Job descriptionThe incumbent serves as the Eligibility Specialist (Homeless Programs Referral Coordinator) and is located within the Healthcare for Homeless Veterans (HCHV) Program with the Dayton VA Medical Center (VAMC) in Dayton, Ohio. The Eligibility Specialist Referral Coordinator position will assist homeless Veterans with referral coordination services for eligibility of VA healthcare services ensuring access to services for homeless and at-risk Veterans. Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Be a citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g this part). English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 § 7403(f). 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 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:// 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). Grade Determinations: Social Worker, GS-9 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 counseling skills. 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. 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. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients, staff, and representatives of community agencies. 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 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. OR 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. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Knowledge of community resources, how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services, and ability to coordinate services. Skill in independently conducting psychosocial assessments and treatment interventions to a wide variety of individuals from various socio-economic, cultural, ethnic, educational and other diversified backgrounds. Knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities and treatment procedures ( acute, chronic and traumatic illnesses/ injuries, common medications and their effects/side effects, and medical terminology) to formulate a treatment plan. 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. 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. References: VA Handbook 5005/120 PART II APPENDIX G39 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-09 to GS-11. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Services. ["VA Careers - Social Work: Social Work: Duties include, but are not limited, to: Participates in cross-training with the Healthcare Eligibility Center (HEC) for direct access to eligibility information for new admissions, to ensure that eligibility information within the EHR is accurate and current. - Responds to all incoming referrals for the various homeless programs. Gathers information regarding the Veteran's clinical background and referral needs and facilitates assessment times and/or additional referrals to appropriate services within the facility or to external partners. Facilitates utilization of resources by assessing eligibility and making referrals to a variety of VA resources and community agencies for assistance with social, emotional, financial, and physical problems. Providing assistance as needed with applications for benefits or negotiating service systems. Coordinates placements in emergency and transitional housing (Community Emergency Residential Services (CERS) and Grant & Per Diem (GPO) Programs, therapeutic housing and other placement options including domiciliaries and Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Programs (MH RRTP), state soldier's homes, and community residential alternatives. Coordinates interest lists for all Homeless programs, routinely reviewing them for program prioritization according to individual program requirements, and collaborates with Homeless Programs Coordinated Entry Specialist to ensure Veteran eligibility and access to services. Provides a variety of assessment, psychotherapeutic, and training services within the Homeless program. Make professional evaluations, decisions and recommendation for treatment planning and implementation. Operation of a motor vehicle is required. This position requires significant travel in a government vehicle and transporting Veterans in a government vehicle. The incumbent will be required to perform most (75%) of their job duties in the community and will be required to utilize a GSA vehicle while performing such duties. The Eligibility Specialist (Homeless Programs Referral Coordinator) will successfully complete all facility requirements to drive a GSA Vehicle and transport Veterans. This includes all required physicals, including a pre-employment physical. In addition, the incumbent will successfully complete all facility required TMS and other trainings to drive a GSA Vehicle and transport Veterans. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Telework: At the discretion of the supervisor Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: GS-0185-09 and GS-0185-11 Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. 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 $ 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)"]
