Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below. Areas of consideration: 1. Current Permanent Internal VA Employees/Department/Service line or Facility 2. VISN 3. VHA 4. VA Wide (NCA, VBA, VACO)

Videos

VA Careers - Licensed Clinical Social Worker: https://youtube.com/embed/U_xC25QsN0w

The duties of this position include but are not limited to the following:
The GS-12 Supervisory Social Worker is an advanced practice Social Worker assigned to Community Reintegration Service (CRS), serving Veterans experiencing homelessness and housing instability through the Housing and Urban Development/VA Supportive Housing (HUDVASH) and Health Care for Homeless Veterans (HCHV) programs. Organizationally, CRS is under the Mental Health Division. Performance plans for incumbents are Executive Career Field (ECF).

CRS is comprised of a multidisciplinary team responsible for providing low-barrier services to Veterans experiencing homelessness or Veterans with significant barriers to housing and employment stability due to severe mental illness, substance use disorders, chronic disabling health conditions, and criminal backgrounds. The Supervisory Social Worker is responsible for ensuring the assigned HUD-VASH team provides care that is consistent with VHA Directive 1162.05 - HUD-VASH Program, in addition to, VHA Directive 1162.08 - HCHV Outreach, VHA Directive 1162.03 - HCHV Community Resource and Referral Center (CRRC). As outlined in these directives, the Supervisory Social Worker is responsible for orientating and training staff, assigning caseloads, and monitoring clinical care. The Supervisory Social Worker is responsible for reviewing work for performance and completing all required performance reviews. The incumbent is responsible for building and maintaining effective partnerships with Homeless Continuum of Care (CoC); multiple Public Housing Authorities (PHA); city, county, and state governments; and many non-profit organizations involved in ending homelessness.

The Supervisory Social Worker has responsibility for a CRS clinical team. The HUD-VASH program is responsible for providing intensive case management for Veterans experiencing homelessness and Veterans who are utilizing Section 8 vouchers provided by Public Housing Authorities within the VAPORHCS catchment area. Additional responsibilities may include management of the Shelter Plus Care Program and coordinating Project Based housing units set aside for Veterans experiencing homelessness who are not utilizing VASH vouchers, in addition to provides coverage as needed. The Supervisory Social Worker is required to drive a government vehicle as they work with Veterans and travel between sites of care. Caseload responsibilities may be assigned depending on staffing needs, size of program, number of staff supervised, and number of PHA relationships required in duties. The Supervisory Social Worker may have oversight responsibility for assigned transitional housing programs.

The incumbent supervises a group of employees performing work at various GS levels up to their own grade and provides administrative, technical, and clinical supervision necessary for accomplishing the work of the unit. As such, the incumbent may perform some or all of the following administrative and personnel management functions relative to staff supervised: establishing guidelines and performance expectations for staff, communicating guidelines and performance expectations through formal employee performance management system, observing worker's performance, conducting work performance evaluations, providing informal feedback, resolving informal complaints and grievances, developing work place improvement plans, recommending personnel actions as necessary, advising and counseling workers related to work and administrative matters, effecting disciplinary measures as appropriate to the authority delegated in this area, reviewing and approving or disapproving leave requests, ensuring that subordinates are trained and fully comply with provisions of the safety regulations, and generally exercising supervisory authority and responsibility involving work assignment and review, as well as the administrative and personnel management functions relative to the staff supervised. Specific programmatic requirements include:
Establishing and maintaining a process for referral, evaluation, and admission to HUDVASH and HCHV to ensure that the most vulnerable Veterans are prioritized.
Managing and ensuring an even distribution of caseloads with consideration to the ACT, ICM, and CTI models of care, as defined in VHA Directive 1162.05.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 08:00am-4:30pm
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 V20CompensationTeam@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized

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.
• This is a driving position and applicant must possess and maintain a valid driver's license.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• 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.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 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 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. 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.
• 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/.
• (1) 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.
• (a) For appointments at the GS-9 grade level, VHA social workers who are not licensed or certified at the time of appointment must become licensed or certified at the independent, master's level within three years of their appointment as a social worker. Most states require two years of post-MSW experience as a prerequisite to taking the licensure/certification exam, and VHA gives social workers one additional year to pass the licensure/certification exam. In states such as California, Washington, and others where the prerequisites for licensure exceed two years, social workers must become licensed at the independent, master's level within one year of meeting the full state prerequisites for licensure.
• (b) A social worker who does not yet have a license that allows independent practice must be supervised by a licensed independent practitioner of the same discipline who is a VA staff member and who has access to the electronic health record.
• (c) Different states have different levels of licensure or certification, making it difficult for VHA staff to determine the independent practice level. Each state, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia completed surveys identifying the level of licensure or certification allowing independent practice. Copies of the surveys are on file in the VHA Office of Care Management and Social Work Services, and a summary spreadsheet of the levels of licensure or certification is available to social work professional standards board members for purposes of determining whether the social worker's level of licensure or certification meets the VHA qualification standards. All states except California use a series of licensure exams administered by the ASWB. Information can be found at https://www.aswb.org/. The ASWB is the association of boards that regulates social work. ASWB develops and maintains the social work licensing examination used across the country and is a central resource for information on the legal regulation of social work. The ASWB offers three examinations. The master's examination is generally used by states for the independent practice level of licensure or certification, while the advanced generalist and the clinical examinations are used for the advanced practice level of licensure or certification. Differences between the master's and the advanced exams demonstrate the expectation that advanced practice social workers will have a more sophisticated knowledge of practice theory and its application.
• English Language Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).

May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).

Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.
Supervisory Social Worker, GS-12
(1) Education and Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level. Experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills in a specialty area or in administration demonstrating progressively more professional competency and judgment. Candidate may have certification or other post-master's degree training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university that includes a defined curriculum/course of study and internship, or equivalent supervised professional experience.
(2) Licensure/Certification. Individuals assigned as Supervisory Social Workers must be licensed or certified at the advanced practice level, and must be able to provide supervision for licensure.
(3) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Ability to independently organize work, set priorities, and meet multiple deadlines.
(b) Knowledge of supervisory duties which includes clinical supervision, consultation, negotiation with other departments and quality improvement.
(c) Ability to ensure provision of clinical social work services.
(d) Ability to provide staff training and development.
(e) Skill in interpersonal relationships in dealing with employees, team leaders, and managers.
(4) Assignment. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty), and variety and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. At the GS-12 grade level, supervisory social workers typically have significant personnel management responsibilities for a small to moderate sized professional and non-professional staff, including support staff and professional staff at the GS-12 grade level and below. The supervisory social worker is responsible for the professional and administrative management of an area in a social work service, in a care/product line, or multiple facilities. They provide direct clinical services with or without program coordination responsibilities.

Preferred Experience: Experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment. At least two years should be in an area of specialized social work practice. May have certification or other post-master's degree training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university that includes a defined curriculum/course of study and internship, or equivalent supervised professional experience.

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

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-12 to GS-12.

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Services.

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.