Senior Social Worker (HUDVASH)

Summary This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply. Duties VA Careers

• Social Work: Major duties include but not limited to: Function as a Senior HUD-VASH Social Worker and subject matter expert for the HUD-VASH program. Provide programmatic support and consultation for HUD-VASH social workers and other disciplines. Maintain a caseload and conducts regular home visits to Veterans in the program based on acuity and consistent with HUD-VASH program contact standards. Provide clinical case management and care coordination to facilitate appropriate delivery of health care services. Maintain a current network of internal and external resources to educate Veterans, family and team members and assist with appropriate referrals. Routinely coordinate with local, county, state, and federal agencies. Local activities include coordination of care with the Homeless Continuums of Care, community service providers, Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) grantees, local housing authorities, social service agencies, VBA, and property management companies. Coordinate with community partners on local initiatives involving services and resources for homeless Veterans seeking permanent housing. Leverage comprehensive knowledge of community resources to effectively support Veterans in need. Ensure Veterans receive specialized care beyond what the VA can provide. Conduct comprehensive psychosocial assessments with a wide variety of individuals from various socio-economic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other diversified backgrounds utilizing counseling skills. Develop 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 ROIs. Identify family/caregiver stressors and provides specific interventions. Develop and implement personalized service plans, in conjunction with the Veteran, that address housing stability, mental health support, substance abuse treatment, vocational rehabilitation, and other desired services. Foster interdisciplinary collaboration among healthcare providers, case managers, and community stakeholders, and ensure holistic care that aligns with the VA's mission to promote Veterans' recovery, independence, and quality of life. Coordinate care with internal and external providers as needed. Provide education on advance directives and conduct advanced care planning. Offer expert advice and guidance to colleagues and stakeholders, educating Veterans and their families on available resources and entitlements, and advocating for their rights and needs within the VA and broader community. Ensure Veterans receive comprehensive support, empowering them to navigate healthcare systems, access services, and achieve improved well-being. Identify service gaps and barriers to accessing care and develop potential solutions to address them. Coordinate training opportunities for staff within the HUD-VASH Program to keep clinical staff updated and trained on existing and new modalities/skills related to the program. Address psychiatric, medical, and psychosocial challenges among Veterans through applicable treatment approaches and referrals to care. Facilitate Veteran psychoeducation, monitor treatment progress, and collaborate closely with interdisciplinary teams to ensure comprehensive care. Formulate and implement treatment plans identifying strengths, abilities, coping skills, and assistance needed. Complete psychosocial assessments and clinical screenings required per program, or VHA requirements. Make rapid assessments and developing crisis management plans for Veterans when needed. In the event of a medical or psychiatric emergency, the Senior Social Worker will follow the protocol of VASNHCS. Assess and diagnose mental health issues and coordinate care with internal and external providers to appropriately address identified needs. Complete appropriate clinical reminders and screening tools for assessing suicide risk. Collaborate in the performance improvement process and comply with performance measures as required by the VA for their specific population and/or program. Work Schedule: 8:00am
• 4:30pm Monday
• Friday Telework: This position is eligible for telework on an Ad- Hoc Basis per agency policy Virtual: This is not a virtual position. EDRP Authorized: (Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.) Contact [email protected], the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more 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. Verification of the degree can be made by going to 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 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. All persons employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education and licensure or certification that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all of the basic requirements in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: Such employees in an occupation that requires a licensure or certification, may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that me