Senior Social Worker (Homeless Outreach)

Summary

The Tibor Rubin VA Medical Center, Long Beach is seeking a Senior Social Worker for the Health Care for Homeless Veterans (HCHV) Outreach Program. Responsibilities include outreach to vulnerable, unsheltered Veterans living on the streets, in encampments, parks, and other locations. The position engages Veterans in shelters, drop-in centers, Stand Downs, and community events, connecting them with VA services and resources to reduce homelessness and improve access to care.

Duties

Duties include, but are not limited to: Serve as clinical team lead for the HCHV Homeless Outreach Program, supporting staff who assist Veterans with high-acuity needs and complex barriers. Conduct targeted street, community, and facility-based outreach to Veterans experiencing or at risk of homelessness. Provide high-risk triage, psychosocial assessments, counseling, education, crisis intervention, referrals, and resource coordination. Verify Veteran status, eligibility for VHA care, and eligibility for HCHV and related programs. Coordinate comprehensive care and advocate for Veterans by linking them with VHA services, VA benefits, and community resources. Provide housing-related assistance, including referrals for rental arrears, HUD-VASH, emergency services, and other supportive programs. Manage HCHV-Contract Emergency Residential Services (HCHV-CERS) transitional beds in Long Beach and Orange County, including budget oversight and eligibility coordination. Serve as the primary liaison and clinical resource for HCHV-CERS grantees, community agencies, and other homeless-service partners. Participate in case conferences, by-name list activities, Coordinated Entry System efforts, and community planning meetings. Provide consultation, education, and clinical support to outreach staff, interdisciplinary teams, Veterans, families, and community providers. Screen Veterans for suicide risk and social determinants of health; provide safety planning, interventions, referrals, and timely clinical documentation. Maintain accurate medical records, program data, performance measures, statistical reports, and accountability documentation in accordance with VA policies. Participate in program development, staff training, committees, special events, quality improvement activities, and initiatives addressing the changing needs of homeless Veterans. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Telework: Ad hoc telework as determined by agency policy and supervisor discretion Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Travel Required: 75% Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not Authorized Functional Statement: 000000

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. Must have a valid driver's license. 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-year 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

When describing your experience, be clear and specific. We cannot make assumptions about your qualifications. Your application, resume, CV, and any supporting documents will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully, errors or omissions may affect your employment consideration. 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

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on 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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

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 10/09/2026 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13081534. 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: License Long-form resume/Curriculum vitae (CV) Transcript 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 (Schedule A) Disability Letter (VA) License Long-form resume/Curriculum vitae (CV) Other (1) Performance Appraisal Professional Certification Separation Notice (RIF) SF-15 SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action Transcript

Additional information

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.