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This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. 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 complete review of the EDRP application. 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. 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: Senior Social Worker, GS-12 Experience/Education: The candidate must have at least two years of experience post advanced practice clinical licensure and should be in a specialized area of social work practice of which, one year must be equivalent to the GS-11 grade level. Senior social workers have experience that demonstrates possession of advanced practice skills and judgment. Senior social workers are experts in their specialized area of practice. Senior social workers may have certification or other post-masters training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university that includes a defined curriculum/course of study and internship or equivalent supervised professional experience in a specialty. Licensure/Certification: Senior social workers must be licensed or certified by a state at the advanced practice level which included an advanced generalist or clinical examination, unless they are grandfathered by the state in which they are licensed to practice at the advanced practice level (except for licenses issued in California, which administers its own clinical examination for advanced practice) and they must be able to provide supervision for licensure. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Skill in a range of specialized interventions and treatment modalities used in specialty treatment programs or with special patient populations. This includes individual, group, and/or family counseling or psychotherapy and advanced level psychosocial and/or case management. Ability to incorporate complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice. Knowledge in developing and implementing methods for measuring effectiveness of social work practice and services in the specialty area, utilizing outcome evaluations to improve treatment services and to design system changes. Ability to provide specialized consultation to colleagues and students on the psychosocial treatment of patients in the service delivery area, as well as role modeling effective social work practice skills. Ability to expand clinical knowledge in the social work profession, and to write policies, procedures, and/or practice guidelines pertaining to the service delivery area. Driver's License: This Position involves periodically transporting patients and requires a valid driver's license. In addition, as per Incidental Drivers Policy PS-05-80, employee's driver's record will be reviewed regular through the CA DMV Employer Pull Notice (EPN) Program. References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II Appendix G39, Social Worker Qualification Standard GS-185 Veterans Health Administration. The full performance level of this vacancy is a GS-12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is a GS-12. Physical Requirements: The work is largely office based and in a sedentary setting, unless outreach is performed. In ordinary situations incumbent must be capable of using a computer given that all clinical charting is electronic. When performing outreach, involves considerable amount of standing, walking, stooping, bending, reaching, lifting, and turning. Requires carrying or lifting of objects weighing up to 50 lbs., but occasionally may require work that involves pushing or lifting in excess of 50 pounds and going up and down flights of stairs. ["Work Schedule: Varying; Tour of duty to be discussed during interview; Subject to change to meet the needs of the Agency Telework: Authorized; if approved, would be on a regularly scheduled basis but this is not a remote position. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be authorized for highly qualified candidates EDRP Authorized: Contact V21CCOEEDRP@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required A relocation/recruitment incentive may be authorized for highly qualified applicants. HUD-VASH is an intensive case management program for chronically homeless Veterans aimed at providing psychosocial services to Veterans while residing in stable housing through HUD's Section 8 voucher system. The Senior Social Worker in this position functions as the Senior Case Manager for VA Northern California Health Care System's Housing and Urban Development - VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH). The HUD-VASH Program falls within the Healthcare for Homeless Veterans (HCHV) Programs of the Social Work Service. The Senior Case Manager is responsible for coordination of case management services for Veterans receiving housing provided through HUD Section 8 housing vouchers. Duties for the position include but are not limited to: Coordinates care including serving as an advocate on behalf of the Veterans to ensure comprehensive service delivery and linking and referring Veterans to the VA Medical Center, VA Regional Offices and/or community agencies. Performs site visits of HUD-VASH apartments to ensure that Veterans reside in safe environments in compliance with local housing codes. Verifies the Veteran's status, eligibility for VA medical care, and eligibility of program participation. Completes statistical and other reports in accordance with VA Medical Center and respective professional discipline service policies. Management, coordination and provision of psychological/social work/nursing services to Veteran and their families in inpatient, outpatient and community settings. Responsible for protecting data from unauthorized release of access codes, etc., as stated in the computer access agreement which the Senior Social Worker signs. Conduct psychosocial assessments to determine needs of Veterans and family members. Active participant in the treatment planning process with other disciplines. Participate in discharge planning with other disciplines and will be responsible for ensuring that discharge plans are executed in a manner that is timely and appropriate. Provide individual, family and group counseling as appropriate. Provide consultation/education to Veterans and families on community resources, advance directives and VA benefits. Act as liaison between VA and community resources, to include marketing and public relation duties as needed. Address Advance Directives in accordance with the standards of their work area. Provide wellness/prevention education and facilitate patient/family support groups as appropriate. As appropriate, supervise the practice of students, interns, or a less experienced case manager. Maintain data and statistical compilations to comply with Joint Commission, CARF, VA and medical center policy and procedures. Assist patients and their significant others with coping and dealing with the loss and grief experiences in disability, terminal illness and death. Document professional practice interventions and activities in patient's clinical record utilizing CPRS and ensure appropriate hand off when transferring of patient care. Responsible for maintaining accurate records of relevant trainings and participate in continuing education in accordance with VA policies and state licensure. Fulfill ethical responsibilities to Veterans, colleagues and VA in accordance with relevant discipline Code of Ethics, VHA Code of Ethics, and local Ethics policies, which includes but is not limited to compliance with all laws and regulations related to confidentiality and release of information and protecting Veterans' personal identifying information. Performs other related duties as assigned."]

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