Social Worker- HUD-VASH Case Manager

Veterans Health Administration • White City, OR

8d • Onsite

About The Position

This 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 role aims to maximize rehabilitation and treatment potential and help Veterans achieve emotional, economic, health, and housing stability. The position includes outreach, psychosocial assessment, treatment planning, counseling, crisis intervention, case management, referrals, and coordination with Veterans, families, VA programs, community agencies, and an interdisciplinary treatment team. The position is not virtual, and telework is unavailable. The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The incumbent must meet the applicable education and state licensure or certification requirements for the GS-09 to GS-11 Social Worker grade range. A master's degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited school is required. GS-11 generally requires one year of post-MSW experience equivalent to GS-09 in a healthcare or other social-work-related setting and independent-practice-level licensure or certification; a doctoral degree in social work may substitute for the experience requirement. The full performance level is GS-11. The position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program, subject to individual eligibility and program approval; awards may be up to $200,000 for one to five years. A one- or two-year trial period applies.

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 the master's degree.
• State licensure or certification to independently practice social work at the master's level. A limited waiver may apply at GS-09 while state licensure or certification prerequisites are completed; GS-11 requires licensure or certification.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• For GS-11, at least one year of post-MSW experience equivalent to GS-09 in healthcare or another social-work-related setting, plus independent-practice-level state licensure or certification; alternatively, a doctoral degree in social work may substitute for the experience requirement.
• Demonstrate a Veteran-centric approach in interventions and counseling with Veterans, family members, caregivers, and survivors.
• Assess psychosocial functioning and needs, formulate and implement treatment plans, and identify problems, strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and needed assistance.
• Implement treatment modalities with individuals, families, and groups, using supportive, problem-solving, or crisis-intervention techniques as appropriate.
• Establish effective working relationships and communicate with clients, staff, and community-agency representatives.
• Have fundamental knowledge of medical and mental-health diagnoses, disabilities, treatment procedures, illnesses and injuries, common medications and their effects or side effects, and medical terminology.
• For GS-11, demonstrate knowledge of community resources and referrals; independent psychosocial assessment and treatment-intervention skills; knowledge of diagnoses, disabilities, and treatment procedures for treatment planning; independent implementation of treatment modalities; and ability to consult with new social workers, graduate students, and other staff.
• Be a U.S. citizen, subject to the stated exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• Register for Selective Service if male and born after December 31, 1959.
• Pass a background/security investigation and pre-employment physical examination; complete online onboarding and required application documentation.
• Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program as a Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel employee.
• Serve a one- or two-year trial period and receive written certification for continued employment after the trial period.
• Use qualifying education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education; foreign education requires a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency and transcript.

Nice To Haves

• Prior experience working with homeless 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, other government programs, and community agencies; maintain knowledge of available resources.
• Independently provide counseling or psychotherapy to individuals, families, and groups using appropriate treatment modalities.
• Conduct psychosocial assessments and develop treatment plans with Veterans, families, and the interdisciplinary treatment team.
• Identify high-risk patients and provide case management services.
• Provide crisis intervention that addresses 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 healthcare 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 courteously, tactfully, and respectfully with Veterans, representatives, visitors, and VA staff; provide consistent information according to 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 team to improve performance-measure results.
• Attend and participate in regular Service Line and team meetings.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), with potential awards up to $200,000 over one to five years, subject to eligibility and program approval.
• Competitive salary and regular salary increases; a higher step rate may be considered based on higher or unique qualifications or VA needs.
• 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year, comprising 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 the birth, adoption, or foster-care placement of a child.
• Potential childcare subsidy after 60 days for eligible full-time employees with total family income below $144,000, covering up to 25% of eligible childcare costs, subject to the stated monthly maximum and eligibility rules.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting and a federal 401(k) with up to 5% in VA contributions.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term-life, and long-term-care insurance; many programs may be carried into retirement.

What This Job Offers

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