This position is located at the VA Medical Center, Health Care for Homeless Veterans Outreach Center in Spokane Washington. The incumbent is responsible for program oversight, monitoring and administration, serving as the contact with local Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) and providing clinical case management services necessary to ensure that veteran care is coordinated with the VA medical center, community health or mental health providers, and agencies that serve homeless populations. To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement. Basic Requirements: Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g this part). English Language Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). 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. Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. Social Worker, GS-9 (1) Experience, Education, and Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements. (2) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Ability to work with Veterans and family members from various socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other diversified backgrounds utilizing counseling skills. (b) 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. (c) 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. (d) Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients, staff, and representatives of community agencies. (e) 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. (3) Entry Level Assignments. Individuals assigned as GS-9 grade level 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 program areas that do not require specialized knowledge or experience. Duties may include but are not limited to: identifying behaviors or symptoms of abuse, neglect or exploitation; providing education on advance directives and advanced care planning; providing social work case management; acting as an advocate with appropriate VA and community service providers/agencies when it serves the best interest of the Veteran and family members/caregiver; assessing the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and their family members identifying the Veteran's strengths, weaknesses, coping skills and psychosocial acuity, in collaboration with the Veteran, family, and interdisciplinary treatment teams; maintaining a current network of internal and external resources to educate the Veteran and/or family members/caregivers and assist with the appropriate referrals. Since social workers at this level 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. Social Worker, GS-11 (1) 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. NOTE: For appointment licensure or certification at this level please refer to paragraph 3c. OR (2) 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. (3) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of community resources, how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services, and ability to coordinate services. (b) 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. (c) 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. (d) 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. (e) 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. Preferred Experience: Experience working with people experiencing homelessness preferred. References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/120 September 10, 2019 PART II APPENDIX G39 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. Physical Requirements: Light lifting (under15 pounds); Light carrying (under15 pounds); Use of fingers; Operation of crane, truck, tractor or motor vehicle; Specific visual requirement (driving GOV, using computer); Hearing (aid may be permitted) Environmental Factors: Outside and inside; Slippery or uneven walking surfaces; Working closely with others; Working alone ["This position may filled by either a Licensed Social Worker or a LPMHC:\nLPMHC Can apply at https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/668841500 A. Clinical Assessment Evaluates Veteran's situation, abilities, and capabilities, and arrives at a reasoned conclusion including an assessment of vulnerability and priority for admission Assesses at-risk factors and develops a preliminary plan. Performs a thorough assessment of serious and complicated cases involving psychiatric illness Interviews the Veteran and/or their family members to establish facts about the Veteran's situation, presenting problems and their causes. Reviews all data, subjective and objective and makes a clinical assessment B. Comprehensive Case Management Develops psychosocial treatment plans, actively involving the Veteran and/or their family or significant others, in coordination with interdisciplinary team members, based on the psychosocial assessments Makes initial and continuing decisions coordinating the Veteran's care through linking and referral to VA medical facilities or Regional Offices and other VA and non-VA services Case management services to interpret data and to identify viable treatment options and recognize potential high risk factors, acuity, and needs for services Assists veterans in problem solving, evaluation and logical alternatives Makes routine visits to each Veteran in their residence to assess their environment and provide on-going clinical services. Demonstrates acceptance, interest, and encouragement and includes the Veteran in the individual's course of treatment. Maintaining appointments at VA medical centers and other community agencies for medical, psychiatric, substance abuse, vocational and other services Assists Veterans who encounter problems obtaining services from the VA and other service delivery agencies through advocacy, linking, and/or by assisting with their problem solving/social interaction skills. Implements the Housing First model within the HUD-VASH program. Provides referral to VA medical and mental health inpatient and outpatient treatment and to other VA services. Provides referrals or consults, or in some cases direct admission prior to HUD-VASH participation. Documents in the medical records utilizing paper and/or electronic formats. Explains Veteran's treatment and progress to third parties. Provides psychosocial services and is accountable for the overall effectiveness of those services. Modifies services to best meet the treatment needs of veterans. Promote efficient practice and coordinates with other services offered in the treatment program. Offers educational services, identifying the health education needs of Veterans and working with interdisciplinary team members on a plan to address those needs. C. Program Administration and Organization Program oversight, monitoring and administration, serving as the contact with local Public Housing Authorities and providing clinical case management to Veterans. Data collection, administrative record keeping, and monitoring patient or program clinical indicators, thresholds, and performance measurements. Develops working relationships and agreements with other organizations and directly coordinates with the designated PHA regarding housing voucher application and award process for each Veteran. Review the agreements between Section 8 landlords, PHAs, and the VA to establish appropriate referral sites for placements. Implements/maintains referral and screening procedures for HUD-VASH. Referral, screening and admission criteria recognizes program eligibility, prioritization of subsets of the homeless Veteran population, requirements of the PHAs, and other policy, regulation, or law pertaining to program administration. Ensure criteria and procedures are maintained. Provides input for program participant selection based on structured interviews and clinical assessments. Responsibility for cases presenting a wide range of psychosocial and environmental problems. Works closely with the VA medical center's homeless programs, residential and community care programs, to ensure coordination between these entities is facilitated and veterans direct care, referral, and follow up is contiguous. D. Outreach Conducts and participates in outreach activities including field interviews, assessments and referrals for homeless Veterans contacted in the community, shelters, and \"on the streets,\" as well as those who are referred by VA residential programs, medical centers or outpatient clinics. Transports Veterans to appointments in the community. Maintains current and establishes new relationships with other community-based service providers for the homeless, and represents VA at community service provider meetings. Work Schedule: M-F 0800-1630\nTelework: Eligible\nVirtual: This is not a virtual position.\nFunctional Statement #: 0000000\nRelocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required"]