Social Worker Homeless Program ALBANY, NY

Job Title:Social Worker (Homeless Program), GS-0185

Department:Department Of Veterans Affairs

Agency:Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration

Job Announcement Number:528D-14-MRS-203

$47,923.00 to $75,376.00 / Per YearThursday, May 01, 2014 to Wednesday, May 07, 20141 vacancy in the following location:
Albany, NY
Public Trust - Background Investigation

 Vacancy Identification Number (VIN) 1108627

**THIS POSITION IS LOCATED ON WARREN STREET IN ALBANY, NY AND WILL SERVICE COLUMBIA, GREENE, & ULSTER COUNTIES**

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

The Stratton VA Medical Center, part of the VA Health Care Upstate New York, is located in the heart of Albany. Albany, the capital city of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District, is roughly 140 miles north of New York City and sits on the west bank of the Hudson River. Opened in 1951, our Medical Center serves 22 counties of Upstate New York, Western Massachusetts and Vermont. In 1990 this facility was named in honor of Samuel S. Stratton, U.S. Congressman for 30 years of the 23rd District, a staunch supporter of veterans and a frequent visitor to our hospital.

Patient-centered care is our approach to delivering healthcare to our Veterans. This philosophy gives patients and their families the chance to work closely with their healthcare providers to create more personalized care plans. Patient-centered care also considers the Veterans’ personal preferences and values, family situations, cultural traditions, and lifestyles; it keeps them informed and engaged throughout their treatment. The Veteran and family members become key members of the healthcare team and are active participants in making healthcare decision.

Note:  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.  The Professional Standards Board (a peer-review group) will review the selected candidate’s education and experience and recommend the grade and step at which the candidate will be placed.  The salary is based on the grade and step approved for the selected candidate.

Relocation Expenses: Relocation expenses are not authorized for this position.

75% or GreaterTravel for case management throughout Columbia, Greene, & Ulster countiesMust pass pre-employment examinationMust be proficient in written and spoken EnglishDesignated and-or Random Drug Testing requiredBackground and-or Security Investigation requiredMust possess a valid, unrestricted drivers license

The Social Worker functions as part of the Housing and Urban Development Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD VASH) Program within the Healthcare for Homeless Veterans (HCHV) Program.  The Social Worker is responsible with minimal supervision for developing and implementing the HUD VASH Program with veterans.  The clinician provides direct clinical services and will need to develop new strategies for identifying housing resources and procedures to house homeless veterans in areas where social support systems and resources may be very limited.

The incumbent assumes administrative responsibility for the management of assigned cases within the HUD VASH Program area.  The incumbent assists in planning, establishing, and implementing policies and procedures.  The incumbent will conduct ongoing intensive reviews, audits, and appraisals to ensure the accomplishment of objectives and adherence to standards set by governing bodies.

The incumbent is responsible for, but not limited to, the following:

Conducts psychosocial assessments to determine needs of veterans and family members.Active participant in the treatment planning process with other disciplines.Participates 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.Provides individual, family, and group counseling, as appropriate.Provides consultation/education to veterans and families on community resources, advance directives, and VA benefits.Acts as a consultant to other team/staff members.Provides consultation/education to medical residents on social work practice and VA policy and procedure.Acts as liaison between VA and community resources, to include marketing and public relation duties, as needed.Provides case management to veterans and families, as needed, throughout the continuum of care.Provides a full range of social work services within commonly accepted standards of social work practice which includes case work, individual, family, and group counseling, discharge planning, case management, and other services as appropriate.Addresses Advance Directives and Organ Donation in accordance with the standards of their work area.Provides wellness/prevention education and facilitate patient/family support groups, as appropriate.Supervises the practice of social work students, or a less experienced social worker, as appropriate.Coordinates treatment and communicates with the care lines to facilitate continuity of care for veterans.Participates in committee assignments, as deemed necessary by the service manager and supervisor.Maintains data and statistical compilations to comply with JCAHO, VA, and Medical Center policy and procedures.Assists patients and their significant others with coping and dealing with the loss and grief experience in disability, terminal illness, and death.Documents social work interventions and activities in patient's clinical record utilizing CPRS and ensure appropriate hand off when transferring or patient care.BASIC REQUIREMENTS:   

Preferred Experience:

The incumbent should possess at least one year of post MSW degree experience in the field of health care social work (VA or non-VA) and be able to demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs):

Knowledge of community resources, how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services, and ability to coordinate services. 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. 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.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.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.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. 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. Ability to independently evaluate his/her own practice through participation in professional peer review case conferences, research studies, or other organized means.Knowledge and skill in the use of computer software applications for drafting documents, data management, and tracking, especially those programs in use by VHA. IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

GRADE DETERMINATIONS:

GS-09 is the entry level grade for the GS-0185 social work series and is used for social workers with less than one year of post-MSW experience and for social workers who are not yet licensed or certified at the independent practice level.  Social workers at the GS-09 level are working toward completion of prerequisites for licensure or certification.  In addition, the candidates must demonstrate the following KSAs:

Ability to 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. Ability to work with patients and families who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric, medical, and social problems utilizing individual, group, and family counseling skills. Work with more complex problems is done under close supervision. With guidance from the social work supervisor, ability to 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.

Basic knowledge of psychosocial treatment modalities and, under supervision, 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.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, staff, and representatives of community agencies. Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with people from varied backgrounds.

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.

Basic skill in the use of computer software applications for drafting documents, data management, and tracking. Ability to learn and utilize software programs in use by VHA.

 GS-11, full performance level, 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. -OR- In addition to meeting the basic requirements, a doctoral degree in social work from a school of social work may be substituted for the required one (1) year of professional social work experience in a clinical setting.  In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:

Knowledge of community resources, how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services, and ability to coordinate services. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Ability to independently evaluate his/her own practice through participation in professional peer review case conferences, research studies, or other organized means.Knowledge and skill in the use of computer software applications for drafting documents, data management, and tracking, especially those programs in use by VHA.

**Note: 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 up to the full performance level (GS-11). For grades levels above the full performance level, the candidate must be licensed or certified. For grades below or at the full performance level, VHA social workers who are not licensed or certified at the time of appointment must become licensed or certified at the independent, master's level within 3 years of their appointment as a social worker. Most states require 2 years of post-MSW experience as a pre-requisite to taking the licensure/certification exam, and VHA gives social workers one additional year to pass the licensure/certification exam. It is VHA policy that a VHA social worker who does not yet have a license that allows independent practice must be supervised by a licensed independent practitioner of the same discipline who is a VA staff member and who has access to the electronic health record.

References:  VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G39

PLEASE NOTE:  Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications (particularly positions with a positive education requirement.)  Therefore, applicants must report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.  Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website: http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html All education claimed by applicants will be verified by the appointing agency accordingly.  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:  The physical demands of this position involve primarily walking, talking, driving, use of the telephone, etc.  Strenuous physical activity is not required although the incumbent is expected to withstand pressure and stress as part of their day-to-day activities.

Veterans' Preference: When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference on the Occupational Questionnaire in the section provided and provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) and/or documentation related to your active duty service which shows dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), or dates of impending separation.

Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veterans Preference" with required proof as stated on the form.  For more information, please review the information for disabled Veterans in the application checklist or visit http://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/vetpref/index.aspx.

Your application, résumé and/or supporting documentation will be verified.  Please follow all instructions carefully.  Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

All applicants are encouraged to apply online.

To apply for this position, you must complete the occupational questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below.

The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on Wednesday, May 07, 2014 to receive consideration.
To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.Click the Submit My Answers button to submit your application package.
It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.  

To verify your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account, https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, select the Application Status link and then select the more information link for this position. The Details page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application.  Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.

To return to an incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement.  You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete.

All applicants are required to submit the following supporting document type(s):
·Other (License, VA 10-2850C)
·Resume
·Transcript

Applicants may also submit the following supporting document type(s),which may not be required for all applicants:
·Cover Letter
·DD-214
·OF-306
·Other Veterans Document
·SF-15
·SF-50

Form 10-2850c - Application for Associated Health Occupations (Available at http://www.va.gov/vaforms/medical/pdf/vha-10-2850c-fill.pdf) (required).

Please use this checklist to make sure you have included other documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), documentation to support Veterans Preference claims, or ICTAP/CTAP documentation (for displaced Federal employees). You will not be contacted for additional information.

Faxing Applications or Supporting Documents:

You are encouraged to apply online.  Applying online will allow you to review and track the status of your application.

NOTE:  If you applied online and your application is complete, do not fax the paper application (1203FX) as this will overwrite your prior online responses and may result in you being found ineligible.

If you completed the occupational questionnaire online and are unable to upload supporting document(s):
To fax your documents, you must use the following cover page http://staffing.opm.gov/pdf/usascover.pdf and provide the required information.  The Vacancy ID is 1108627.Fax your documents to 1-478-757-3144.
If you cannot complete the Application Package online, you may fax all of your materials.  The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on Wednesday, May 07, 2014Wednesday, May 07, 2014 to receive consideration.  Keep a copy of your fax confirmation in the event verification is needed.

To complete the occupational questionnaire and submit via fax:
Click the following link to view and print the occupational questionnaire View Occupational Questionnaire.Print the 1203FX form, follow the instructions and provide your responses to the occupational questionnaire items http://www.opm.gov/forms/pdfimage/opm1203fx.pdf.  Fax the completed 1203FX form along with any supporting documents to 1-478-757-3144.  Your 1203FX will serve as a cover page for your fax transmission.
After we receive your complete application package (including any required documents), your qualifications will be reviewed to decide if you meet the basic requirements.  You will be notified when this decision is made.

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