Mental Health Worker Needed to work at the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System (VAGLAHS)
Location:
- Providing Case Management Services within the community around Santa Barbara VA Clinic HUD VASH located at 4440 Calle Real, Santa Barbara, CA, 93110
Period of Performance: One (1) year base period with up to three (3) optional years to follow.
Schedule: Full-Time. Monday through Friday from 8:00AM to 4:30PM with no holidays or weekends.
Requirements:
- Must have a Master’s Degree in a Behavioral Science field.
- Must have social work experience in a healthcare facility setting.
- Must be registered with the Board of Behavioral Science in California. (License not required)
- Minimum of one (1) year of in-patient case management experience.
- Have a basic understanding of VAGLAHS social service role, housing-first model, harm reduction, and homeless services.
- Have an active BLS and ACLS Certification or be willing to obtain them.
- Must have a valid driver’s license and be able to commute to and from veterans' homes for on-site visits (as needed).
- Experience in the following areas is highly preferred: Mental Health Assessments, Community Outreach, Substance Abuse, and/or Welfare.
*Please note that for the ACSW, AMFT, APCC or any other unlicensed position, Caduceus will not be able to provide supervision hours.
Duties and Responsibilities will include but are not limited to the following:
- Provide direct and indirect services to eligible Veterans including determining eligibility for VASH services, determining priorities requiring independent judgment, and improving organizational and communication skills.
- Utilize an interdisciplinary approach in the provision of these services.
- Participate in consultation with the VA’s designated HUD-VASH leads regarding complex situations and ethical and legal matters.
- Be directed to the needs of Veterans confronted with a crisis, homelessness, substance abuse, life-threatening illnesses, traumatic losses, chronic diseases, and/or disabilities including chronic mental illness. This includes social and environmental concerns that can cause challenges in participating in treatment or impede the Veteran’s success and healthy living.
- Provide housing-search assistance by locating suitable housing in the community and at project-based voucher locations and help maintain an inventory of safe available units accepting rental subsidies; assisting Veterans with completion and submission of rental applications and credit reports; communicating with landlords to secure and maintain housing; conducting outreach to prospective landlords and property management groups on behalf of homeless Veterans; educating individuals and organizations on the benefits of leasing to Veterans; meeting Veterans at housing units both for viewing and walk-through purposes; assisting Veterans in obtaining move-in and security deposits, as well as furniture and household items; facilitating individual and group housing searches; creating outreach materials for landlords; participating in Public Housing Authority (PHA) sponsored landlord outreach and appreciation events.
- Provide and document housing-related advice to Veterans via face to face or telephone contact using required documentation systems including the Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS) and the Homeless Operational Management Electronic System (HOMES) and/or other required centralized documentation systems that may be developed during the course of the contract.
- Participate in scheduled meetings to review and evaluate the services provided to our Veterans, identify opportunities to improve the services delivered, and recommend corrective action when problems exist.
- Complete assessments and other documentation as required, including psychosocial assessments and assessments as needed per program regulations.
- Develop, coordinate, and carrying out treatment plans, as appropriate, under the direction of the HUD-VASH Supervisor.
- Document and report suspected cases of abuse within the required timeframe and in conjunction with a discussion with the designated HUD-VASH Supervisor.
- Interview Veterans/families to assess resources needed in the areas of housing, financial assistance, extended-care facility placement, transportation, home help, support groups, respite, day healthcare, day treatment programs, legal aid, and other services.
- Complete clinical reminders, encounters, and progress notes at each encounter with the Veteran.
- Completing the Suicide Risk assessment for at-risk patients.
- Under the direction of the VASH Supervisor, coordinate and oversee the process for placement into community nursing homes, rehabilitation programs, substance- abuse programs, emergency shelters, board and care facilities, homeless transitional housing programs, the Domiciliary, and other various VA and community program locations.
- Assist Veterans with maintaining permanent housing at the individual desired location.
- Assist Veterans and Veteran families with identified psychosocial needs, patient/family resistance, or complex problems.
- Maintain and update resource files in assigned areas of community resource needs such as transportation, meal programs, housing/shelters, adult daycare, support groups, Department of Public Social Services, extended care facilities, and other resources as required by VAGLAHS.
- Document Veteran-care activities in VAGLAHS Medical Records in accordance with Departmental standards and VA policies.
- Complete incident reports, inquiries/controlled correspondences, and reports when requested and with the support and guidance of the designated social work lead.
For additional information and compensation details, please email your most recent resume/CV to opportunities@cadgov.com. We look forward to hearing from you soon!
