Senior Social Worker (HUD-VASH and GPD)

Veterans Health Administration • Anchorage, AK

3d • Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Social Worker provides psychosocial assessments, case management, quality improvement, evaluation and consultation, placement, and referrals and linkages to community agencies for Veterans. The position has administrative responsibility for clinical programming and daily operations of the HUD-VASH and Grant and Per Diem (GPD) programs in Anchorage, including program data management.

For HUD-VASH, the social worker provides case management to homeless Veterans to support appropriate treatment and their continued residence in HUD-approved stable housing. The role coordinates care and connects Veterans with 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 partners to improve how healthcare services are delivered to HUD-VASH Veterans.

For GPD, the role oversees and manages assigned programs, including contract administration, enrollment, billing, payments, and outreach to develop community partnerships, including in rural areas. The position coordinates community-based services and advocates for comprehensive care, while providing advanced social work services and coordinating continuity of care with interdisciplinary teams.

The position is based in Anchorage and has a Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. schedule. 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 eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to eligibility and program approval; awards may be up to $200,000 for one to five years. Former EDRP participants are ineligible. Permanent Change of Station is not authorized.

Requirements

• Master's degree in social work from a school fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE); a doctoral degree does not substitute for the master's degree.
• State license or certification to independently practice social work at the master's degree level; the license or certification must be full, valid, and unrestricted.
• At least two years of experience after advanced-practice clinical licensure, in a specialized area of social work practice, including at least one year equivalent to GS-11.
• Advanced-practice-level state licensure or certification, including an advanced generalist or clinical examination, subject to the stated grandfathering provisions.
• Ability to provide supervision for licensure.
• Skill in specialized interventions and treatment modalities, including individual, group, and/or family counseling or psychotherapy and advanced psychosocial or case-management services.
• Ability to incorporate complex multiple causation into differential diagnosis and treatment within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice.
• Knowledge of methods to measure the effectiveness of specialty social work practice and services, use outcome evaluations to improve treatment, and design system changes.
• Ability to provide specialized consultation to colleagues and students and model effective social work practice.
• Ability to expand clinical knowledge and write policies, procedures, or practice guidelines for the service delivery area.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• U.S. citizenship, except where appointment of a non-citizen is permitted under VA policy.
• Valid driver's license and clearance to operate a government vehicle.
• Pass a pre-employment physical examination and background/security investigation; complete the required online onboarding process.
• Comply with the Department of Veterans Affairs seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Serve a one- or two-year trial period, during which continued employment is evaluated.
• Meet applicable application and documentation requirements.

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 internship or equivalent supervised professional experience in a specialty.

Responsibilities

• Conduct psychosocial assessments and participate in treatment planning with other disciplines.
• Participate in discharge planning and ensure discharge plans are carried out.
• Educate Veterans and families about community resources, advance directives, and VA benefits.
• Serve as a liaison between VA and community resources across the continuum of care.
• Provide a full range of social work services, including advanced case work, counseling, case management, discharge planning, and continuity-of-care coordination.
• Provide wellness and prevention education and facilitate Veteran and family support groups as appropriate.
• Supervise social work students or less experienced social workers as appropriate.
• Coordinate treatment and community services with care lines to ensure continuity of care for Veterans.
• Participate in committee assignments, HUD-VASH program conference calls, and training.
• Contribute to program planning and development; advise the Chief of HCHV about caseload trends and recommend program or policy changes.
• Improve professional practice 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 care and referrals to Community Based Outpatient Centers, VA Medical Centers, VA Regional Offices, and community agencies.
• Collaborate with Alaska VA Healthcare System multidisciplinary teams and community agencies to improve healthcare delivery for HUD-VASH Veterans.
• Oversee assigned GPD programs, including contract administration, enrollment, billing accuracy, timely payments, and community outreach and partnerships, including in rural areas.
• Coordinate GPD community-based services and advocate for comprehensive service delivery, linking Veterans with VA and community resources.
• Participate in VJP and GPD program conference calls and homeless-program training.
• Ensure adherence to local policies, documentation standards, and data-submission requirements such as HOMES.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) student loan reimbursement, subject to eligibility and approval; award amount may be up to $200,000 for one to five years.
• A recruitment incentive may be authorized.
• Federal employee benefits package; specific benefits depend on position eligibility.

What This Job Offers

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