Senior Social Worker (HUD-VASH and GPD)

Veterans Health Administration • Anchorage, AK

2d • Onsite

About The Position

This Senior Social Worker has dual responsibilities for providing psychosocial assessments, case management, continuous quality improvement, evaluation and consultation, placement services, and referrals and linkage to community agencies for Veterans. The position is administratively responsible for clinical programming and daily operations of the HUD-VASH and Grant and Per Diem (GPD) programs in Anchorage, including management of program data.

The role provides HUD-VASH case management to homeless Veterans, including services and activities intended to support appropriate treatment and stable housing approved by HUD. It coordinates care and links Veterans to VA Community Based Outpatient Centers, VA Medical Centers, VA Regional Offices, and community agencies. The social worker works with Alaska VA Healthcare System multidisciplinary teams and community agencies to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of care for HUD-VASH Veterans.

For GPD, the position oversees and manages assigned programs, including contract administration, enrollment, billing, payments, and community outreach. It coordinates community-based services and advocates for comprehensive service delivery, including in rural areas. The role also provides advanced social work services and coordinates continuity of care with interdisciplinary teams.

The position is scheduled Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Compressed or flexible scheduling is available, and telework is available on an ad hoc basis. This is not a virtual position. A recruitment incentive may be authorized. The position is permanent change of station (PCS) ineligible.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited in accordance with VA policy.
• Master's degree in social work from a school fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE); a doctoral degree cannot substitute for the master's degree.
• Current state license or certification to independently practice social work at the master's degree level, maintained as full, valid, and unrestricted.
• State license or certification at the advanced practice level, including an advanced generalist or clinical examination, with the stated grandfathering exceptions; must be able to provide supervision for licensure.
• At least two years of experience after advanced practice clinical licensure in a specialized area of social work practice, including one year equivalent to the GS-11 grade level.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Skill in specialized interventions and treatment modalities, including individual, group, or family counseling or psychotherapy and advanced psychosocial or case-management practice.
• Ability to incorporate complex multiple causation into differential diagnosis and treatment within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice.
• Knowledge of methods for evaluating the effectiveness of social work practice and services and using outcome evaluations to improve treatment and design system changes.
• Ability to provide specialized consultation to colleagues and students on psychosocial treatment and model effective social work practice.
• Ability to expand clinical knowledge and write policies, procedures, or practice guidelines related to the service delivery area.
• Valid driver's license and clearance to operate a government vehicle.
• Must pass a pre-employment physical examination and background/security investigation.
• Must meet onboarding and identification-document requirements and participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Must serve a one- or two-year trial period.
• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must meet Selective Service registration requirements.
• Must submit a complete application with the documents specified in the announcement.

Nice To Haves

• Certification or post-master's training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university, including a defined curriculum or course of study and an internship or equivalent supervised professional experience in a specialty.

Responsibilities

• Conduct psychosocial assessments.
• Participate in treatment planning and discharge planning with other disciplines, and ensure discharge plans are carried out.
• Provide consultation and education to Veterans and families about community resources, advance directives, and VA benefits.
• Act as a liaison between VA and community resources throughout the continuum of care.
• Provide a full range of social work services, including case work, counseling, case management, and placement services.
• Provide wellness and prevention education and facilitate Veteran or family support groups as appropriate.
• Supervise social work students or less experienced social workers as appropriate.
• Coordinate treatment and community care with care lines to support continuity of care for Veterans.
• Participate in committee assignments, HUD-VASH program conference calls, and training.
• Participate in program planning and development; advise the Chief of HCHV about caseload trends and recommend program or policy changes.
• Pursue professional improvement through projects, seminars, institutes, and training programs in other disciplines.
• Manage HUD-VASH clinical programming and daily operations in Anchorage, including program data and case management for homeless Veterans.
• Coordinate HUD-VASH service delivery and referrals to VA facilities, regional offices, and community agencies.
• Oversee and manage assigned GPD programs, including contract administration, enrollment processes, accurate billing, timely payments, and community outreach.
• Develop and maintain community partnerships, including in rural areas, and coordinate community-based services for Veterans.
• Advocate for comprehensive service delivery and link Veterans to VA Medical Centers, Regional Offices, and community agencies.
• Participate in VJP and GPD program conference calls and homeless-program training.
• Ensure compliance with local policies, documentation standards, and data submission requirements, including HOMES.
• Coordinate continuity of care with interdisciplinary teams.
• Provide leadership, direction, orientation, coaching, in-service training, staff development, and continuing education for assigned social work staff, as described in the senior social worker assignment.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) student-loan reimbursement, subject to eligibility and approval, of up to $200,000 over an eligibility period of one to five years.
• A recruitment incentive may be authorized.
• Federal employee benefits package for eligible employees and their families.
• Potential annual-leave accrual credit for prior federal or military service, subject to request and approval before appointment.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior