Social Worker - HCHV

Summary The incumbent is a social worker who serves in a full-time capacity within the Homeless Programs under the Mental Health Service (MHS) at John D. Dingell VA Medical Center in Detroit, which includes affiliated community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs) and the Veterans Community Resource & Referral Center (VCRRC). Responsibilities Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf Social Work: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Social-Worker-Career-Flyer.pdf Duties include: Expedites verification of Veterans' eligibility status through close working relationships with the medical facility's Administration Eligibility Section and VBA Regional Office staff. Works in the community to provide outreach services to homeless veterans at shelters, soup kitchens, and other agencies in the community serving the homeless. Provides street outreach and works with street outreach initiatives to identify at-risk/literally homeless Veterans. Locations may include parks, tent cities, and other outdoor areas. Completes diagnostic tools including the Homeless Operations Management and Evaluation System (HOMES) assessment and the Vulnerability Index-Service Prioritization Decision Assistance Tool (VI-SPDAT) to ensure appropriate housing resources and additional treatment services are received Educates/links Veterans and/or their caregivers about/with appropriate VA and community resources to address their needs, both in individual and group formats Links Veterans and/or their caregivers to VA and community resources, including individual and group support formats, to address their service needs Provides crisis intervention services and referral to appropriate resources both within the VA andin the community Assesses the need for referral for more intensive and/or specialty mental health services Identifies high-risk patients and connects them with needed resources and services, as needed Consults, collaborates, and coordinates with other staff who provide care to Veteran Provides individual and or group therapy whenever indicated and/ or appropriate Provides clinical care coordination and case management of patients as appropriate Provides clinical supervision to reporting staff and trainees, as assigned Ensures compliance with VA policies and procedures, Joint Commission standards, and Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), as well as other accrediting/regulatory/monitoring agencies and/or bodies as applicable Maintains knowledge of the roles and scopes of practice of the various disciplines within the Section and understands crisis interventions, biopsychosocial and diagnostic assessments, evaluation for inpatient mental health admission and/or the need for follow-up treatment, community referrals and consultation to other professionals Participate in the Continuums of Care that fall within the VA Detroit service area. This includes participation in the By-Name list meetings in the community as needed to coordinate housing resources for veterans on their caseloads Collaborates with other VA programs and local community agencies to ensure services for homeless Veterans Provides patient and caregiver education, both in individual and group formats Provides motivational interviewing and supportive therapy, both in individual and group formats Completes comprehensive Veteran-centered, recovery-focused treatment plans and updates as appropriate/required Provides cross-coverage within the continuum of Health Care for Homeless Veterans (HCHV) programs as needed. Involvement in the training of medical students, medical and psychiatric residents, nursing students, fellows, and other graduate or post-graduate trainees, as appropriate Serves on Medical Center or Healthcare System, VISN, and/or National VA committees or task forces, as assigned by the Supervisor or the Associate Chief of Staff for Mental Health. Represents the Medical Center or Healthcare System at professional/program community groups/events and committees Other duties as assigned Work Schedule: Monday thru Friday 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of existing pay, higher or unique qualifications, or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade). Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child. Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66. Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not Available Compressed: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 91998A Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. You may be required to serve a probationary period. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details. Qualifications 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. Licensure. Persons hired or reassigned to social worker positions in the GS-185 series in VHA must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level. English Language Proficiency. Social workers must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Regulations. Grade Determinations (GS-11, Full Performance Level) Experience, Education and Licensure. GS-11 full performance level requires completion of a minimum of I 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. 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. 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 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 GS-11 Preferred Experience: Homeless experience; Microsoft software experience, community outreach experience, strong biopsychosocial assessment skills Physical Requirements: Ability to physically access various treatment settings within the facility. Ability to use computers frequently/continuously throughout the day for data input and communication. Ability to use the phone. Ability to walk up and down steps. Ability to navigate unfamiliar surroundings. Ability to walk long distances in connection with community and street outreach. May require lifting and carrying (under 50 pounds) and climbing stairs as needed. The position will involve driving a motor vehicle. Possession of a current and valid driver's license is a requirement as the incumbent is required to provide consultation services. Since work will take place indoors and outdoors, the ability to drive in various weather and tolerate exposure to excessive cold. Ability to navigate unfamiliar surroundings. Ability to walk and climb up and down steps. Ability to transport Veterans to/from community partners and the VA Medical Center Education IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. You must submit a copy of your transcripts with your application. Your official or unofficial transcript must reflect: name of the college or university, full address of the college or university, your name, class title(s) with the number of credits earned/completed, the degree received, and date degree conferred. A copy of your certificate/degree or screenshot of your current classes are not a replacement of your transcript and they will not be used in the qualifying process Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. 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. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Additional Information Receiving Service Credit or 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. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. 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. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.