Social Services Assistant

Clarification from the agency

The IHS is required by law to give absolute preference to qualified applicants who meet the Secretary of the Interior's definition of Indian for appointment to vacancies within the IHS in accordance with established IHS policy as outlined in the Indian Health Manual Part 7, Chapter 3.

• Assists higher-level staff in implementing established resident schedules, structured treatment activities, and cultural programming.
• Monitors resident behavior and activities, conducts routine bed checks, and documents observations in accordance with established procedures.
• Escorts and supervises residents during meals, educational, recreational, and approved off-unit activities while maintaining resident accountability.
• Assists residents with activities of daily living, treatment assignments, and structured recreational activities under the direction of supervisory or clinical staff.
• Supports facility operations by assisting with security procedures, monitoring surveillance equipment, performing routine safety checks, and maintaining a safe, orderly residential environment.
• Reports resident status, behavioral observations, and unusual incidents to supervisory or clinical staff.

Conditions of employment

Selectee may be subject to a probationary period
ESEP appointees typically serve a two year trial period
U.S. Citizenship is required
Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959

This is a designated position covered by Public Law 101-630, requiring contact or control over Indian children. Due to this requirement, the agency must ensure that persons hired for these positions have not been found guilty of or pleaded nolo contendere or guilty to certain crimes.

Physical Demands: The work involves walking, sitting, standing, reaching and bending in the assessment and treatment of patients.

Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify/.

You will need to set up direct deposit so we can pay you.

Background Investigation Requirement:
This position requires the successful completion of a federal background investigation as a condition of employment.

A background investigation is a standard process used by the Federal Government to verify an individual's identity, employment history, education, and other relevant information to determine suitability for Federal service.

Upon receipt of instructions, applicants must complete all required background investigation forms within five (5) calendar days of issuance. Timely completion is critical to avoid delays in processing or a determination of unsuitability.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to prioritize this requirement and to maintain regular communication with their assigned Personnel Security Specialist throughout the process.

Financial Suitability Requirement:
This position requires a review of the applicant's financial history as part of the personnel security and suitability determination. Applicants must demonstrate financial responsibility, maintain good standing with creditors, and satisfy all legal financial obligations prior to applying.

Individuals with substantial delinquent or unresolved financial obligations-including, but not limited to, delinquent federal or state tax liabilities, defaulted federal student loans, court-ordered fines or fees, or child support arrears-may be deemed unsuitable for employment with the Indian Health Service (IHS).

Prior to the appointment, candidates must present two valid forms of identification. If one of the documents is a state-issued ID or driver's license, it must be REAL ID-compliant.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, your resume must clearly demonstrate that you possess the required experience and/or education to perform the duties of the position.

Experience may have been gained through paid or unpaid work, including volunteer service performed through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, or social). Credit will be given for all qualifying experience, including volunteer and part-time work. Your resume must clearly identify your duties and responsibilities, the beginning and ending dates of employment (month/year), and the total number of hours worked per week.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS:
Individual Occupational Requirements (GS-04)

Specialized Experience

Applicants must possess six (6) months of general experience and six (6) months of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-03 grade level in the Federal service, obtained in either the private or public sector.

General experience is any work that demonstrates the ability to perform the duties of the position or provides familiarity with the subject matter or processes of the occupation.

Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to successfully perform the duties of the position. Examples of qualifying specialized experience include:

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

OR

Education and Training

For GS-04: Successful completion of two (2) years of study that:

• Included at least 12 semester hours of subjects directly related to the work of the position; or
• Was supplemented by experience in activities that afforded the opportunity to acquire and demonstrate the skills required by the position. The supplementary experience may have been gained, for example, in part-time or summer employment, volunteer social welfare or recreation programs, or community organizations.

OR

Combination of Education and Experience

• Equivalent combinations of successfully completed education and qualifying experience are acceptable. When education is used to meet specialized experience requirements, it must include coursework directly related to the work of the position. The combined education and experience must equal at least 100 percent of the qualification requirements.

Time In Grade
Federal employees in the competitive service are also subject to the Time-In-Grade Requirements: Merit Promotion (status) candidates must have completed one year of service at the next lower grade level. Time-In-Grade provisions do not apply under the Excepted Service Examining Plan (ESEP).

You must meet all qualification requirements by the respective cutoff day of rating to be eligible for consideration.

How you will be evaluated

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

Additional selections may be made for similar positions across the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) within the local commuting area(s) of the location identified in this announcement. By applying, you agree to have your application shared with interested selecting official(s) at HHS. Clearance of CTAP/ICTAP will be applied for similar positions across HHS.

To determine if you are qualified for this position, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against the qualifications as defined in the qualifications section of this vacancy announcement.

• Applies Technology to Tasks
• Influencing/Negotiating
• Stress Tolerance
• Technical Competence

The following links below provide information on how you may be eligible for various hiring authorities. If you are a Veteran, qualified CTAP and ICTAP eligible, or an individual with a disability, please refer to the following links below for additional guidance. Information about CTAP and ICTAP eligibility is on the Office of Personnel Management's Workforce Restructuring Career Transition website at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/. CTAP/ICTAP documentation requirements are listed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

• Veterans, i.e. (VEOA, VRA, and 30% or more disabled) - https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/veterans-services/vet-guide-for-hr-professionals/
• Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) - https://www.ihs.gov/jobs/support-documents/
• Interagency Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) - https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/
• Schedule A Appointments for the Disabled - https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/disability-employment/hiring/

Click here to view vacancy questions: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12998254.

All documents above MUST be received by 11:59 pm (Eastern Standard Time) of the closing date of, 09/30/2026, to be considered.

Resume: You are highly encouraged to visit the USAJOBS Help Center before submitting a resume. USAJOBS Help Center - https://help.usajobs.gov/faq/application/documents/resume/what-to-include

Required as applicable for the purposes of specific eligibility and appointment claim(s), and position requirements:

• Indian Preference Applicants: If claiming Indian preference, applicants must provide a completed copy of the Form BIA-4432, "Verification of Indian Preference for Employment in the BIA and IHS Only." Indian preference will not be given unless a properly signed and dated form is submitted with your application, including any verification by an authorized Tribal Representative or BIA Official of tribal enrollment records. For detailed instructions, see form BIA-4432. Refer to BIA-4432 link: Verification of Indian Preference for Employment in the BIA and IHS When an Indian Preference candidate possesses Veterans preference the rules regarding Veterans preference apply under ESEP and the applicant must provide documentation in order to receive preference.
• Veterans Preference: If claiming Veteran's Preference provide a copy of your DD214 Form (Member 4 copy). To claim 10-Point Veterans Preference, submit a SF-15 Application (http://www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/SF15.pdf) along with the appropriate supporting documentation. For additional information regarding Veterans Preference visit: http://www.fedshirevets.gov.
• Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP)/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): If you are claiming CTAP/ICTAP, follow the instructions below: http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/ctap_guideline.pdf.
• Current or former Federal employee: Include your most recent SF-50 or if Reinstatement eligible include your Career SF-50.
• Noncompetitive eligibles: Submit additional documents to prove your eligibility to apply to this vacancy.
• Transcripts: You are encouraged to submit copies of transcripts (official or unofficial) although not required at the time of application. You must list your courses including titles, credit hours completed, and grades. Official transcripts will be required after tentative selection and prior to issuing an official job offer.

You must meet the requirements of the job by 11:59 pm (Eastern Standard Time) of the closing date: 09/30/2026

The first Cut-off date for receipt/referral of applications to be considered for available vacant positions will be 5 days after the JOA open date. After that, applications may be reviewed and referred at any time as vacancies occur.

This is an Open Continuous Announcement. Applications will be reviewed and referred as vacancies occur; however, there may not be immediate openings at all locations.

During the application process, you may select up to three locations and will only be considered for positions in those locations. Candidates with complete applications will remain eligible for consideration for up to three months from the date of application or until the announcement closes, whichever occurs first. Consideration will be based on your selected locations, qualifications, and job preferences.

Next steps

Additional locations