Senior Social Worker

• Department: Department of Veterans Affairs

This position functions as a Social Worker (Program Coordinator) of the VA Supported Housing (HUD-VASH) component of the Healthcare for Homeless Veterans (HCHV) Program. HUD-VASH us a collaborative effort, supported through HUD Section 8 rental assistance vouchers and VA's provision of intensive case management services.

VA Careers
- Social Work:  The social worker is the Seriously Mentally Ill (SMI) Specialist for Homeless Programs. This position provides direct case management and intervention support to Veterans enrolled in the HUD-VASH program who have been diagnosed with a serious mental health disorder. The incumbent will provide consultation for Veterans with an SMI in Grant and Per Diem, or HCHV Contract Residential Care.

The SMI Specialist supports the Homeless Programs by providing early engagement, and ensuring continuity of care between Homeless Programs that serve Veterans with SMIs as they transition from engagement and stabilization through programs such as Addiction Treatment Programs, Health Care for Homeless Veterans Contracted Housing, and Grant Per Diem Programs to HUD-VASH.

The social worker provides on-going intensive case management that is specifically tailored for Veterans experiencing a serious mental illness and providing early treatment interventions to promote sustained stability in subsidized permanent housing. These Veterans are frequently homeless due to their mental health diagnosis, thus providing SMI treatment support and early intervention promotes recovery, improved quality of life and successful permanent housing.

The incumbent will possess knowledge and skill to work with Veterans who are dually diagnosed with co-occurring issues, such as, substance use, physical health, and social problems that require particular skill in early intervention and crisis management. The social worker must be able to develop appropriate professional relationships with the Veterans and meet the Veteran where he or she is ready to engage in treatment.

The social worker also will need to develop liaison relationships with more acute treatment providers/ programs, such as the Veteran's psychiatrist, PRRC, Dual Diagnosis and any other provider in BHIP. The social worker will provide appropriate group and individual case management and treatment. The incumbent will collaborate in the performance improvement processes and comply with Performance Measures as required by Mental Health Service and the Medical Center.

Incumbent may provide training experiences for graduate social work trainees as well as other allied health care trainees and/or may provide supervision for unlicensed staff social workers.

A. Provides direct SMI services for the Homeless Programs in the Medical Center.

B. Provides Outreach services for the Homeless Programs in the community.

C.

Provides training for other members of the multidisciplinary treatment team in areas related to SMI assessment and diagnosis, anger management, and life skills and SMI with co-occurring disorders.

D. Independently conducts intake and needs assessment of homeless Veterans and their significant others. Identifies symptoms leading to clinical diagnoses of SMI.

E. Provides all necessary assessment functions, e.

interviewing, psychosocial histories, and SUD assessments to aid in the development of treatment plans.

F. Develops comprehensive treatment plans with the Veteran that address the factors that contributed to homelessness, including SUD and other co-occurring factors within a recovery model framework. G. Works with the Veteran to realize the Veteran's treatment goals, and reassesses and revises goals as indicated by the Veteran's engagement in treatment. H.

Organizes and conducts individual and group case management and SMI treatment, to include early interventions and supportive follow-up to ensure stability in home visits and facility-based contacts. I. Will serve as a member of a multidisciplinary homeless program treatment team. J. Will develop partnerships with community agencies, especially those serving homeless and Veterans diagnosed with SMI, with regular contact and communication.

K.

Will participate in policy making, goal setting, and treatment service planning discussions with other members of the VA Homeless Programs. L. Will be responsible for the collection of statistical data and for reviewing the data to improve performance and delivery of services to homeless Veterans. M. Provides…