Social Worker, Mental Health

Summary

The Social Worker practices in the Healthcare for Homeless Veterans (HCHV) Program. The Housing Specialist functions as part of the Housing and Urban Development/VA Supportive Housing Program (HUD/VASH) within the HCHV Program. HUD/VASH is an intensive case management program serving chronically homeless and homeless Veterans aimed at providing psychosocial services to Veterans to obtain and maintain stable housing utilizing HUD's Section 8 voucher system.

The Social Worker practices in the Healthcare for Homeless Veterans (HCHV) Program. The Housing Specialist functions as part of the Housing and Urban Development/VA Supportive Housing Program (HUD/VASH) within the HCHV Program. HUD/VASH is an intensive case management program serving chronically homeless and homeless Veterans aimed at providing psychosocial services to Veterans to obtain and maintain stable housing utilizing HUD's Section 8 voucher system.

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.

• 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://(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below). 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 /T38
  
  Hybrid/
• 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
• 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
• 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
• Loss of Licensure or Certification
• Once licensed or certified - social workers must maintain a full - valid - and unrestricted independent license or certification to remain qualified for employment
• Loss of licensure or certification will result in removal from the GS-0185 social worker series and may result in termination of employment
• 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)
• In order to be considered under this provision - applicants must submit an SF-50 showing their initial appointment as a Social Worker with the Department of Veterans Affairs
• Preferred Experience:
  
  Homeless experience - working in the community - experience with mental health and substance use disorders
• General knowledge of veterans' benefits and services relating to special programs - service connected compensation - and non-service connected pension
• Grade Determinations Social Worker - GS-9 level:
  Experience
  - Education - and Licensure
• None beyond the basic requirements
• Demonstrated Knowledge
  - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
  Ability to work with Veterans and family members from various socioeconomic - cultural - ethnic - educational - and other diversified backgrounds utilizing…