Social Worker

Summary

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.

Duties

Major duties include but not limited to:

• The incumbent assists with data collection, record keeping, and monitoring patient or program clinical indicators, thresholds, and performance measurements. Additionally, the incumbent develops working relationships and agreements with other organizations and directly communicates with the designated PHA regarding the housing voucher application and award process for each veteran. The incumbent is responsible for reviewing the agreements between Section 8 landlords, PHAs, and the VA to establish appropriate referral sites for placements.
• The incumbent assists with the establishment, implementation, and maintenance of referral and screening procedures for potential HUD-VASH veteran participants that meet national policy as well as the needs of medical center mental health services and residential programs. Referral, screening and admission criteria recognizes program eligibility, prioritization of subsets of the homeless veteran population, requirements of the PHAs, and other policy, regulation, or law pertaining to program administration. The incumbent assists with development of the screening procedures to involve a multidisciplinary team approach and is responsible for ensuring criteria and procedures are maintained. The incumbent provides input for program participant selection based on structured interviews and assessments.
• Under the direction of the clinical supervisor, the incumbent regularly conducts and participates in outreach activities including field interviews, assessments and referrals for homeless veterans contacted in the community, shelters, and "on the streets," as well as those who are referred by VA residential programs, medical centers or outpatient clinics. The incumbent maintains current and establishes new relationships with other community-based service providers for the homeless.
• Under the direction of the clinical supervisor, the incumbent evaluates the veteran's situation, abilities, and capabilities, and arrives at a reasoned conclusion including an assessment of vulnerability and prioritization for admission to the HUD/VASH program. The incumbent assesses at-risk factors and develops a preliminary plan, involving the veteran and family or significant others, to assist Veteran in obtaining housing.
• The incumbent provides referral to VA medical and mental health inpatient and outpatient treatment and to other VA services including VA benefits, as well as community-based social services and other non-VA entitlement programs. If appropriate, the incumbent provides referrals or consults, or in some cases direct admission of the veterans prior to HUD/VASH participation, for other VA programs including community based residential treatment such as Grant and Per Diem (GPD) Programs, Health Care for Homeless Veterans (HCHV) contract residential treatment, Domiciliary or Psychiatric Residential Rehabilitation and Treatment Programs (PRRTP), or Compensated Work Therapy (CWT) and Compensated Work Therapy Transitional Residence (CWT/TR) Programs.
• Under the direction of the clinical supervisor, the incumbent develops psychosocial treatment plans, actively involving the veteran and their family or significant others, 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. The incumbent effectively provides case management services while utilizing professional skill, objectivity, insight, training, and experience to interpret data and to identify viable treatment options and recognizing potential high risk factors, acuity, and needs for services.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM.
Telework: May be available at supervisory discretion.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 640-00458F
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be authorized to highly qualified applicant.
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.

---