Social Worker ( Housing Specialist – HUD/VASH)
Summary
Vacancy Identification Number (VIN) 1994884
OUR MISSION: To fulfill President Lincoln’s promise – “To care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan” – by serving and honoring the men and women who are America’s Veterans.
Tennessee Valley Healthcare System (TVHS) is one of the largest integrated health care systems in the Department of Veterans Affairs and includes facilities in Murfreesboro and Nashville. Community Based Outpatient Clinics are located in Clarksville, Chattanooga, Tullahoma, and Athens. Tennessee has NO STATE TAXES!!!
As a VA professional, your opportunities are endless. With many openings in the multiple functions of VA, you will have a wide range of opportunities and leadership positions at your fingertips. Not only is it the largest, most technologically advanced integrated health care system in the Nation, but we also provide many other services to Veterans through the Benefits Administration and National Cemeteries. VA professionals feel good about their careers and their ability to balance work and home life. VA offers generous paid time off and a variety of predictable and flexible scheduling opportunities. For more information on the Department of Veterans Affairs, go to: http://www.vacareers.va.gov/ .
The Housing Specialist position is located within the Healthcare for Homeless Veterans Program (HCHV). The Housing Specialist works directly with the Homeless Coordinator and provides housing services to all HCHV programs; Grant and Per Diem (GPO}, HUD-VASH, Shelter Plus Care, Emergency Housing and Veterans Justice Outreach. This position supports the Housing First/ACT treatment teams. Driving responsibilities include but are not limited tothe Clarksville, TN–Hopkinsville, KY areaas assigned by the HCHV Program Manager.
For more information on the Department of Veterans Affairs, go to http://www.vacareers.va.gov/
VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.
This position requires a full performance level Social Worker.
Duties
The Housing Specialist provides housinginformation for veterans, conducts housing seminars, and is basically a housing resource person for veterans who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. Direct housing search includes, but is not limited to, driving Veterans to or meeting Veterans at housing units both for viewing and walk-through purposes, and providing housing lists to Veterans. This will require coordination between the VA program and facility leadership, Public Housing Authority {PHA) executive leadership, independent landlords as well as rental associations, community and government agency executive leadership, and/or leadership of corporations involved with the development of affordable housing. The social worker works independently and in a variety of settings as assigned by the HCHV program manager. The incumbent attends VA and community related housing meetings, providing program presentations and updates, as well as conducting housing seminars. The incumbent will function independently and work across different agencies such as the Veterans Administration, andVet Centers as well as the Community Based Outpatient Clinics in the VHA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System catchment area..
Work Schedule:Based on needs of service
Functional Statement Title/#: Social Worker (Housing Specialist – HUD/VASH)/#000000
Supervisory Status: No
Promotion Potential: 11
Travel Required
•50% or Greater
•Driving in and around the Clarksville, TN–Hopkinsville, KY area will be required
Relocation Authorized •No
Who May Apply This job is open to… United States Citizens and/or current permanent Federal employees
Questions? This job is open to 2 groups.
Job Requirements Job Requirements Key Requirements
•Must pass pre-employment examination
•Must be proficient in written and spoken English
•Designated and-or Random Drug Testing required
•Background and-or Security Investigation required
•Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
•Must be licensed/certified at Master’s Degree level of Social Work
•Must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license
Qualifications
Basic Requirements:
Citizenship: United States Citizen.
Education: Must have a master’s degree in social work (MSW) 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.
Licensure: Must be licensed or certifiedin a state at theindependent practice level.
Driver’s License: Must possess and maintain a current driver’s license.
GS-11 Social Worker
(a) Experience,Education and Licensure. Social Worker, GS-11, requires completion of a minimum of 1 year
of post-MSW degree experience in the field of health care social work (VA or non-VA experience) and licensure or certification in a state at the independent practice level. NOTE: For appointment licensure or certification at this
level please refer to paragraph 2c.
OR,
In addition to meeting basic requirements, a doctoral degree in social work from a school of social work may be substituted for the required 1 year of professional social work experience in a clinical setting. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the KSAs in subparagraph (b) below.
(b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
1. Knowledge of community resources, how to makeappropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services, and ability to coordinate services.
2. Ability to independently assess the psychosocial functioning and needs of patients and their family members and to formulate and implement a treatment plan, identifying the patient’s problems, strengths, weaknesses, coping skills and assistance needed, in collaboration with the patient, family and interdisciplinary treatment team.
3. Ability to independently conduct psychosocial assessments and provide psychosocial treatment to a wide variety of individuals from various socio-economic, cultural, ethnic, educational and other diversified backgrounds. This requires knowledge of human development and behavior (physical and psychological) and the differential influences of the environment, society and culture.
4. Knowledge and experience in the use 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.
5. Knowledge of psychosocial treatment and ability to independently implement treatment modalities in working with individuals, families and groups who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric, medical and social problems to achieve treatment goals. This requires independent judgment and skill in utilizing supportive, problem solving or crisis intervention techniques.
6. Ability to independently provide counseling and/or psychotherapy services to individuals, groups and families. Social workers must practice within the bounds of their license or certification. For example, some states may require social workers providing psychotherapy to have a clinical level of licensure.
7. Ability to provide consultation services to other staff about the psychosocial needs of patients and the impact of psychosocial problems on health care and compliance with treatment. Ability to provide orientation and coaching to new social workers and social work graduate students. Ability to serve as a field instructor for social work graduate students who are completing VHA field placements.
8. Ability to independently evaluate his/her own practice through participation in professional peer review case conferences, research studies, or other organized means.
9. Knowledge and skill in the use of computer software applications for drafting documents, data management, and tracking, especially those programs in use by VHA.
(c) Assignments. This is the full performance level for social workers. GS-11 social workers are licensed or certified to independently practice social work. They are assigned to all program areas, including inpatient or outpatient medicine, surgery, mental health, neurology, rehabilitation medicine, and geriatrics. Employees provide professional, independent in the assigned area.
NOTE: If social workers covered under the grandfathering provision of the 1991 Federal law regarding licensure
or certification of VHA social workers leave the GS-185 social work series, they lose the grandfathering protection.
If they choose to return at a later date to the GS-185 series, they must be licensed or certified to qualify for employment as a social worker.
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
NOTE: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education.
Physical Requirements: Work is generally sedentary. Typically, the social worker sits comfortably to do the work. However, there may be some walking, standing, bending, carrying of light items such as papers, books small pieces of equipment and supplies, or driving an automobile. No special physical demands are required to perform the work. The work is stress related and requires emotional stability and maturity in the face of crisis and/or prolonged anxiety.
Work Environment: Work environment involves everyday risks or discomfort of a medical center/hospital environment that requires normal safety precautions typical of places such as offices, meeting and training rooms, or libraries. the workspace is adequately lighted, heated and ventilated.
Security Clearance
Other
What To Expect Next
After we receive application packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applications to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met. During our review, if your résumé and application package do not support your questionnaire answers, we will adjust your rating accordingly. After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will be notified of their status by email (if provided); otherwise, applicants will receive a notification letter via the U.S. Postal Service. Referred applicants will be notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notification once a selection decision has been made.
You may check the status of your application at any time by logging into your USAJOBS account and clicking on “Application Status.” For a more detailed update of your status, click on “more information.” Information regarding applicant notification points can be found in the USAJobs Resource Center.
BENEFITS
VA offers a comprehensive benefits package. This link provides an overview of the benefits currently offered: http://www.vacareers.va.gov/why-choose-va/benefits/index.asp.
Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee.
Other Information:
It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.
This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.
Apply Online at: https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/476294200