Summary

The Fargo VA Health Care System is recruiting for 1 full-time Social Worker for the Housing and Urban Development (HUD)/ Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) program. This position is under the Social Work Service Line and reports to the HUD VASH Supervisor for this region under the direction of the Homeless Program Manager. This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP).

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

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
• 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
• Exception
• VHA may waive the licensure or certification requirement for persons who are otherwise qualified - pending completion of state prerequisites for licensure/certification examinations
• This exception only applies at the GS-9 grade level
• For the GS-11 grade level and above - the candidate must be licensed or certified
• English Language Proficiency: Social workers must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005 - Part II - chapter 3 - section A - paragraph 3j - this part
• 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: GS-9 Experience - Education - and Licensure
• None beyond the basic requirements
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Ability to utilize a Veteran centric approach when providing interventions and counseling for Veterans - their family members - caregivers - and survivors
• (b) Ability to assess the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and their family members - and to formulate and implement a treatment plan - identifying the Veterans problems - strengths - weaknesses - coping skills - and assistance needed
• (c) Ability to implement treatment modalities in working with individuals - families - and groups to achieve treatment goals
• This requires judgment and skill in utilizing supportive - problem solving - or crisis intervention techniques
• (d) Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients - staff - and representatives of community agencies
• (e) Fundamental knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses - disabilities - and treatment procedures
• This includes acute - chronic - and traumatic illnesses/injuries
• common medications and their effects/side effects
• and medical terminology
• GS-11 Experience and Licensure
• Appointment to the GS-11 grade level requires completion of a minimum of one year of post-MSW experience equivalent to the GS-9 grade level in the field of health care or other social work-related settings - (VA or non-VA experience) and licensure or certification in a state at the independent practice level
• OR Education
• In addition to meeting basic requirements - a doctoral degree in social work from a school of social work may be substituted for the required one year of professional social work experience in a clinical setting
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above - candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of community resources - how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services - and ability to coordinate services
• (b) Skill in independently conducting psychosocial assessments and treatment interventions to a wide variety of individuals from various socio-economic - educational - and other backgrounds
• (c) Knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses - disabilities and treatment procedures (i.e
• acute - chronic and traumatic illnesses/injuries - common medications and their effects/side effects - and medical terminology) to formulate a treatment plan
• (d) Skill in independently implementing different treatment modalities in working with individuals - families - and groups who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric - medical - and social problems to achieve treatment goals
• (e) Ability to provide consultation services to new social workers - social work graduate students - and other staff about the psychosocial needs of patients and the impact of psychosocial problems on health care and compliance with treatment
• All qualifying experience you possess must be clearly described in your application package
• We will not make assumptions when reviewing applications
• Failure to demonstrate your experience in your resume may result in disqualification
• It is strongly recommended that you write to each KSA in your application package
• 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-11
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-09 to GS-11
• Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position
• Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.

Duties

• VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU Duties include - but are not limited to: Administrative data collecting and reporting - serving as a primary contact with local Public Housing Agencies (PHAs) - and providing case management-based services (directly or through referral) necessary to ensure that Veteran care is coordinated with the VA medical center - community health or mental health providers - and agencies that serve homeless populations
• Provide clinical - psychosocial and case management services to eligible Veterans and their family members
• Veterans eligible for HUD/VASH come from a wide geographic area
• Their physical and mental health needs may be complex and require a high degree of clinical oversight and creative problem solving
• Services are provided in healthcare settings and in the community
• The HUD/VASH Program requires continuous coordination with the community's homeless providers and coalitions as well as with other local - state - and federal agencies
• In 1992 the Departments of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and Veterans Affairs (VA) established the HUD/VA Supportive Housing (HUD/VASH) Program
• The program is a collaborative effort - supported through HUD Section 8 rental assistance vouchers
• The incumbent in a Fargo position has responsibilities for HUD/VASH program coordination and development - plus primary responsibility for the provision of or coordination of the VA's intensive case management services to those Veterans utilizing the HUD/VASH housing vouchers
• The primary goal of HUD/VASH is to move Veterans and their families out of chronic homelessness
• A primary component of the program is the VA case management services which are designed to improve Veteran's physical and mental health - and to enhance their ability to remain stable - housed - and community-integrated
• Interviews Clients and Conducts Psychosocial Assessments for Referral and Treatment planning - The incumbent is responsible for the assessment - identification - facilitation and referral to appropriate medical and psychiatric services to those Veterans identified as appropriate for the HUD VASH program
• Plans Effective Treatment - The incumbent develops psychosocial treatment plans - actively involving the Veteran and their family or significant others - in coordination with interdisciplinary team members - based on the psychosocial assessments - including goals for clinical treatment
• Using known resources - the incumbent makes initial and continuing decisions coordinating the Veteran's care through linking and referral to VA medical facilities or Regional Offices and other VA and non-VA services and provides independent consultation and makes recommendation to the interdisciplinary team on course of action
• Direct Services - The incumbent provides direct mental health and substance abuse services for Veterans and family members or significant others in support of the Veteran's treatment
• This position requires 25% or more travel
• A valid driver's license is required
• This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - a student loan payment reimbursement program
• You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit our EDRP application within four months of appointment
• Program approval - award amount (up to $200 -000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application
• Former EDRP participants are ineligible to apply
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday - 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m
• Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment - up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth - adoption - or foster care placement of a child
• Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment - full time employees with a total family income below $144 -000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) EDRP: Authorized Learn more Telework: Available (Ad-hoc) Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized