Summary VA Portland Health Care System is a Complexity Level 1a Facility and provides extensive primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary care in outpatient, inpatient, residential, and community settings. VAPORHCS is a multi-site medical system that includes a major medical facility in Portland, Oregon, outpatient and residential facilities in Vancouver, Washington, and 10 Community Based Outpatient Clinics. Responsibilities VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz\ua\UU The duties of this position include but are not limited to the following: The HUD-VASH Social Worker provides intensive case management services, psychotherapy treatment, biopsychosocial assessments, and support in achieving identified treatment goals as detailed in VHA Directive 1162.05(1) - Housing and Urban Development Department of Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing Program. The HUD-VASH Social Worker provides individual, group, and family counseling and interventions to assist Veterans with housing and employment stability. HUD-VASH Social Workers provide care in community settings and are required to operate a government vehicle as they work with Veterans, meet with community partners, and travel between sites of care. Contact with Veterans will be in person, over the phone, and using video conferencing technology. Case management resource brokering and documenting work in electronic medical record may be performed in an office setting. The HUD-VASH Social Worker provides direct care to Veterans experiencing homelessness and housing instability in the community, in their homes, and in shelter environments. Incumbent provides intensive case management services and implements psychosocial treatment modalities to patients and families who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric, medical, and socioeconomic problems. Incumbent assists Veteran in procuring necessary documents to support application for HUD Section 8 program, housing, and identified resources to support community integration. The HUD-VASH Social Worker provides case management services to support Veterans with housing stability and community integration, including supporting understanding of tenancy rights and responsibilities, HUD policies and expectations, budgeting, attaining, and maintaining sobriety, harm reduction strategies, and other opportunities to ensure Veterans can maintain stable housing. The HUD-VASH Social Worker uses evidence-based treatment modalities that are effective with homeless population including motivational interviewing, crisis intervention, trauma informed care, harm reduction, and holistic whole health approaches to care. Incumbent is expected to utilize knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses, common medication effects and medical terminology to aid in the care of enrolled Veterans. The HUD-VASH Social Worker completes comprehensive bio-psychosocial assessments assessing the psychological functioning and needs of Veteran households to formulate and implement client-centered treatment plans, using Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Timely (SMART) interventions, including Veteran identified strengths, needs, abilities, and preferences; monitoring and updating progress over the course of treatment, meeting Joint Commission and CARF standards. Incumbent updates treatment plans as determined by service policy and when clinically indicated, collaborating across teams and services. The HUD-VASH Social Worker establishes and maintains effective professional working relationships with internal and external partners, including Veteran clients, VA colleagues, and representatives of community agencies. The HUD-VASH Social Worker documents all work in the Electronic Health Record (EHR) within the time frames expected by the Mental Health Division and the VA Portland Health Care System. Incumbent ensures information in the Homeless Operation Management Evaluation Systems (HOMES) database is maintained, providing timely updates to case management stage and other relevant information as detailed in the VHA Directive 1162.05(1), making improvements and adjustments as needed to ensure Medical Center performance is met or exceeded. The HUD-VASH Social Worker participates with other treatment team members in weekly team meetings, community meetings, family conferences, and other endeavors to support housing stability. Incumbent collaborates with the Enhanced multidisciplinary Team to support community re-integration and prevent relapse into homelessness. Incumbent provides consultation and clinical support to team members, new Social Workers, students, and other staff regarding the psychosocial needs of Veterans and the impact of homelessness on health care and treatment compliance. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. You may be required to serve a probationary period. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Must pass pre-employment physical examination. Must have and maintain a valid drivers license. Qualifications 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/. (1) 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 obtained and the consequences for not becoming licensed or certified by the deadline. (a) For appointments at the GS-9 grade 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 three years of their appointment as a social worker. Most states require two years of post-MSW experience as a prerequisite to taking the licensure/certification exam, and VHA gives social workers one additional year to pass the licensure/certification exam. In states such as California, Washington, and others where the prerequisites for licensure exceed two years, social workers must become licensed at the independent, master's level within one year of meeting the full state prerequisites for licensure. (b) A 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. (c) Different states have different levels of licensure or certification, making it difficult for VHA staff to determine the independent practice level. Each state, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia completed surveys identifying the level of licensure or certification allowing independent practice. Copies of the surveys are on file in the VHA Office of Care Management and Social Work Services, and a summary spreadsheet of the levels of licensure or certification is available to social work professional standards board members for purposes of determining whether the social worker's level of licensure or certification meets the VHA qualification standards. All states except California use a series of licensure exams administered by the ASWB. Grandfathering Provision-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). English Language Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). Grade Determinations: Social Worker, GS-9 (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 utilize counseling skills when working with Veterans and family members. (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. 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. NOTE: For appointment licensure or certification at this level please refer to paragraph 3c. OR (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, educational, and other 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: Treatment of Substance Use Disorders using multiple modalities. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. 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-9 to GS-11. Physical Requirements: Light lifting and carrying (under 15 lbs); use of fingers, both hands required; walking & standing (1 hour); both hands required; Operation of motor vehicle; ability for rapid mental & muscular coordination simultaneously; ability to distinguish basic colors; hearing (aid permitted). Environmental factors include exposure to: excessive heat/cold, dust/fumes, working alone & with others, working around moving vehicles, overhead light, ambient noise, smells from being in close proximity with others (including soap, shampoo, perfume, food and/or lingering tobacco smoke from smokers). Education 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. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Additional Information Failure to Obtain. License or Certification. In all cases, social workers must actively pursue meeting state prerequisites for licensure or certification starting from the date of their appointment. Failure to become licensed or certified within the prescribed amount of time will result in removal from the GS-0185 social worker series and may result in termination of employment. During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. 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. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act. Failure to Obtain. License or Certification. In all cases, social workers must actively pursue meeting state prerequisites for licensure or certification starting from the date of their appointment. Failure to become licensed or certified within the prescribed amount of time will result in removal from the GS-0185 social worker series and may result in termination of employment.
