Senior Social Worker (HUDVASH)

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 four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five 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

VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU Major duties include but not limited to: Function as a Senior HUD-VASH Social Worker and subject matter expert for the HUD-VASH program. Provide programmatic support and consultation for HUD-VASH social workers and other disciplines. Maintain a caseload and conducts regular home visits to Veterans in the program based on acuity and consistent with HUD-VASH program contact standards. Provide clinical case management and care coordination to facilitate appropriate delivery of health care services. Maintain a current network of internal and external resources to educate Veterans, family and team members and assist with appropriate referrals. Routinely coordinate with local, county, state, and federal agencies. Local activities include coordination of care with the Homeless Continuums of Care, community service providers, Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) grantees, local housing authorities, social service agencies, VBA, and property management companies. Coordinate with community partners on local initiatives involving services and resources for homeless Veterans seeking permanent housing. Leverage comprehensive knowledge of community resources to effectively support Veterans in need. Ensure Veterans receive specialized care beyond what the VA can provide. Conduct comprehensive psychosocial assessments with a wide variety of individuals from various socio-economic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other diversified backgrounds utilizing counseling skills. Develop the assessment in collaboration with the interdisciplinary treatment team, the Veteran, available family/friends/caregivers and collateral sources such as CPRS, HOMES, and agencies with appropriate ROIs. Identify family/caregiver stressors and provides specific interventions. Develop and implement personalized service plans, in conjunction with the Veteran, that address housing stability, mental health support, substance abuse treatment, vocational rehabilitation, and other desired services. Foster interdisciplinary collaboration among healthcare providers, case managers, and community stakeholders, and ensure holistic care that aligns with the VA's mission to promote Veterans' recovery, independence, and quality of life. Coordinate care with internal and external providers as needed. Provide education on advance directives and conduct advanced care planning. Offer expert advice and guidance to colleagues and stakeholders, educating Veterans and their families on available resources and entitlements, and advocating for their rights and needs within the VA and broader community. Ensure Veterans receive comprehensive support, empowering them to navigate healthcare systems, access services, and achieve improved well-being. Identify service gaps and barriers to accessing care and develop potential solutions to address them. Coordinate training opportunities for staff within the HUD-VASH Program to keep clinical staff updated and trained on existing and new modalities/skills related to the program. Address psychiatric, medical, and psychosocial challenges among Veterans through applicable treatment approaches and referrals to care. Facilitate Veteran psychoeducation, monitor treatment progress, and collaborate closely with interdisciplinary teams to ensure comprehensive care. Formulate and implement treatment plans identifying strengths, abilities, coping skills, and assistance needed. Complete psychosocial assessments and clinical screenings required per program, or VHA requirements. Make rapid assessments and developing crisis management plans for Veterans when needed. In the event of a medical or psychiatric emergency, the Senior Social Worker will follow the protocol of VASNHCS. Assess and diagnose mental health issues and coordinate care with internal and external providers to appropriately address identified needs. Complete appropriate clinical reminders and screening tools for assessing suicide risk. Collaborate in the performance improvement process and comply with performance measures as required by the VA for their specific population and/or program. Work Schedule: 8:00am - 4:30pm Monday - Friday Telework: This position is eligible for telework on an Ad- Hoc Basis per agency policy Virtual: This is not a virtual position. EDRP Authorized: (Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.) Contact V21CCOEEDRP@VA.GOV, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more

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 10/12/2026 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13078545. 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) 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.