Senior Social Worker (HUD/VASH)
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Columbia, SC, United States
Summary
This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) – a student loan payment reimbursement program. Applicants must meet specific eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit their EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program awards (up to $200,000) and eligibility periods (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after a complete review of the application.
Qualifications
United States Citizenship: Non‑citizens may be appointed only if no qualified citizens are available, in accordance with VA policy.
English Language Proficiency – candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).
Education – 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 in candidacy status do not meet this requirement until the school is fully accredited. A doctoral degree in social work may not substitute for the master’s degree.
Verification of the degree can be made by checking the CSWE accreditation list at http://www.cswe.org/Accreditation to verify that the social work degree meets the accreditation standards for a master’s of social work.
Licensure – persons hired in the GS‑0185 series must be licensed or certified by a state to practice social work at the master’s level. Current state requirements can be found at http://vaww.va.gov/OHRM/T38Hybrid/. Grandfathering provisions may apply to current VHA employees who meet the criteria.
Grade Determinations – Senior Social Worker (GS‑12) Experience/Education. Candidates must have at least two years of experience post advanced‑practice clinical licensure, with at least one year at the GS‑11 grade level. Demonstrated advanced practice skills, expertise in a specialized area of practice, and post‑master’s training from a nationally recognized organization are required.
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) – (a) proficiency in specialized interventions and treatment modalities used in specialty treatment programs or with special patient populations, including individual, group, or family counseling and advanced psychosocial case management; (b) ability to incorporate complex multiple‑causation in differential diagnosis and treatment within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice; (c) skill in developing and implementing methods for measuring effectiveness of social work practice, using outcome evaluations to improve services and design system changes; (d) capacity to provide specialized consultation to colleagues and students on psychosocial treatment; and (e) ability to expand clinical knowledge and write policies, procedures, and practice guidelines.
Assignments – the senior social worker may be assigned administrative responsibilities for clinical program development and must account for clinical program effectiveness and modification of service patterns. Typical practice settings include the Polytrauma Rehabilitation Center, the Polytrauma Network Site, a Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation Center, national VHA referral centers such as the Center for Post‑Traumatic Stress Disorder or the Transplant Center, or similar programs. The role may also involve limited onsite supervision settings such as CBOCs or satellite outpatient clinics.
Leadership and Collaboration – collaboration with treatment team members to provide comprehensive health care, ensuring equity of access, service, and benefits. Leadership responsibilities include orientation, coaching, in‑service training, staff development, and continuing education. Participation on committees, work groups, and task forces at facility, VISN, and national levels is expected.
Preferred Experience – experience with homeless populations.
Travel – mandatory travel to cover Florence and Sumter regions.
Duties
Serve as the Medical Center’s Housing and Urban Development/Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD/VASH) Social Worker for the Health Care for Homeless Veterans (HCHV) Program.
Provide home‑based assessment, monitoring, maintenance, and case management of higher‑acuity Veterans in the HUD/VASH Program as part of an interdisciplinary team.
Coordinate continuously with community homeless providers, coalitions, and local, state, and federal agencies.
Develop, coordinate, and maintain linkages appropriate for the homeless veteran population.
Ensure care coordination with VA medical center, community health/mental health, substance abuse providers, or other applicable agencies.
Maintain records of admission and discharge dates and complete all reports, data, and logs related to the HUD/VASH Program.
Initiate consultation for unusual or complex administrative or clinical problems.
Report administratively to the HCHV program coordinator or designee.
Perform other duties as assigned.
Benefits
Competitive salary with regular increases and potential for higher step rates based on qualifications.
Paid time off: 37–50 days annually (including 13–26 days of leave, 13 days of sick leave, and 11 paid federal holidays).
Parental leave: up to 12 weeks of paid leave after 12 months of employment.
Child care subsidy: after 60 days of employment, full‑time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may qualify for a subsidy up to 25% of eligible childcare costs (max $416.66 per month).
Retirement: traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% VA contribution.
Health benefits: federal health, vision, dental, term life, long‑term care plans, and other federal insurance programs available into retirement.
Work schedule: Monday‑Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
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This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) – a student loan payment reimbursement program. Applicants must meet specific eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit their EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program awards (up to $200,000) and eligibility periods (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after a complete review of the application.
Qualifications
United States Citizenship: Non‑citizens may be appointed only if no qualified citizens are available, in accordance with VA policy.
English Language Proficiency – candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).
Education – 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 in candidacy status do not meet this requirement until the school is fully accredited. A doctoral degree in social work may not substitute for the master’s degree.
Verification of the degree can be made by checking the CSWE accreditation list at http://www.cswe.org/Accreditation to verify that the social work degree meets the accreditation standards for a master’s of social work.
Licensure – persons hired in the GS‑0185 series must be licensed or certified by a state to practice social work at the master’s level. Current state requirements can be found at http://vaww.va.gov/OHRM/T38Hybrid/. Grandfathering provisions may apply to current VHA employees who meet the criteria.
Grade Determinations – Senior Social Worker (GS‑12) Experience/Education. Candidates must have at least two years of experience post advanced‑practice clinical licensure, with at least one year at the GS‑11 grade level. Demonstrated advanced practice skills, expertise in a specialized area of practice, and post‑master’s training from a nationally recognized organization are required.
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) – (a) proficiency in specialized interventions and treatment modalities used in specialty treatment programs or with special patient populations, including individual, group, or family counseling and advanced psychosocial case management; (b) ability to incorporate complex multiple‑causation in differential diagnosis and treatment within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice; (c) skill in developing and implementing methods for measuring effectiveness of social work practice, using outcome evaluations to improve services and design system changes; (d) capacity to provide specialized consultation to colleagues and students on psychosocial treatment; and (e) ability to expand clinical knowledge and write policies, procedures, and practice guidelines.
Assignments – the senior social worker may be assigned administrative responsibilities for clinical program development and must account for clinical program effectiveness and modification of service patterns. Typical practice settings include the Polytrauma Rehabilitation Center, the Polytrauma Network Site, a Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation Center, national VHA referral centers such as the Center for Post‑Traumatic Stress Disorder or the Transplant Center, or similar programs. The role may also involve limited onsite supervision settings such as CBOCs or satellite outpatient clinics.
Leadership and Collaboration – collaboration with treatment team members to provide comprehensive health care, ensuring equity of access, service, and benefits. Leadership responsibilities include orientation, coaching, in‑service training, staff development, and continuing education. Participation on committees, work groups, and task forces at facility, VISN, and national levels is expected.
Preferred Experience – experience with homeless populations.
Travel – mandatory travel to cover Florence and Sumter regions.
Duties
Serve as the Medical Center’s Housing and Urban Development/Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD/VASH) Social Worker for the Health Care for Homeless Veterans (HCHV) Program.
Provide home‑based assessment, monitoring, maintenance, and case management of higher‑acuity Veterans in the HUD/VASH Program as part of an interdisciplinary team.
Coordinate continuously with community homeless providers, coalitions, and local, state, and federal agencies.
Develop, coordinate, and maintain linkages appropriate for the homeless veteran population.
Ensure care coordination with VA medical center, community health/mental health, substance abuse providers, or other applicable agencies.
Maintain records of admission and discharge dates and complete all reports, data, and logs related to the HUD/VASH Program.
Initiate consultation for unusual or complex administrative or clinical problems.
Report administratively to the HCHV program coordinator or designee.
Perform other duties as assigned.
Benefits
Competitive salary with regular increases and potential for higher step rates based on qualifications.
Paid time off: 37–50 days annually (including 13–26 days of leave, 13 days of sick leave, and 11 paid federal holidays).
Parental leave: up to 12 weeks of paid leave after 12 months of employment.
Child care subsidy: after 60 days of employment, full‑time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may qualify for a subsidy up to 25% of eligible childcare costs (max $416.66 per month).
Retirement: traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% VA contribution.
Health benefits: federal health, vision, dental, term life, long‑term care plans, and other federal insurance programs available into retirement.
Work schedule: Monday‑Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
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