Social Worker-Grant Per Diem Liaison

Veterans Health Administration • Jamaica Plain, MA

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

This full-time, 40-hour-per-week position is in Social Work Services at the VA Healthcare System’s Jamaica Plain location. The incumbent serves as a Senior Social Worker, Grant and Per Diem (GPD) Liaison, and Case Manager within the Health Care for Homeless Veterans Program. The role provides case management, program oversight, and coordination of services for Veterans participating in GPD-funded programs. The position may require travel to other Boston campus locations and into the community.

The position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to VHA eligibility requirements and approval. Applications must be submitted within four months of appointment. The VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office determines approval, award amount (up to $200,000), and eligibility period (one to five years); former EDRP participants are ineligible.

The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Compressed or flexible schedules are authorized, and ad-hoc telework is available; this is not a virtual position. Recruitment or relocation incentives and permanent change-of-station assistance are not authorized. The position is in the Excepted Service and is not part of a bargaining unit.

The VA offers competitive salary and regular salary increases. Listed benefits include paid time off, paid parental leave after 12 months of employment, potential childcare subsidy eligibility after 60 days for qualifying full-time employees, a federal pension, a federal 401(k) with up to 5% in VA contributions, and federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance. The role requires a master's degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited school and state licensure or certification to independently practice at the master's level. For the GS-12 level, applicants must meet the specified advanced practice licensure and experience requirements and demonstrate the listed clinical, consultation, evaluation, and practice-development capabilities.

Requirements

• 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.
• State license or certification to independently practice social work at the master's degree level.
• For GS-12, 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.
• For GS-12, advanced-practice-level state licensure or certification, including an advanced generalist or clinical examination, subject to the stated grandfather provisions; must be able to provide supervision for licensure.
• Demonstrated skill in specialized interventions and treatment modalities, including individual, group, and/or family counseling or psychotherapy and advanced psychosocial or case management.
• Ability to incorporate complex multiple causation into differential diagnosis and treatment within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice.
• Knowledge of developing and implementing methods to measure effectiveness of social work practice and services, using outcome evaluations to improve treatment and design system changes.
• Ability to provide specialized consultation to colleagues and students on psychosocial treatment and to model effective social work practice.
• Ability to expand clinical knowledge in social work and write policies, procedures, or practice guidelines for the service delivery area.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• U.S. citizenship is required, subject to the stated exception under VA policy for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Must complete applicable pre-employment screening and onboarding requirements, including background/security investigation, drug testing if selected for a testing-designated position, and physical evaluation.
• Must participate in the VA seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Must serve a one- or two-year trial period.
• Must meet application requirements and provide required documentation, including applicable SF-50 records for current or former federal employees.

Nice To Haves

• One to three years of experience working with homeless Veterans.
• Certification or post-master’s training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university in a specialty area, including a defined curriculum and internship or equivalent supervised professional experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide case management and coordinate care for Veterans participating in GPD-funded programs.
• Advocate for Veterans and connect them with VA and community resources and services.
• Monitor clinical care and ensure GPD providers comply with applicable program requirements, regulations, and directives.
• Review Veteran eligibility, admissions, discharges, readmissions, extensions of care, and required program documentation.
• Participate in GPD program site inspections and monitor corrective actions for identified deficiencies.
• Coordinate with community agencies, organizations, and multidisciplinary VA teams to support Veterans experiencing homelessness.
• Participate in program planning and development and recommend program or policy improvements.
• Provide education and training to social work students, staff, and other disciplines as appropriate.
• Maintain required medical record documentation, reports, statistics, and other administrative program data.
• Practice independently and use professional judgment to resolve complex clinical and administrative issues.
• Travel throughout the medical center and community as required, including travel in a government vehicle when necessary.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program student loan reimbursement, subject to eligibility and approval, with awards up to $200,000.
• 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year, including 13–26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, and 11 paid federal holidays.
• Potential credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work or military service, subject to request and approval.
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months of employment, in connection with birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.
• Potential childcare subsidy for qualifying full-time employees after 60 days of employment, subject to income and other eligibility criteria.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting.
• Federal 401(k) with up to 5% in contributions by VA.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance; many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement.
• Competitive salary and regular salary increases.

What This Job Offers

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