Social Worker (Program Coordinator)

Veterans Health Administration • Milwaukee, WI

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The Social Worker Program Coordinator is organizationally located at the Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The incumbent provides treatment to patients in the Housing and Urban Development/VA Supportive Housing (HUD/VASH) program and is responsible for program oversight, monitoring, administration, and direct patient care or referral to appropriate care. The role serves as the primary contact with local Public Housing Authorities and works to ensure coordination among VA medical centers, community health and mental health providers, and agencies serving people experiencing homelessness.

The coordinator prepares reports and statistics for facility, VISN, and national use; manages program data for day-to-day operations and evaluation; and works with the Program Manager to plan and organize patient care. The position requires independent clinical-level licensure, mature professional judgment, and specialized knowledge related to diagnoses and the homeless veteran population.

Administrative duties include evaluating and enhancing service quality through information and analytical systems; tracking service activity, referrals, inpatient days, patient demographics, equipment utilization, and patient satisfaction; and developing and evaluating clinical guidelines and protocols. The incumbent provides technical assistance to medical centers, government and private agencies, and universities, and performs program review, monitoring, analysis, planning, assessment, and project implementation activities.

Patient care duties include independent outreach and case finding, psychosocial screening and assessment, diagnosis and treatment of mental and substance use disorders, and counseling or psychotherapy for individuals, families, and groups. The coordinator develops treatment plans with veterans, families, and interdisciplinary teams; identifies high-risk patients; provides clinical services; and establishes therapeutic relationships with veterans and their families. The position is primarily sedentary, with physical demands comparable to a typical office setting.

Work schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Telework will be discussed during the interview process; the position is not virtual. The position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program, subject to program eligibility and approval. Relocation and recruitment incentives and permanent change of station are not authorized.

Requirements

• Master's degree in social work from a school fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education; a doctoral degree does not substitute for the master's degree.
• Advanced-practice-level licensure or certification, typically at the LCSW level, and ability to provide supervision for licensure; state requirements vary.
• One year of experience equivalent to the GS-11 level, demonstrating advanced practice skills, judgment, and progressively greater professional competency.
• Knowledge of program coordination and administration, including consultation, negotiation, and monitoring.
• Knowledge and ability to write program policies, procedures, and/or practice guidelines.
• Ability to supervise multidisciplinary staff assigned to the program.
• Ability to organize work, set priorities, meet multiple deadlines, and evaluate assigned program areas.
• Ability to provide clinical-practice training, orientation, and guidance.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Valid driver's license and ability to transport veterans.
• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Successful completion of required background/security investigation and pre-employment physical evaluation; compliance with the seasonal influenza vaccination requirement.
• Must complete required onboarding and application documentation and serve a one- or two-year trial period.

Nice To Haves

• Previous experience with home visits and mental health and substance use populations.

Responsibilities

• Oversee, monitor, and administer the HUD/VASH program and serve as its primary contact with local Public Housing Authorities.
• Provide direct patient care or coordinate referrals to ensure access to VA, community health, mental health, and homelessness-related services.
• Prepare reports and statistics for facility, VISN, and national use.
• Manage program data for day-to-day operations and program evaluation, and plan and organize patient care activities with the Program Manager.
• Administer information and analytical systems to evaluate and improve service quality.
• Develop and implement systems to track visits, referrals, inpatient days, patient demographics, equipment utilization, and patient satisfaction.
• Develop, implement, and evaluate clinical guidelines and protocols for appropriate service utilization.
• Provide technical assistance to medical centers, government and private agencies, and universities based on monitoring, program reviews, and information analysis.
• Review, monitor, analyze, plan, and assess the HUD/VASH program and lead related project planning, development, and implementation activities.
• Conduct independent outreach and case finding, identifying and screening patients for psychosocial needs.
• Independently diagnose mental and substance use disorders; implement treatment modalities; and provide counseling or psychotherapy to individuals, families, and groups.
• Conduct psychosocial assessments and develop treatment plans in collaboration with veterans, families, and interdisciplinary treatment teams.
• Identify high-risk patients and provide clinical care and services.
• Establish and maintain effective therapeutic relationships with veterans and their families.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), with potential student loan reimbursement up to $200,000, subject to eligibility, approval, and program terms.
• Federal employee benefits package; specific benefits depend on position eligibility.
• Potential annual leave accrual credit based on prior federal employment or military service, subject to approval.

What This Job Offers

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