Social Worker (HUD-VASH) GS-0185-00 at Ann Arbor

JOB SUMMARY:

Vacancy Identification Number (VIN) 919477

OUR MISSION: To fulfill President Lincolns promise – "To care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan" – by serving and honoring the men and women who are Americas Veterans.  

Note:  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.  The Professional Standards Board (a peer-review group) will review the selected candidate’s education and experience and recommend the grade and step at which the candidate will be placed.  The salary is based on the grade and step approved for the selected candidate.
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.

Relocation Expenses: Relocation expenses are not authorized for this position.

KEY REQUIREMENTS

• Must pass pre-employment examination
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English
• Designated and-or Random Drug Testing required
• Background and-or Security Investigation required

DUTIES:Back to top

This position is located within Mental Health Service at the Ann Arbor VA.  HUD-VASH is an intensive case management program for chronically homeless Veterans aimed at providing psychosocial services to Veterans while residing in stable housing through HUD’s Section 8 voucher system. The social worker in this position functions as the Case Manager for AAVAMC’s Housing and Urban Development / VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH).  The social worker is responsible for coordination of case management services for Veterans receiving housing provided through HUD Section 8 housing vouchers.

 

Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program funding will provide rental assistance under a supportive housing program for homeless Veterans authorized by section 8(o)(19) of the United States Housing Act of 1937, 42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)(19). The initiative is known as the HUD-VASH program and was authorized pursuant to Division K, Title II, of The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008 (Pub. Law 110-161) (“2008 Appropriation Act”) enacted on December 26, 2007 (see proviso (7) under the heading “Tenant-Based Rental Assistance”). The HUD-VASH program combines HUD HCV rental assistance for homeless Veterans with case management and clinical services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) at its medical centers and in the community. Ongoing VA case management, healthcare, and other supportive services will be made available to homeless Veterans at as many as 132 VA Medical Center (VAMC) supportive services sites across the nation.

 

Tour of duty: Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:Back to top

BASIC REQUIREMENTS:   

- U.S. citizenship. 

- Education.  Hold 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 masters degree in social work. 

- Licensure.  Individuals assigned as Supervisory Social Workers must be licensed or certified at the advanced practice level and must be able to provide supervision for subordinate staff to qualify for licensure.

- Must be able to pass pre employment physical.

- Proficient in spoken and written English.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

GRADE DETERMINATIONS:

 

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE FOR THE GS-9 LEVEL:  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.   NOTE:   Social workers with more than one year of post-MSW experience may be appointed at an advanced step within the GS-9 grade commensurate with their years of experience. 

 

In addition, the following KSAs must be met:

1. Ability to provide psychosocial treatment to a wide variety of individuals from various socio-economic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other diversified backgrounds. This requires knowledge of human development and behavior (physical and psychological), and the differential influences of the environment, society, and culture.

2. Ability to work with patients and families who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric, medical, and social problems utilizing individual, group, and family counseling skills. Work with more complex problems is done under close supervision. With guidance from the social work supervisor, ability to assess the psychosocial functioning and needs of patients and their family members, and to formulate and implement a treatment plan, identifying the patient’s problems, strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and assistance needed.

3. Basic knowledge of psychosocial treatment modalities and, under supervision, 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.

4. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, staff, and representatives of community agencies. Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with people from varied backgrounds.

5. 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.

6. Basic skill in the use of computer software applications for drafting documents, data management, and tracking. Ability to learn and utilize software programs in use by VHA.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE FOR GS-11 LEVEL: Requires a minimum of one year of post-MSW degree professional social work experience in the field of health care. This experience must have been in a clinical setting and must have demonstrated the potential to perform advanced assignments independently. (A clinical setting is a medical center, clinic - medical or psychiatric, residential treatment center, or any other type of facility where social work participates in a collaborative treatment and is identified with the medical profession.) Experience must have been obtained AFTER earning a Master’s Degree in Social Work.

 

SUBSTITUTING EDUCATION FOR EXPERIENCE AT THE GS-11 LEVEL: To meet the required specialized experience for the GS-11 level, applicant may substitute a doctoral degree in social work from a school of social work. You must submit a transcript to receive credit for this education.

 

In addition, the following KSAs must be met:

1.  Knowledge of community resources, how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services, and ability to coordinate services.

2.  Ability to independently assess the psychosocial functioning and needs of patients and their family members and to formulate and implement a treatment plan, identifying the patients problems, strengths, weaknesses, coping skills and assistance needed, in collaboration with the patient, family and interdisciplinary treatment team.

3.  Ability to independently conduct psychosocial assessments and provide psychosocial treatment to a wide variety of individuals from various socio-economic, cultural, ethnic, educational and other diversified backgrounds.  This requires knowledge of human development and behavior (physical and psychological) and the differential influences of the environment, society and culture.

4.  Knowledge and experience in the use 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.

5.  Knowledge of psychosocial treatment and ability to independently implement treatment modalities in working with individuals, families and groups who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric, medical and social problems to achieve treatment goals.  This requires independent judgment and skill in utilizing supportive, problem solving or crisis intervention techniques.

6.  Ability to independently provide counseling and/or psychotherapy services to individuals, groups and families.  Social workers must practice within the bounds of their license or certification.  For example, some states may require social workers providing psychotherapy to have a clinical level of licensure.

7.  Ability to provide consultation services to other staff about the psychosocial needs of patients and the impact of psychosocial problems on health care and compliance with treatment.  Ability to provide orientation and coaching to new social workers and social work graduate students.  Ability to serve as a field instructor for social work graduate students who are completing VHA field placements.

8.  Ability to independently evaluate his/her own practice through participation in professional peer review case conferences, research studies, or other organized means.

9.  Knowledge and skill in the use of computer software applications for drafting documents, data management, and tracking, especially those programs in use by VHA.

 

References: VA Handbook 5005, APPENDIX G39 http://vaww.va.gov/ohrm/Directives-Handbooks/Documents/5005.pdf available in the local Human Resources Office and OPM Group Coverage Qualification Standard for Professional and Scientific Positions at http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/standards/IORs/GS0100/0185.htm  

PLEASE NOTE:  Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications (particularly positions with a positive education requirement.)  Therefore, applicants must report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.  Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website: http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html All education claimed by applicants will be verified by the appointing agency accordingly.  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.

Physical Requirements: 80% of job duties are provided in the community, primarily in homeless shelters and the veterans natural environment, it does require driving, standing, and walking. A valid drivers license is required. The work requires that the incumbent drive on a regular basis as a significant amount of their time is spent in the community meeting with Veterans, landlords and other community agency representatives.

Veterans Preference: When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference on the Occupational Questionnaire in the section provided and provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) and/or documentation related to your active duty service which shows dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), or dates of impending separation.

Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veterans Preference" with required proof as stated on the form.  For more information, please review the information for disabled Veterans in the application checklist or visit http://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/vetpref/index.aspx.

HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED:

Your application, résumé and/or supporting documentation will be verified.  Please follow all instructions carefully.  Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

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Country: USA, State: Michigan, City: Ann Arbor, Company: Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration.