence requiring the use of good judgment and initiation of safety precautions.
Veterans' Preference:
When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference on the Occupational Questionnaire in the section provided and provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) and/or documentation related to your active duty service which shows dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), or dates of impending separation.
Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veterans Preference" with required proof as stated on the form. For more information, please review the information for disabled Veterans in the application
checklist
or visit
http://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/vetpref/inde! x.aspx
.
HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED:
Your application, résumé and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.
BENEFITS:
Working for the Department of Veterans Affairs offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes, in part, paid vacation, sick leave, holidays, life insurance, health benefits, thrift savings plan, and participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System. In addition to traditional "dollars and cents" benefits, we offer a range of benefits to help balance work and life. For more information please visit us at
http://www.va.gov/JOBS/Job_Benefits/benefits.asp
.
OTHER INFORMATION:
Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave:
Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of ! years they have served as a Federal employee. VA may offer newly-appoin! ted Federal employees credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave.
This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.
- .
If you were eligible to this occupation, please email us your resume, with salary requirements and a resume to Department of Veterans Affairs.
If you interested on this occupation just click on the Apply button, you will be redirected to the official website
This occupation starts available on: Sat, 15 Jun 2013 12:38:35 GMT