Senior Social Worker

Department of Veterans Affairs•Fairview, OR

40d•Onsite

About The Position

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. The Senior HUD-VASH Social Worker has expertise in making psychosocial and psychiatric diagnosis within their scope of practice and works with Veterans to develop measurable treatment plans to address diagnosis and identified problems. The incumbent is assigned to the homeless program provides community based intensive case management services. The Senior HUD-VASH Social Worker will provide evidence-based practice treatment to Veterans that is consistent with Housing First and Harm Reduction and effectively uses motivational interviewing techniques to help Veteran move forward on identified goals. Specialized interventions will include individual, group, and family counseling or psychotherapy and advanced practice case management that address complex problems associated with homelessness. The Senior HUD-VASH Social Worker will function as a resource to less experienced, unlicensed social workers on the homeless team and may provide individual and group clinical supervision. Incumbent will lead clinical discussions, take initiative to staff complex cases, and support the HUD-VASH team with clinical consultation and oversight of programmatic requirements. Incumbent provides subject matter consultation to colleagues and students/trainees on the psychosocial treatment of patients treated for homelessness providing professional opinions based on experience and expertise and role modeling effective social work practice skills. Incumbent will teach and mentor staff and students in the specialty area of practice. The Senior HUD-VASH Social Worker will work with CRS leadership to assist with interventions and strategies to increase housing retention. Incumbent will work directly with the multidisciplinary Enhanced Team to help identify Veterans at risk of eviction and instability and will design interventions to improve outcomes. Incumbent routinely participates in multidisciplinary team meetings related to Veterans enrolled in homeless programs to ensure appropriate transitions of care for the population served. The Senior HUD-VASH Social Worker supports CRS leadership in managing caseload of assigned specialty area including voucher allocation within local Public Housing Authority and project-based housing and is an expert in using the Homeless Operation Management Evaluation Systems (HOMES) system, making improvements and adjustments as needed to ensure medical center performance are met or exceeded. Incumbent provides input to CRS leadership and assists with assists program development by assisting in writing policy, procedures, or practice guidelines. The Senior HUD-VASH Social Worker uses evidence-based practice techniques to engage Veterans in meeting individualized and patient-centered treatment goals and will monitor progress over time. Incumbent will be the Mental Health Treatment Coordinator for assigned caseload and will provide expert case management services. The incumbent is an expert on VA and community resources associated with homelessness, mental health, and substance use disorder treatment. Incumbent is available to the Veterans in area served and assists Veterans in linking to supportive environments in the areas in which they live. Incumbent independently follows medical center policy and procedures and provides clinical care that is consistent with Joint Commission and CARF expectations. The Senior HUD-VASH Social Worker develops and implements methods for measuring effectiveness of practice and services, utilizing outcome evaluations and use of evidence-based treatment modalities that are effective with Veterans who struggle with homelessness, substance use disorders, along with medically and psychiatrically complex diagnoses. Incumbent assists team members with clinical consultation and development of strategies for engagement of difficult to engage clients.

Responsibilities

making psychosocial and psychiatric diagnosis within their scope of practice
works with Veterans to develop measurable treatment plans to address diagnosis and identified problems
provide community based intensive case management services
provide evidence-based practice treatment to Veterans that is consistent with Housing First and Harm Reduction
effectively uses motivational interviewing techniques to help Veteran move forward on identified goals
Specialized interventions will include individual, group, and family counseling or psychotherapy and advanced practice case management that address complex problems associated with homelessness
function as a resource to less experienced, unlicensed social workers on the homeless team and may provide individual and group clinical supervision
lead clinical discussions, take initiative to staff complex cases, and support the HUD-VASH team with clinical consultation and oversight of programmatic requirements
provides subject matter consultation to colleagues and students/trainees on the psychosocial treatment of patients treated for homelessness providing professional opinions based on experience and expertise and role modeling effective social work practice skills
teach and mentor staff and students in the specialty area of practice
work with CRS leadership to assist with interventions and strategies to increase housing retention
work directly with the multidisciplinary Enhanced Team to help identify Veterans at risk of eviction and instability and will design interventions to improve outcomes
routinely participates in multidisciplinary team meetings related to Veterans enrolled in homeless programs to ensure appropriate transitions of care for the population served
supports CRS leadership in managing caseload of assigned specialty area including voucher allocation within local Public Housing Authority and project-based housing and is an expert in using the Homeless Operation Management Evaluation Systems (HOMES) system, making improvements and adjustments as needed to ensure medical center performance are met or exceeded
provides input to CRS leadership and assists with assists program development by assisting in writing policy, procedures, or practice guidelines
uses evidence-based practice techniques to engage Veterans in meeting individualized and patient-centered treatment goals and will monitor progress over time
will be the Mental Health Treatment Coordinator for assigned caseload and will provide expert case management services
is an expert on VA and community resources associated with homelessness, mental health, and substance use disorder treatment
is available to the Veterans in area served and assists Veterans in linking to supportive environments in the areas in which they live
independently follows medical center policy and procedures and provides clinical care that is consistent with Joint Commission and CARF expectations
develops and implements methods for measuring effectiveness of practice and services, utilizing outcome evaluations and use of evidence-based treatment modalities that are effective with Veterans who struggle with homelessness, substance use disorders, along with medically and psychiatrically complex diagnoses
assists team members with clinical consultation and development of strategies for engagement of difficult to engage clients