Social Worker -Health Care for Homeless Veterans HCHV Outreach Specialist

Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within 4 months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (1 to 5 years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.

Duties

Works with other VASLCHCS programs & services to coordinate between entities & provide direct care, referrals, & follow-up for enrolled Veterans through a continuum of services. Acts as a consultant to other staff/team members. Provides consultation services to other staff regarding the psychosocial needs of Veterans experiencing homelessness & the impact of psychosocial problems on health care and adherence to the treatment plan. Establishes & maintains therapeutic relationships with homeless Veterans & as appropriate, their families. Coordinates community resource referrals & community-based services, including information & referral for additional services from other VA programs, other government programs. Assists Veterans referred to non-case-managed HUD vouchers with the application process. Assists in providing support & resources to Veterans who do not qualify for homeless program services due to being over income. Coordinates, triages, & responds to requests from the National Homeless Hotline, consults, phone calls/messages, & community referrals, & coordinates follow-up for care provision and closeout. Responds to incoming referrals from all sources including but not limited to the following: messages on outreach voicemail, National Homeless Hotline, community partners, family members, email, etc. Assists in coordinating a walk-in clinic for homeless Veterans on the VA campus, including participation from other VA programs and community partners. Assists with & participate in community events including the annual Homeless Veterans Stand Down, Point-In-Time Count (or PIT Count), & other events & activities directly to outreach to Veterans who are literally and/or chronically homeless. Facilitates referrals based upon the Veterans' needs and eligibility. Conducts specialty assessments, triage screenings, & evaluations as needed. Completes biopsychosocial assessments to assess & determine appropriate care and treatment for diverse Veterans. Provides outreach & crisis intervention services to homeless Veterans in the community, seeking to address the cause as well as the presenting complaint of homelessness. Conducts assessments of needs and psychosocial barriers to collaborate with the Veteran in developing a plan of care to address identified goals. Utilize plan of care to guide treatment & service coordination or case management to support Veteran's increased self-sufficiency & goal achievement. Updates plan of care when goals are achieved, there are significant clinical changes or diagnostic changes, & /or the Veteran identifies new goals. Applies psychosocial diagnoses to the provision of care and treatment. Coordinate services for Veterans, facilitate case conferences, & serve as a liaison to family members & caregivers. Develops treatment plans in collaboration with the Veteran/family/caregiver, interdisciplinary treatment team, & appropriate community partners. Provides psychosocial interventions & measures outcomes to interventions. Works with Veterans & their families, as appropriate, who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric, medical, & social problems utilizing individual, group, family counseling, & psychotherapy skills. Participates in outreach efforts to encourage homeless Veterans to engage in care. Outreach locations may include the following: homeless shelters, resource centers, libraries, parks, streets, homeless camps, & other places not meant for human habitation. Participates in consultation, advocacy, & support to help Veterans achieve stated treatment goals. Acts as an advocate with appropriate VA & community service providers & agencies when it serves the best interest of the Veteran. Assists in tracking outreach contacts by entering them in appropriate logs, databases, & programs (such as Microsoft Excel, the electronic health record, or HOMES). Evaluates own practice through professional peer review, case conferences, & other organizational means. Communicates orally & in writing, with people from varied and diverse backgrounds. Transports Veterans in government vehicles in support of meeting the goals identified in the Veteran's treatment plan & /or assisting the Veteran with access to care. Handles conflict & problems in dealing with the customer constructively & appropriately. Supports the goals & mission of the HJCR Program. This will include supporting, encouraging, & providing coverage across services throughout the program. Possess & maintain a current, valid state driver's license Work Schedule: M-F 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: May Be Available on an ad-hoc basis as determined by the agency policy. Virtual: This is not a virtual position Functional Statement #: 52351A; 52352A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact SLCedrp@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Requirements

You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications and evaluation

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position. It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment. Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

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/.

How to apply

All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the full questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 11/02/2026 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13094363. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire. Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package. NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.

Required documents

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes: Long-form resume/Curriculum vitae (CV) The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), etc. Cover Letter DD-214/ Statement of Service Disability Letter (VA) License Long-form resume/Curriculum vitae (CV) Other (1) Other (2) Other (3) Performance Appraisal Professional Certification SF-15 SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action Transcript Veterans' Preference: When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire. You must provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.). If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and dates of impending separation. Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference" with required proof as stated on the form. Documentation is required to award preference. For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit Feds Hire Vets - Veterans - Job Seekers - Veterans' Preference. Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees.

Additional information

Receiving Service Credit for 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. 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. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.