Social Worker (Program Coordinator)

Description:

This position serves as the Community Coordinator on the Health Care for Homeless Veterans team. The responsibilities are to provide clinical evidence based services and interventions to Veterans at imminent risk of homelessness or homeless that walk-in to the VA Community Base Outpatient Clinic. Position will require some outreach in the community and to local shelters and places where homeless may congregate. The position will provide support, services, and coverage for HCHV staff as needed.

Requirements:

Basic Requirements :

• United States Citizenship : Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• Education : Have a master's degree in social work from a school of social work fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). Graduates of schools of social work that are in candidacy status do not meet this requirement until the School of Social Work is fully accredited. A doctoral degree in social work may not be substituted for the master's degree in social work. Verification of the degree can be made by going tohttp://www.cswe.org/Accreditation to verify that the social work degree meets the accreditation standards for a masters of social work.
• Licensure : Persons hired or reassigned to social worker positions in the GS-0185 series in VHA must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level. Current state requirements may be found by going to http://vaww.va.gov/OHRM/T38Hybrid/.
• Loss of Licensure or Certification : Once licensed or certified, social workers must maintain a full, valid, and unrestricted independent license or certification to remain qualified for employment. Loss of licensure or certification will result in removal from the GS-0185 social worker series and may result in termination of employment.
• Physical Requirements : See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Services.
• English Language Proficiency : Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).

May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).

Grade Determinations : Social Worker (Program Coordinator), GS-12

• Experience and Education . One year of experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level. Experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment, demonstrating progressively more professional competency. Candidate may have certification or other post-master's degree training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university that includes a defined curriculum/course of study and internship, or equivalent supervised professional experience.
• Licensure/Certification . Individuals assigned as social worker program coordinator must be licensed or certified at the advanced practice level, and must be able to provide supervision for licensure.
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities . In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
  • Knowledge of program coordination and administration which includes consultation, negotiation, and monitoring.
  • Knowledge and ability to write policies, procedures, and/or practice guidelines for the program.
  • Ability to supervise multidisciplinary staff assigned to the program.
  • Skill in organizing work, setting priorities, meeting multiple deadlines, and evaluating assigned program area(s).
  • Ability to provide training, orientation, and guidance within clinical practice.

Preferred Experience:

• One year experience working independently and with minimal supervision with a variety of people in sometimes difficult situations utilizing critical and creative thinking skills to develop practical solutions.
• One year experience evaluating patients based on their needs, limitations and desires and ability to submit referrals, consults, schedule appointments as appropriate.
• One year experience developing treatment plans for clients that are homeless, with mental illnesses, substance abuse or recovering from traumatic events and frequently communicating with clients to ensure their physical and mental health well-being.
• One year experience following policies, Directives, Handbooks, regulations, etc., .and attention to detail.
• One year experience with community partners and volunteering for community events and working well as part of a team.
• Full independent licensure as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) or equivalent.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/ .

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12.

Physical Requirements: Individuals, including wage-grade drivers, title 5, title 38 and hybrid title 38 employees or volunteers who are required to operate a government owned or leased vehicle to successfully carry out their assigned duties must be medically cleared prior to appointment (positions that require a CDL are covered under a separate OF-178). Assessment must be made for any acute or chronic medical/physical condition or medication use which interferes with the ability operate the appropriate Government-owned or -leased vehicle safely and without undue risk to themselves or others. The following requirements must be met: distant vision 20/40 in one eye with or without correction; field of vision 70 degrees, ability to distinguish red, green and amber, whispered voice at five feet, or average hearing loss of not greater than 40 dbs. at 500, 1000 and 2,000 Hz.