Social Worker- HUD-VASH Case Manager

Veterans Health Administration • White City, OR

8d • Onsite

About The Position

The Social Worker serves as a HUD-VASH case manager for a caseload of approximately 30–35 Veterans experiencing homelessness and complex mental, emotional, behavioral, physical, psychosocial, and environmental challenges. The position focuses on maximizing rehabilitation and treatment potential and helping Veterans achieve emotional, economic, health, and housing stability. The position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to individual eligibility and program approval. The role is in the Excepted Service, with a full-performance level of GS-11 and a selection range of GS-09 to GS-11. The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Telework and virtual work are not available.

The employee provides outreach, psychosocial assessment, treatment planning, counseling, psychotherapy, crisis intervention, and case management. They coordinate services and referrals with VA programs, government programs, community agencies, Veterans, families, and an interdisciplinary treatment team. The role requires professional knowledge of medical and mental-health diagnoses, disabilities, treatments, Veterans’ benefits, and community resources, as well as the ability to consult with other staff and provide courteous, consistent customer service. The employee must comply with VHA directives, local policies, and performance measures and participate in regular Service Line and Team meetings.

Basic qualifications include a master's degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited school and state licensure or certification to independently practice social work at the master's level, subject to the stated GS-9 exception. GS-11 requires at least one year of post-MSW experience equivalent to GS-9 in health care or another social-work-related setting and independent-practice licensure/certification, or a qualifying doctoral degree in social work in lieu of that experience. Candidates must demonstrate the grade-specific knowledge, skills, and abilities described in the announcement. Prior experience with homeless or stigmatized populations is preferred.

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 this basic master's requirement.
• State licensure or certification to independently practice social work at the master's level; an exception may apply at GS-9 while state licensure or certification prerequisites are being completed. GS-11 requires independent-practice licensure or certification.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• For GS-11, at least one year of post-MSW experience equivalent to GS-9 in health care or another social-work-related setting, or a qualifying doctoral degree in social work as a substitute for the experience requirement.
• Demonstrate the applicable grade-level knowledge, skills, and abilities, including Veteran-centered interventions; psychosocial assessment and treatment planning; treatment modalities for individuals, families, and groups; effective working relationships and communication; and knowledge of medical and mental-health diagnoses, disabilities, and treatment procedures.
• For GS-11, demonstrate knowledge of community resources and referral coordination; independent psychosocial assessment and intervention across diverse backgrounds; independent use of treatment modalities; and ability to consult with staff, new social workers, and social-work students.
• U.S. citizenship is required, except that non-citizens may be appointed only when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• Males born after December 31, 1959, must be registered with Selective Service.
• Must undergo a background/security investigation, pass a pre-employment physical examination, complete onboarding and required application documents, and participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Must serve a one- or two-year trial period, subject to written certification for continued employment.
• Only qualifying education from recognized, accredited institutions may be used; foreign education requires a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency and transcript.

Nice To Haves

• Prior experience working with homeless populations or stigmatized populations.

Responsibilities

• Conduct outreach and identify and screen patients for psychosocial needs; refer them to appropriate VA and community resources.
• Coordinate community-based services and referrals to VA programs, government programs, and community agencies, and keep knowledge of available resources current.
• Independently implement treatment modalities and provide counseling or psychotherapy to individuals, families, and groups.
• Conduct psychosocial assessments and develop treatment plans with Veterans or families and the interdisciplinary treatment team.
• Identify high-risk patients and provide case management services.
• Provide crisis intervention, address underlying causes as well as presenting concerns, coordinate family conferences, and serve as a liaison to family members.
• Establish and maintain effective therapeutic relationships with Veterans and their families.
• Provide consultation to staff regarding Veterans’ psychosocial needs and the effects of psychosocial problems on health care and treatment-plan adherence.
• Evaluate professional practice through peer review, case conferences, and other organizational methods.
• Facilitate referrals based on Veterans’ needs and eligibility, including knowledge of Veterans’ benefits and services.
• Communicate respectfully and consistently with Veterans, representatives, visitors, and VA staff; provide information according to established policies and procedures and handle conflicts constructively.
• Use word-processing, data-management, and other computer systems, especially those used by VHA.
• Comply with VHA directives, local station policies, and VA performance measures; work with the assigned team to improve performance-measure outcomes.
• Attend and participate in regular Service Line and Team meetings.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) student-loan payment reimbursement, subject to eligibility and approval; award may be up to $200,000 over an eligibility period of one to five years.
• Competitive salary and regular salary increases.
• 37–50 days of annual paid time off, including 13–26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, and 11 paid federal holidays.
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months of employment, in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster-care placement of a child.
• Child-care subsidy may be available after 60 days for eligible full-time employees with total family income below $144,000, covering up to 25% of eligible costs, subject to child eligibility and a monthly maximum of $416.66.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting and federal 401(k) with up to 5% in VA contributions.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance; many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement.

What This Job Offers

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