Summary The Health Care for Homeless Veterans (HCHV) Outreach Social Worker Program Coordinator is assigned to Homeless Programs within the Mental Health Division and assigned to the Milwaukee Homeless Program Office. Responsibilities The basic responsibility of this position is to identify and engage homeless Veterans and provide them with direct services and/or develop and connect homeless Veterans to the services and resources that will enable them to secure safe, affordable, quality permanent housing. Delivery of these services requires specialized knowledge, skills, and experience in resource identification and access with VA medical, mental health, substance abuse, and other specialty clinical providers, as well as community collaboration; understanding of HUD regulations, interpretation and repair strategies to successfully overcome housing acceptance barriers including negative housing histories, bad credit and criminal records, and the preparation of appeal presentations. The direct services are delivered within a team model partnership that emphasizes housing first, harm reduction and a critical time intervention model (CTI), promoting community inclusion and peer mentoring. The HCHV Outreach Social Worker makes independent professional decisions and recommendations with infrequent recourse to supervisory guidance. Plans, develops and maintains a network of relationships with community resources and other advocates for the homeless population to effectively screen and identify Veteran members of the homeless population. Makes VA and community based referrals, advocates for scarce resources, confirms referrals are completed and provides follow up and coordination with these agencies. Often the first point of contact for referrals to the VA Homeless Program, and regularly completes screening and assessment to identify most appropriate referrals to connect Veterans to services. Works with colleagues from other VA facilities, as well as local community partners, including shelters, landlords, Veteran Service Organizations, and municipal, State, and Federal agencies to ensure efficiently coordinated services to homeless Veterans and their families, including coordination of emergency and temporary housing opportunities and services. Performs community-based outreach activities as directed by the Homeless Program Coordinator. Verifies Veterans' eligibility for VA hospital care and medical services. Educates Veterans about available resources and providing referrals and linkages for the services homeless Veterans may require or want. Instills hope that the homeless Veteran can maintain housing stability and be self-sustaining in the community. Works collaboratively with VA medical facility Transition Care Management (TCM) Coordinators, Women Veterans Program Managers, Acute Care, Inpatient Psychiatry, Addictive Disorders Treatment Program, etc, to ensure outreach activities for these special populations are coordinated, timely, and adequate to address the local needs of these groups. Responsible for the overall case management of Veterans within the HCHV program from initial contact through exit of the Veteran to another program within the homeless continuum of care. Performs other related duties and functions as assigned. VA Careers - Licensed Clinical Social Worker: https://youtube.com/embed/U_xC25QsN0w Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf Social Work: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Social-Worker-Career-Flyer.pdf Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 4:30 pm Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases . When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications, or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade). Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience. Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child. Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66. Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Telework will be discussed during Interview. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Requirements Conditions of Employment Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. 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. Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details. Qualifications 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. 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. English Language Proficiency: Social workers must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j. Education: Must 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. (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED) Licensure: You must be licensed or certified at the advanced practice level, and must be able to provide supervision for licensure. In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. Grade Determinations: GS-12 Level: You must possess one year of experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level (VA or Non VA) Experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment, demonstrating progressively more professional competency. Examples of specialized experience at the GS-11 include, but are not limited to: assessing and documenting identified behaviors or symptoms of abuse, neglect, exploitation and/or intimate partner violence use of clinical social work skills maintaining patient privacy and confidentiality per policies, handbooks or directives acting as an advocate with appropriate community service providers and agencies when it serves the best interest of the patient and family members/caregiver independently assessing the psychosocial functioning and needs of patients and their family members, identifying the patient's strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and psychosocial acuity. In addition to the experience above, you must demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: Knowledge of program coordination and administration which includes consultation, negotiation, and monitoring. Knowledge and ability to write policies, procedures, and/or practice guidelines for the program. Ability to supervise multidisciplinary staff assigned to the program. Skill in organizing work, setting priorities, meeting multiple deadlines, and evaluating assigned program area(s). Ability to provide training, orientation, and guidance within clinical practice. References: VA Handbook 5005/120 Part II Appendix G39 Social Worker Qualification Standard The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary. Physical demands do not exceed those of a typical office setting. There may be some walking, standing, twisting, turning, sitting, pushing, bending, repetitive keyboarding, or carrying of light items. Education IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on 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 Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. 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. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. 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 (TJO). Please visit the Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP), va.gov/EMPLOYEE/docs/The-Fair-Chance-to-Compete-Act.pdf for more information.