Social Worker- Coordinator for the Veterans Justice Outreach (VJO)

The employee functions as the Coordinator for the Veterans Justice Outreach (VJO) program at the
Sheridan VA Health Care System (SHVAHCS). Employee provides clinical intervention and case management to assigned Veterans in the program. The purpose of this community outreach is to create systems, coalitions, community services, processes, and program development to serve Veterans involved in the justice system.

Qualifications:

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.
• 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://www.cswe.org/Accreditation 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://vaww.va.gov/OHRM/T38Hybrid/.

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 (Program Coordinator), GS-12
Experience and Education. One year of experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level. Experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment, demonstrating progressively more professional competency. Candidate may have certification or other post-master's degree training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university that includes a defined curriculum/course of study and internship, or equivalent supervised professional experience.

Licensure/Certification. Individuals assigned as social worker program coordinator must be licensed or certified at the advanced practice level, and must be able to provide supervision for licensure.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

(a) Knowledge of program coordination and administration which includes consultation, negotiation, and monitoring.
(b) Knowledge and ability to write policies, procedures, and/or practice guidelines for the program.
(c) Ability to supervise multidisciplinary staff assigned to the program.
(d) Skill in organizing work, setting priorities, meeting multiple deadlines, and evaluating assigned program area(s).
(e) Ability to provide training, orientation, and guidance within clinical practice.

Preferred Experience: Experience working with Veterans who are involved in the criminal justice system and responsible for the administrative and operational needs of the VJO Program. Provides outreach to Veterans in various stages of the criminal justice system such as, initial arrest, court proceedings, incarceration and re-entry into society. Provides direct clinical assessment and interventions, requiring skills to assess and treat a specialized population.

References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/120, PART II, APPENDIX G39

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the GS12

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Services.

Responsibilities:

VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU

- Establishing eligibility of justice-involved Veterans for VA services.
- Initiates and supports Veterans Treatment Courts if established in within the SVAHCS catchment area.
- Develops a network of community-based contacts and resources to assist and support the
Veterans through the legal system, and back into society.
- Collaborates with VA providers and coordinates appropriate services through the VA medical and
Mental Health programs.
- Provides education and training to law enforcement personnel (including the VA Police Force)
regarding issues pertinent to Veterans.
- Conducts outreach to jails and incarcerated Veterans to educate justice personnel and Veterans
about VJO services.
- Identifies, assists, and enrolls eligible Veterans into the Veterans Health Administration (VHA)
system.
- Provides direct service, compliance feedback, assessments, and case management for justice involved
Veterans who are involved in treatment programs.
- Functions as a member of the court treatment teams if Veteran Treatment Courts are established
to provide appropriate interventions for Veterans by linking clients to VA and non-VA services.
- Participates in VJO training, communication groups, and other VA programs to enhance skills and
understanding of the VJO functions.
- Independently assesses the psychosocial functioning and needs of justice-involved Veterans,
identifying their strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and psychosocial acuity.
- Provides interventions independently with Veterans and their families/caregivers who are
experiencing a wide range of complicated medical, behavioral health, financial, legal, and
psychosocial problems.
- Provides a range of interventions and treatment modalities which may include individual, group,
and/or family counseling or psychotherapy.
- Provides crisis intervention when indicated, including timely assessment of at-risk Veterans in crisis
to identify immediate needs, evaluate risk, and initiate safety plan as appropriate.
- Provides ongoing documentation of Veteran's treatment progress using a psychosocial and
behavioral framework.
- Provides clinical case management and care coordination to facilitate appropriate delivery of health
care services, incorporating complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment of
Veterans.
- Establishes and sustains collaborative relationship with Service Lines - providers and nurses,
attending Interdisciplinary Treatment Team meetings as appropriate.
- The incumbent participates in the orientation/teaching of graduate counseling students, students of
other disciplines, and VHA personnel on the biopsychosocial aspects of justice involvement.
- Is required to maintain current BLS and/or First Aid certification and remain current on all
licensures.
- Attends Social Work, daily MESS, committees and other meetings, and any other mandatory
meetings regularly.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 7:30am-4:00pm
Telework: Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 55877-O
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required