Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below. This position is open to All US Citizens. Qualified applicants will be referred for consideration in the following order: 1) Current, permanent employees of the Ralph H. Johnson VA Health Care System; 2) Current, permanent Department of Veterans Affairs employee; and 3) All other qualified applicants.

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VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

The HUD-VASH Social Work Supervisor will provide administrative, technical and clinical supervision necessary for accomplishing the work of the organizational unit for assigned social work staff within the HUD-VASH Program:

• Sets priorities and makes assignments according to the capabilities of the employees.
• Sets performance standards and reviews work to determine acceptable levels of quality and quantity.
• Reports workload data to the HCHV Program Coordinator, Chief and/or Assistant Chief, SWS and/or to the mental health team leader or the Chief, Mental Health.
• Observes workers' performance and offers instruction, technical advice or counseling related to clinical and administrative matters. Provides informal feedback and periodically evaluates employee performance.
• Develops work improvement plans, recommending personnel actions as necessary.
• Responsible for Focused Professional Practice Evaluations (FPPE) and Ongoing Professional Practice Evaluations (OPPE) for all assigned supervisees.
• Works to resolve informal complaints and will refer grievances and unresolved complaints using the proper procedure. Effectively handles minor disciplinary measures such as warnings or reprimands or recommends actions in more serious cases.
• Reviews and approves leave requests for assigned employees.
• Ensures assigned employees complete all required annual facility trainings and continuing education requirements for state licensure.
• Attends and participates in regular SWS supervisor meetings. Assists the Chief, SWS and Assistant Chief, SWS in managing various aspects of work within the SWS and the overall direction of the service in keeping with the goals and priorities prescribed by the Medical Center.
• Participates in staff recruitment, screening of applicants, and will assist the Chief and/or Assistant Chief with staff assignments.
• Serves the Medical Center at large in a variety of capacities, such as committee assignments, investigations, personnel matters, and special projects.
• Participates in EEO and safety matters.
• Must be able to work effectively with a wide range of professional and nonprofessional staff at the Medical Center and in the community.

The HUD-VASH Social Work Supervisor will also manage a small caseload of Veterans enrolled in the HUD-VASH Program as a secondary assignment and will work in coordination with the HCHV Program Coordinator to provide a seamless system of healthcare services. Clinical duties include, but are not limited to:

• The Social Worker is responsible for providing case management for a caseload of veterans in the HUD-VASH program. The Social Worker is responsible for reviewing agreements between Section 8, landlords, Public Housing Authorities and the VA in establishing appropriate referral sites for HUD-VASH placements.
• Performs site visits of HUD-VASH apartments to ensure that veterans reside in safe environments in compliance with local housing codes.
• Verifies the veteran's status, eligibility for VA medical care, and eligibility of program participation.
• Responsible for ensuring that homeless veterans are considered as primary participants for program acceptance.
• Responsible for collecting and submitting HUD-VASH Program participant data as outlined by NEPEC, HMIS and HOMES evaluation procedures.
• The Social Worker is responsible for providing HUD-VASH case management. Case
• Management is defined as the provision of services by VA clinical staff to homeless veterans and includes all activities to provide appropriate treatment and maintain veterans in HUD approved stable housing.
• Coordinates care including serving as an advocate on behalf of the veterans to ensure comprehensive service delivery and linking and referring veterans to the VA Medical Center, VA Regional Offices and/or community agencies.
• Complies with criminal conflict of interest laws and Executive Branch Standards of conduct so as to avoid conflicts of interest while serving as the HUD-VASH Case Manager.
• Actively participates in the National HUD-VASH Program conference calls and attends training offered by the HUD-VASH Program.

Performs other necessary duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: M-F, 8:00 AM-4:30 PM EST.
Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): None
Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): None
EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact VHAEDRPProgramSupport@va.gov for questions/assistance. Learn more
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 58296F
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): None

Conditions of employment

• 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 dentification 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

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS:

United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.

Education: Must 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. A copy of transcripts must be submitted with your application package to verify that you meet the education requirements, unless you are qualifying under the Granfathering Provision.

Licensure: 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/.

• NOTE: Loss of Licensure or Certification. Once licensed or certified, social workers must maintain a full, valid, and unrestricted independent license or certification to remain qualified for employment. Loss of licensure or certification will result in removal from the GS-0185 social worker series and may result in termination of employment.

Grandfathering Provision: The following is the standard grandfathering policy for all title 38 hybrid qualification standards. Please carefully review the qualification standard to determine the specific education and/or licensure/certification/registration requirements that apply to this occupation.

1. All persons employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education and licensure or certification that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all of the basic requirements in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply:
2. Such employees in an occupation that requires a licensure or certification, may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions.
3. Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard.
4. Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all of the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation.
5. If an employee who was retained in an occupation listed in 38 U.S.C. § 7401(3) under this provision leaves that occupation, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation.

NOTE: If social workers covered under the grandfathering provision of the 1991 Federal law regarding licensure or certification of VHA social workers leave the GS-0185 social work series, they lose the grandfathering protection. If they choose to return at a later date to the GS-0185 series, they must be licensed or certified to qualify for employment as a social worker.

GS12 GRADE REQUIREMENTS:

Experience/Education: The candidate must have at least two years of experience post advanced practice clinical licensure and should be in a specialized area of social work practice of which, one year must be equivalent to the GS-11 grade level. Senior social workers have experience that demonstrates possession of advanced practice skills and judgment. Senior social workers are experts in their specialized area of practice. Senior social workers may have certification or other post-masters training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university that includes a defined curriculum/course of study and internship or equivalent supervised professional experience in a specialty.

Licensure/Certification: Senior social workers must be licensed or certified by a state at the advanced practice level which included an advanced generalist or clinical examination, unless they are grandfathered by the state in which they are licensed to practice at the advanced practice level (except for licenses issued in California, which administers its own clinical examination for advanced practice) and they must be able to provide supervision for licensure.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

• Ability to independently organize work, set priorities, and meet multiple deadlines.
• Knowledge of supervisory duties which includes clinical supervision, consultation, negotiation with other departments and quality improvement.
• Ability to ensure provision of clinical social work services.
• Ability to provide staff training and development.
• Skill in interpersonal relationships in dealing with employees, team leaders, and managers.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Physical Requirements: The physical demands involveprimarily walking, talking, driving, using the telephone. The incumbent is expected to withstandthe pressure and stress as a part of their day to day activities.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

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.