Clarification from the agency

This position is open to Permanent Federal Employees of this facility (Tucson VA Medical Center).

Include but are not limited to:

Documenting Patient Encounters in Electronic Health Record & Patient Data Entry

• Use MS Word to store, retrieve, edit, and format documents.
• Utilize VHA-approved systems, including CPRS, to document and capture required data accurately and promptly, following all policies.
• Report patient and safety concerns immediately to supervisors or care teams, documenting them in designated systems per national and local directives.
• Record clinical, safety, and quality concerns in appropriate reporting systems.
• File Disruptive Behavior Reports for disruptive conduct at SAVAHCS, CBOCs, or the community.
• Use HOMES for tracking homeless Veterans' progress through VA programs.

Direct Patient Care & Screening

• Serve as a liaison for Veterans' needs, relaying concerns to HUD-VASH Case Managers, Program Coordinator, or Supervisor.
• Meet with Veterans individually in office, community, and home settings.
• Respond promptly and courteously to calls, providing requested information while adhering to privacy rules.
• Report safety concerns, including suicide risk, abuse, or neglect, promptly to clinical staff.
• Participate in multidisciplinary reviews with the HUD-VASH team, Veteran, and stakeholders to monitor housing, treatment goals, and progress on employment, income, substance use, and legal issues.
• Maintain strong professional relationships with medical staff, community agencies, and support systems to deliver safe, effective, timely, and patient-centered care.

Directly Assisting Patients with Housing Process & Community Supports

• Lead psycho-educational groups on housing and mental health using various materials
• Maintain a valid driver's license to transport Veterans to housing sites, medical appointments, social activities, community resources, and employment opportunities
• Assist Veterans in securing appropriate, affordable housing in the most independent and least restrictive environment by accompanying them on viewings via driving or public transit
• Model effective coping and self-help strategies in collaboration with homeless outreach and HUD-VASH staff

Provide Required Documentation

• Collaborate with community organizations to promote Veteran integration, natural supports, and self-reliance.
• Share self-help resources and encourage expansion of services as needed.
• Complete referral packets for PHA, assisting Veterans with required documentation, and refer Veterans to community agencies like SSVF for housing and financial support.
• Use SOAR training to aid Veterans in applying for Social Security, VA benefits, and pensions.
• Utilize HEAPlus to help Veterans access AHCCCS, Nutrition Assistance, and other benefits.

Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 07:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Social Services Assistant/PD14853A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• Physical Requirements: A pre-placement physical examination is not required.
• 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 1-year probationary 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 probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 04/08/2026.

Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-06 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-05. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment.

This position has an Individual Occupation Requirement (IOR): Applicants must satisfy the following criteria: Examples of qualifying specialized experience include:

• Group leader in community or residential recreation or training programs.
• Counselor in a youth summer camp.
• Instructor in a training program for the development of job skills.
• Work that demonstrated the ability to be responsible for and to lead and train members of a job crew.
• Group activities leader in the Armed Services.
• Unit leader-monitor-proctor for a dormitory group in a boarding school or other residential facility.
• Aid or assistant to professional or specialist staff in such fields as personnel (private or government), employment guidance in a vocational or academic institution, social service, or manpower development.
• Aid or assistant to professional or associate staff engaged in work of a social services nature in private, public welfare, government program, or community organizations, or in voluntary activities.
• Aid or assistant to professional or specialist staff working with individuals who are addicted to or abuse alcohol and/or drugs.

Grade level Requirement GS-06

• Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-05 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: utilizing automated systems to maintain case records and generate reports; assisting in interviewing clients to assess their needs and referring them to suitable community resources, programs, or services; and explaining policies, procedures, or program requirements.

Preferred Experience: Previous experience working with individuals and/or Veterans experiencing homelessness, familiarity with resources available to Veterans facing homelessness, and knowledge of HUD and housing policies and regulations.

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.

Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

Physical Requirements: The incumbent must have a current, valid driver's license and be able to drive a government-owned or leased vehicle. There will be walking; standing; bending; carrying light items such as books, papers, etc.; accessing transportation; and driving a government-owned or leased vehicle.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

How you will be evaluated

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

Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position. You will be assessed on the following Competencies for this position:

• Attention to Detail
• Flexibility
• Integrity/Honesty
• Interpersonal Skills
• Reading Comprehension
• Self-Management
• Stress Tolerance
• Teamwork

Your experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, duties, month and year start/end dates AND hours worked per week. A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on the online assessment may also result in your removal from 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.

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.

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

• Resume

The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please make sure you have included other documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), documentation to support Veterans Preference claims, or ICTAP/CTAP documentation (for displaced Federal employees). You will not be contacted for additional information.

• Cover Letter
• Resume
• Separation Notice (RIF)
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action

SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action (if applicable for Time in Grade and/or Eligibility):

• Most recent SF-50 if you are a current or former Federal employee
• An SF-50 showing your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade
• Award 50's do not provide sufficient information and will not be accepted for the purpose of verifying time-in-grade.
• Examples of appropriate SF-50's include:
  • Within grade increases at the highest grade held; or
  • Promotions with an effective date more than one year old; or
  • SF-50's at the highest grade held with an effective date more than one year old.

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.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

NOTE: Participation in the seasonal influenza program is a condition of employment and a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). It is a requirement that all HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccination or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccination has been granted. HCP in violation of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service. HCP are individuals who, during the influenza season, work in VHA locations or who come into contact with VA patients or other HCP as part of their duties. VHA locations include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associated clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA-leased medical facilities. HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrative, remote and onsite, paid and without compensation, full- and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, researchers, volunteers and health professions trainees (HPTs) who are expected to perform any or all of their work at these facilities. HPTs may be paid or unpaid and include residents, interns, fellows and students. HCP also includes VHA personnel providing home-based care to Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with patients outside VA medical facilities.

Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position.

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