Summary

This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until September 30 - 2026. The first cut-off dates for referral of eligible applications will be 4/30/2026. All eligible applicants will be reviewed and referred to the hiring manager no later than 5/8/2026. Eligible applications received after 4/30/2026 date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.

Basic Requirements:

• 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 U.S.C. § 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 http://www.cswe.org/Accreditation to verify that the social work degree meets the accreditation standards for a masters of social work
• (COPY OF TRANSCRIPT WITH CONFERRED DATE REQUIRED) Licensure/Certification
• 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/
• (COPY OF LICENSE REQUIRED FOR GS-11) Exception
• VHA may waive the licensure or certification requirement for persons who are otherwise qualified - pending completion of state prerequisites for licensure/certification examinations
• This exception only applies at the GS-9 grade level
• For the GS-11 grade level and above - the candidate must be licensed or certified
• At the time of appointment - the supervisor - chief social work or social work executive will provide the unlicensed/uncertified social worker with the written requirements for licensure or certification - including the time by which the license or certification must be obtained and the consequences for not becoming licensed or certified by the deadline
• GRADE DETERMINATIONS: GS-9 Experience - Education - and Licensure
• None beyond the basic requirements
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSAs)
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Ability to work with Veterans and family members from various socioeconomic - cultural - ethnic - educational - and other diversified backgrounds utilizing counseling skills
• (b) 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
• (c) 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
• (d) Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients - staff - and representatives of community agencies
• (e) 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
• 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 - 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
• (COPY OF TRANSCRIPT WITH CONFERRED DATE REQUIRED) Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above - candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of community resources - how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services - and ability to coordinate services
• (b) 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
• (c) Knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses - disabilities and treatment procedures (i.e
• acute - chronic and traumatic illnesses/injuries - common medications and their effects/side effects - and medical terminology) to formulate a treatment plan
• (d) 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
• (e) 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
• PREFERRED EXPERIENCE: Knowledge of community resources and experience working with mental health issues
• REFERENCE: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://department.va.gov/employees/va-qualifications-standards/
• 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-9 to GS-11
• PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: Moderate lifting and carrying (15-44 pounds) - use of fingers - and operation of crane - truck - tractor - or motor vehicle
• Environmental factors include outside & inside - slippery or uneven walking surfaces - working around moving objects or vehicles - working closely with others - and working alone.

Duties

• Respond to all incoming referrals for the various homeless programs
• Gather information regarding the Veteran's clinical background and referral needs and facilitate assessment times and/or additional referrals to appropriate services within the facility or to external partners
• Facilitate 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
• Provide assistance as needed with applications for benefits or negotiating service systems
• Coordinate placements in therapeutic housing and other placement options including domiciliaries - state soldier's homes - and community residential alternatives
• Coordinate interest lists for all Homeless programs - routinely reviewing them for program prioritization according to individual program requirements
• Respond to the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans (NCCHV) hotline referrals within appropriate timeframes
• Provide a variety of assessment - psychotherapeutic - and training services within the Homeless program
• Make professional evaluations - decisions and recommendation for treatment planning and implementation
• Define patient/family problems and maintain an effective counseling relationship using advanced knowledge and mastery of the fundamentals of the counseling process
• Establish treatment goals through a collaborative process with the patient utilizing advanced counseling skills - including evidenced-based practices and screening/assessment
• Provide a variety of direct psychological treatment services addressing the complex psychosocial issues faced by the Veteran patients served in the Homeless program
• These direct services include - but are not limited to: intake assessment - treatment plan development and implementation - treatment interventions (such as individual - family - marital - or small group therapy - trauma - case management - education - advocacy) - and support group development and leadership
• Provide complex crisis intervention and stabilization to patients who are in psychological distress
• Use a wide variety of individual - group - or familial counseling interventions and demonstrate sensitivity to diversity and possesses multicultural counseling skills
• Develop and deliver psycho-education groups that include life skills - family support - and community integration
• Fully utilize the current DSM in making diagnoses and formulation of treatment goals and application of appropriate clinical intervention using professional counseling practices
• Provide subject matter consultation to colleagues and students on the counseling process within various specialty areas - build on the foundation of competence through regular meetings and discussions to explain assignments - review progress of cases and confer about the counseling perspectives and orientation
• Provide training opportunities and either direct or indirect supervision of graduate LPMHC students or other related human services students as directed by Chief - SWS - and the Homeless Program Manager
• Record clinical information in the patient's electronic medical record according to prescribed standards - and collecting and maintaining required statistical information
• Participate in community or field activities in a variety of situations to better coordinate care resources for Veterans
• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 0800-1630 Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact VHA.ELRSProgramSupport@va.gov - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
• Learn more 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) 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: Ad-Hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized