Social Worker - (Health Care for Homeless Veterans)

Veterans Health Administration • Lansing, MI

2d

About The Position

The Social Worker will identify homeless Veterans at the medical center and in the community and help eligible Veterans enroll in VA health care services. The role includes assessing the psychosocial needs of Veterans and their families, participating in interdisciplinary treatment and discharge planning, and ensuring discharge plans are carried out appropriately and on time. The incumbent provides individual, family, and group counseling as appropriate, and offers guidance on community resources, advance directives, and VA benefits.

The Social Worker serves as a consultant and liaison to clinical teams and programs, including residential and inpatient mental health programs and HUD-VASH, to help connect homeless Veterans with appropriate care and support services. The position also provides education to medical center staff on social work practice and VA policies and procedures, coordinates with community resources, performs marketing and public relations duties as needed, and provides case management across the continuum of care.

The schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Telework is available on an ad hoc basis; the position is not virtual. Minimal travel to the medical center may be required for events that cannot be accommodated virtually. The position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program, subject to its requirements and approval; former EDRP participants are ineligible to apply.

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 licensure or certification to independently practice social work at the master's degree level. The licensure exception applies only at GS-9 while completing state prerequisites; GS-11 and above require licensure or certification.
• U.S. citizenship, except that non-citizens may be appointed when qualified citizens cannot be recruited in accordance with VA policy.
• Clean driving record, documented by a report from the department of motor vehicles.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• Successful completion of a pre-employment physical examination and background/security investigation.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Ability to meet the stated GS-9 knowledge, skills, and abilities, including Veteran-centered interventions; psychosocial assessment and treatment planning; individual, family, and group treatment modalities; effective communication and working relationships; and fundamental knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities, treatments, medications, and terminology.
• For GS-11, ability to demonstrate specialized interventions and advanced psychosocial or case management skills; incorporate complex causation in diagnosis and treatment within scope of practice; evaluate and improve services; provide specialized consultation and role modeling; and develop clinical knowledge, policies, procedures, or practice guidelines.
• Ability to sit frequently and for extended periods, work at a computer for long periods, and perform tasks requiring close visual acuity and repetitive wrist, hand, or finger motions.
• Good hearing and eyesight, and a clean and neat appearance.
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the announcement's Required Documents section.
• Serve a 1- or 2-year trial period, as applicable.

Responsibilities

• Identify homeless Veterans at the medical center and/or in the community and ensure eligible Veterans are enrolled in VA health care services.
• Conduct psychosocial assessments to determine the needs of Veterans and family members.
• Participate in treatment planning with other disciplines.
• Participate in discharge planning and ensure plans are executed in a timely and appropriate manner.
• Provide individual, family, and group counseling as appropriate.
• Educate Veterans and families about community resources, advance directives, and VA benefits.
• Consult and liaise with other team members and staff, including residential and inpatient mental health programs and HUD-VASH, to ensure homeless Veterans receive appropriate care and support services.
• Educate medical center staff on social work practice and VA policies and procedures.
• Liaise between VA and community resources, including performing marketing and public relations duties as needed.
• Provide case management to Veterans and families as needed throughout the continuum of care.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), with an award of up to $200,000 for eligible and approved participants.
• Federal employee benefits package; specific benefits depend on position eligibility.
• Potential credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work or military service, subject to request and approval.

What This Job Offers

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