Social Worker
What you'd do
Outreach Social Worker, Community Engagement and Reintegration Service, GS-0185-9, Veterans Health Administration (VHA), Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, California
Major duties
Make a meaningful impact by welcoming Veterans -conduct assessments to connect vulnerable Veterans with essential resources. Help facilitate their smooth transition into VA programs and be the first step toward their reintegration and stability. The Social Worker in this position is to function as a GS-9 Outreach Social Worker in Community Engagement and Reintegration Services (CERS) and performs services as a member of the Street Outreach Team. Street outreach is defined as outreach to Veterans experiencing unsheltered, street homelessness taking place in non-traditional settings such as on the street, under bridges, in homeless encampments and in parks or other places not meant for human habitation. Street outreach also encompasses engaging Veterans who are at-risk for homelessness and Veterans who are residing in non- VA communal settings, such as community shelters. As a member of the Street Outreach Team, and under the direct supervision of the licensed supervisor, the incumbent will provide direct patient care, in a primarily field based capacity, to homeless Veterans with serious mental illness, substance abuse, and medical issues in communities throughout the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare Systems (GLAHS) catchment area (Los Angeles County, Kern County, Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties). S/he is responsible for assisting with patient eligibility and enrollment, providing linkage and support, and ensuring that care is coordinated with Veteran Affairs (VA) Medical Centers/ Regional Offices, as well as community health or mental health providers and agencies that serve homeless populations. The incumbent provides education, collaboration, and support to community agencies regarding VA homeless programs, benefits, and medical/ mental health services. VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU Work Schedule: Full-time, Monday-Friday, 7:00 am- 3:30 pm Telework: Ad-hoc may be available after 90 days of employment Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 00000
What you need to qualify
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. Verification of the degree can be made by going to http://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/. 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. At the time of appointment, the supervisor, chief social work or social work executive will provide the unlicensed/uncertified social worker with the written requirements for licensure or certification, including the time by which the license or certification must be obtain 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). Preferred Experience: Experience working in a healthcare setting is highly preferred. Grade Determinations: Social Worker, GS-09 (1) Experience, Education, and Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements. (2) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Ability to work with Veterans and family members from various socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other diversified backgrounds utilizing counseling skills. (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. Grade Determinations: Social Worker, GS-11 (1) 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. (2) 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. (3) 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, cultural, ethnic, educational and other diversified 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. Preferred Experience: Experience working in a medical and/or mental health setting is highly preferred. References: VA Handbook 5005, PART II, APPENDIX G39. SOCIAL WORKER QUALIFICATION STANDARDGS-0185.The full performance level of this vacancy is 11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of 09 to 11. Physical Requirements: Light lifting (under 15 pounds); light carrying (under 15 pounds); reaching above shoulder; use of fingers; both hands required; walking; standing; hearing (aid permitted); emotional stability. Depending on position, occasional travel is required to conduct visits in the community.
Before you apply
Federal applications are different: your resume should be 3–5 pages and mirror the language of this announcement. Read our federal resume guide first — it's the #1 reason qualified people get screened out.
Don't miss the next one.
Get an email the moment a similar federal job opens — postings can close in as little as 5 days.