This is an open continuous posting. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until 9/29/23, candidates will be considered as vacancies become available. The Senior Social Worker coordinates outreach to homeless Veterans across the state of Montana including but not limited to scheduling, coordinating and participating in community Stand Down events statewide. Incumbent may contact Veterans throughout the community at missions, soup kitchens, shelters, and other treatment facilities. 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. Citizenship: Be a citizen of the United States. 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. 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/. 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). 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. Preferred Experience: Experience working with homeless individuals. Knowledge of Montana based community resources. References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/120 PART II APPENDIX G39 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. Physical Requirements: Traveling throughout the medical center and community is required, as is performing activities involving sitting, walking, and standing, bending and carrying such items as books, papers, and files. In carrying out responsibilities it will be necessary for the incumbent to travel into the community where he/she conducts interviews with the Veterans, their families, representatives of community health and welfare agencies and law enforcement agencies. The incumbent must possess current driver's license and drive a government vehicle in carrying out professional duties. ["Incumbent provides a wide variety of case management activities including screening of referrals, verifying eligibility for VA services, coordinating care and participating in admissions, treatment planning and discharges. Incumbent is responsible for ensuring timely responses to homeless consults in CPRS and the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans (NCCHV) according to required standards. The incumbent is responsible for the assessment, identification, facilitation, referral and linkage to appropriate medical and psychiatric services within the VA and the community. The incumbent ensures that all interactions with the veteran are documented according to facility policies and procedures in the medical record (CPRS) and the Homeless Operations Management and Evaluation System (HOMES). Incumbent completes a comprehensive psychosocial evaluation of all Veterans at entry into HCHV services The incumbent serves as the HCHV point of contact for multiple CBOC locations spread throughout the VA Montana care network. The incumbent completes site visits to CBOC locations on a regular and reoccurring basis and provides direct assistance to onsite staff. The incumbent maintains a working knowledge of resources available in each area they serve and builds strong relationships with community providers and local housing authorities. the incumbent provides wrap-around support for Veterans engaged in other Homeless Program services and may serve as the primary point of contact for Veterans living in areas with limited or no nearby providers. The incumbent operates independently and demonstrates sound clinical judgment with minimal need for supervisory oversight. The incumbent administers informational and analytical systems to evaluate and enhance the quality of services provided to veterans. The incumbent manages and controls the use of data regarding day to day functioning and program evaluation. Incumbent develops and implements data tracking systems to track services provided to veterans, patient demographics, and patient satisfaction. The incumbent develops, implements and evaluates services using clinical guidelines, protocols, and directives to establish appropriate utilization of services. The incumbent provides subject matter consultation to colleagues, students and community providers on the psychosocial treatment of patients treated in the specialty area, rendering professional opinions based on experience and expertise. The incumbent models effective counseling practice skills and mentors staff and students in the specialty area of practice. The incumbent participates in local and regional Homeless Coalitions, Continuums of Care, Coordinated Entry Systems and represents Homeless programs and the VAMC. Performs other related duties as assigned Work Schedule: Monday- Friday 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM Telework: Ad-HOC Virtual: This is not a virtual position .Functional Statement #: 436-57189-O Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]
The Veterans Health Administration is America’s largest integrated health care system, providing care at 1,298 health care facilities, including 171 medical centers and 1,113 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics), serving 9 million enrolled Veterans each year. The VA Martinsburg Healthcare System offers a wide range of health, support, and facility services for Veterans at 8 locations serving western Maryland, south-central Pennsylvania, northwest Virginia, and West Virginia’s eastern panhandle. Primary Care services are offered at the following locations. Martinsburg WV, Hagerstown MD, Cumberland MD, Franklin WV, Harrisonburg VA, Petersburg WV and Winchester VA.
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.
Physicians interested in caring for our America's Veterans and their families, email Nicole.Carey@va.gov or call 304-620-4354.