Summary

The Health Care for Homeless Veterans (HCHV) and Community Resource and Referral Center (CRRC) Social Worker - works at the San Francisco VA Health Care System (SFVAHCS) and identifies and engages Veterans who are homeless - marginally housed - and/or who underutilize VA services.

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
• 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
• Most states require two years of post-MSW experience as a prerequisite to taking the licensure/certification exam - and VHA gives social workers one additional year to pass the licensure/certification exam
• In states such as California - Washington - and others where the prerequisites for licensure exceed two years - social workers must become licensed at the independent - master's level within one year of meeting the full state prerequisites for licensure
• A social worker who does not yet have a license that allows independent practice must be supervised by a licensed independent practitioner of the same discipline who is a VA staff member and who has access to the electronic health record
• English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f)
• 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)
• Grandfathering Provision: The following is the standard grandfathering policy for all title 38 hybrid qualification standards
• Please carefully review the qualification standard to determine the specific education and/or licensure/certification/registration requirements that apply to this occupation
• Grade Determinations: Social Worker - GS-9 Experience - Education - and Licensure
• None beyond the basic requirements
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above - candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: 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
• 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
• Grade Determinations: Social Worker - 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: 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
• References: VA Handbook 5005 - Part II - Appendix G39 Preferred Experience: Preferred experience in drug and alcohol treatment
• Physical Requirements: The physical demands of this position involve primarily walking - talking - driving - use of the telephone - etc
• Strenuous physical activity is not required although the incumbent is expected to withstand pressure and stress as part of their daily activities
• Light lifting and carrying - under 15 pounds
• Hearing aid permitted as needed
• 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.

Duties

• The Social Worker provides Veterans with a range of social work services - including assessment and referrals - clinical treatment - short-term case management - advocacy and service coordination - and linkage with VA and community services
• The Social Worker provides Veterans with a range of social work services - including assessment and referrals - clinical treatment - short-term case management - advocacy and service coordination - and linkage with VA and community services
• This is accomplished in concert with other members of the Downtown CBOC and SFVA Medical Center interdisciplinary teams
• The position is based and provides services at the SFVAHCS' San Francisco Downtown CBOC and San Francisco VA Medical Center as the Social Worker acts as a liaison between the two locations
• The Social Worker possesses knowledge and is sensitive to the needs of the homeless population
• The Social Worker is aware of the special challenges in working with Veterans with co-morbid physical - mental health and substance abuse diagnoses - and can work with this Veteran population
• The Social Worker has knowledge and experience in the use of medical - mental health - and substance abuse treatment modalities
• Can complete a comprehensive psychosocial assessment to identify strengths - needs - social support systems - disabilities - and barriers to accessing housing and available treatment options
• Has general knowledge of Veteran's benefits and services related to special programs - service-connected compensation - non-service-connected pensions - and benefits that are available on the federal and state levels - and through city/county social services
• Duties of the position include - but are not limited to: 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
• 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
• Independently conduct a psychosocial assessment with a wide variety of individuals from various socio-economic - cultural - ethnic - educational - and other diversified backgrounds
• The assessment includes documentation of identified behaviors or symptoms of abuse - neglect - exploitation and/or intimate partner violence - as well as strengths - limitations - coping skills - and internal/external supports and service needs to optimize the Veteran's functional status
• Develops the assessment in collaboration with the interdisciplinary treatment team - the Veteran - available family/friends/caregivers and collateral sources such as CPRS - HOMES - and agencies with appropriate ROI's
• Identifies family/caregiver stressors and provides specific interventions
• Provides education on advance directives and advanced care planning
• Formulate a treatment plan and implement the plan - identifying problems - strengths - weaknesses - coping skills and assistance needed
• Possesses knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses - disabilities and treatment procedures to formulate a treatment plan and provide therapeutic interventions
• Responsible for making appropriate referrals to community and other agencies and coordinating services as needed
• Acts as an advocate with appropriate VA and community service providers and agencies when it serves the best interest of the Veteran and family members/caregiver
• Provides case management and care coordination to facilitate appropriate delivery of health care services - incorporates complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment of Veterans - including making psychosocial and psychiatric diagnoses within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice
• Must have and maintain a valid unrestricted driver's license
• Other duties as assigned
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am-4:30pm or as determined by supervisor
• Telework: Not available at this time
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Recruitment Incentives: Authorized EDRP Authorized: Not authorized