The incumbent is a social worker and serves in a full-time capacity within the Mental Health Service (MHS) at VA Detroit Healthcare System which includes John D. Dingell VA Medical Center (JDDVAMC) and its affiliated community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs), the Veterans Community Resource & Referral Center (VCRRC), and the VALOR Center. The social worker is a member of the HUD-VASH Program, providing care to Veterans interested in HUD-VASH services and those enrolled in the program. 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. 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 up to the full performance level. English Language Proficiency. Social workers must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Regulations. Grade Determinations (GS-9), Entry Level 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 toward completion of prerequisites for licensure or certification. 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. 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, 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 GS-11. Physical Requirements: The incumbent reports to their HUD-VASH Team supervisor, who reports to HUD VASH Supervisory SW Program Coordinator, the Director of the Homeless Programs Section, and the Associate Chief of Staff for Mental Health. The incumbent practices independently, using professional judgment and expertise to make decisions about services and treatment provided to veterans and their significant others/family members. Incumbent is given authority to make his/her own work assignments within the program area to which assigned and may also receive assignments from their supervisor. Practices independently gathers relevant information to guide practice, including community Social Work standards ["vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Social-Worker-Career-Flyer.pdf Clinical Responsibilities (90-100%) Provides case management for a caseload of Veterans in the HUD-VASH program (case management is defined as the provision of services by VA clinical staff to homeless Veterans and includes all activities to provide appropriate treatment and maintain Veterans in HUD approved stable housing) Provides direct linkage from community services to VHA homeless program services through regular and consistent outreach and communication with community providers Coordinates care including serving as an advocate on behalf of the Veterans to ensure comprehensive service delivery, and linking and referring Veterans to the VA Medical Center, VA Regional Offices and/or community agencies Performs site visits of HUD-VASH apartments within the Detroit metropolitan area (Macomb, Oakland, Sanilac, St. Clair, and Wayne counties) to ensure that Veterans reside in safe environments in compliance with local housing codes Performs site visits to Veterans within the Detroit metropolitan area (Macomb, Oakland, Sanilac, St. Clair, and Wayne counties) Actively participates in the HUD-VASH Program conference calls and attends trainings. Verifies Veteran status, eligibility for VA medical care, and eligibility of program participation Conducts psychosocial assessments, identifies psychosocial problems and stressors, and diagnoses psychosocial and psychiatric conditions Completes comprehensive Veteran-centered, recovery-focused treatment plans and updates as appropriate/required Provides patient, family, and caregiver education, both in individual and group formats Assesses the need for referral for more intensive and/or specialty mental health services Consults, collaborates, and coordinates with other staff who provide care to Veteran Completes clinical reminders Reviews agreements between Section 8, landlords, Public Housing Authorities and the VA in establishing appropriate referral sites for HUD-VASH placements Collects and submits HUD-VASH Program participant data as outlined by NEPEC/HOMES evaluation procedures Participates in community and VA collaboration meetings, including, but not limited to By Name List Meetings assigned to each county covered within the catchment Complies with criminal conflict of interest laws and Executive Branch Standards of conduct so as to avoid conflicts of interest while serving as the HUD-VASH Case Manager Follows VHA, VISN, and local policies for the HUD-VASH Program. This includes following policies and documentation requirements as required for Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities and Joint Commission accreditation Provides clinical supervision to social work trainees Education and Research Responsibilities (0-5%) Involvement in training program didactics for trainees of various disciplines and levels, as assigned Other Significant Responsibilities (0-5%) 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 social work on decision-making committees at the Medical Center or Healthcare System, 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 group/events and committees. Other duties as assigned Work Schedule: Monday thru Friday 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized 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: Potential for 1-2 days based on service needs Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 91710 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,321 health care facilities, including 172 VA Medical Centers and 1,138 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics) to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. VHA Medical Centers provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy. In addition, most of our medical centers offer additional medical and surgical specialty services including audiology & speech pathology, dermatology, dental, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, podiatry, prosthetics, urology, and vision care. Some medical centers also offer advanced services such as organ transplants and plastic surgery.