Clarification from the agency

This announcement is open to all U.S. Citizens. Preference to applicants will be given in the following order: Current permanent Orlando VA employees, Current Permanent Department of Veterans Affairs employees, Other current permanent federal employees, U.S. Citizens. Facility has first consideration. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this occupational series. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

Such assignments typically require extensive coordination of services with a wide range of providers and other points of contact.

Duties Listed but not limited to:

Incumbent must be clinically knowledgeable to provide and complete assessments with understanding of complex and diverse populations.

Ability to provide consultation services to new social workers, social work graduate students, and other staff about the psychosocial needs of patients and the impact of psychosocial problems on health care and compliance with treatment.

Plans, develops, and maintains a network of relationships with community resources and other advocates for the homeless to effectively screen and identify Veteran members of the homeless population.

Has knowledge and experience in the use of mental health diagnoses, disabilities, and treatment procedures.

Work will be performed in a wide range of settings, including within the clinic, and in community-based settings like Veterans' homes, food and resource distribution centers, emergency shelters, homeless encampments, or in transport vehicles.

Completes all required documents for the Health Care for Homeless Veterans Program including those which are included in the data collection for NEPEC and within HOMES.

Outreach social worker will track non-workload generating activities according to the direction of his/her supervisor.

The incumbent documents independently in the medical record utilizing paper and/or electronic formats, including psychosocial assessments, diagnostics, treatment planning, progress notes, follow up and referral and documents in the HOMES system.

Highly developed professional, clinical and advanced practice skills are routinely used to treat Veterans with complex problems, histories of non-compliance with treatment and inability, or unwillingness to participate in treatment.

Reviews all data, subjective and objective and makes clinical assessment, identifying needs and strengths.

Makes provision for referral services to other agency organizations, community resources, or other Governmental resources to resolve problems.

Monitors client's progress, maintains comprehensive case documentation, including HOMES Data Base documentation, and shows competent discretion in the decision to adjust treatment.

Participates in the planning and coordination of local community outreach and meetings. Outreach staff are expected to attend events outside of their regular tour of duty. These events may include Stand Down or Resource Events, Point in Time Counts, Homeless Outreach Surges, and other related events.

Social Worker evaluates his/her practice on an on-going basis through participation in professional peer review, case conferences, research studies, or other organized means

Incumbent will also utilize Veteran Video Connect (WC) technology, or other approved virtual care platforms, as one service delivery method available to provide Veteran care.

Position requires the ability to operate a government vehicle and may include transportation of passengers ( employees and/or Veterans) to carry out job functions.

Incumbent will participate in coverage for social work services on the assigned unit/service, and when needed for other programs or teams both inpatient and outpatient as needed.

The Homeless Outreach Social Work is provided programmatic guidance by the Homeless Program Manager and collaborates with the Homeless Program Coordinator regarding professional activities.

Work Schedule: The primary tour of duty may be M-F 7:30am-4pm, 8am-4:30pm, or 8:30am-5pm. However, the selectee may also be required to work various shifts on a permanent or temporary basis, based on the needs of the service and patient care.
Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not authorized
Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not authorized
Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases
Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year)
Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.
Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66.
Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA
Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)
Telework: May be Available, as determined by the agency policy.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: Social Worker #81763F
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): 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.
• 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.
• 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.

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.
• English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).
• Education-Documentation Submitted: Eligible candidates must meet possess a master's degree in social work from a school of social work fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). A doctoral degree in social work may not be substituted for the master's degree in social work.
• Licensure-Documentation Submitted: 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.
  • Exception: This exception only applies at the entry grade level (GS-9). VHA may waive the licensure or certification requirement for persons who are otherwise qualified, pending completion of state prerequisites for licensure/certification examinations for a period not to exceed three years from the date of employment.
• Grandfathering Provision: 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.
  • 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.
• Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary. It may require some lifting (10-20 lbs.) occasionally. Reaching above shoulder; Frequent keyboarding (4-7 hours per day); Sitting (4-7 hours per day); Walking up to 6 hours per day); Standing (up to 8 hours per day); Infrequent climbing/descending of stairs; Some bending; Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously.

GS-09 Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met:

• Experience, Education, and Licensure: None beyond the basic requirements.
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
  • Ability to work with Veterans and family members from various socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other diversified backgrounds utilizing counseling skills.
  • Ability to assess the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and their family members, and to formulate and implement a treatment plan, identifying the Veterans problems, strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and assistance needed.
  • Ability to implement treatment modalities in working with individuals, families, and groups to achieve treatment goals. This requires judgment and skill in utilizing supportive, problem solving, or crisis intervention techniques.
  • Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients, staff, and representatives of community agencies.
  • Fundamental knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities, and treatment procedures. This includes acute, chronic, and traumatic illnesses/injuries; common medications and their effects/side effects; and medical terminology.

GS-11 Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met:

• Experience and Licensure: Appointment to the GS-11 grade level requires completion of a minimum of one year of post-MSW experience equivalent to the GS-09 grade level in the field of health care or other social work-related settings, (VA or non-VA experience) andlicensure or certification in a state at the independent practice level. ~OR~
• Education: In addition to meeting basic requirements, a doctoral degree in social work from a school of social work may be substituted for the required one year of professional social work experience in a clinical setting andlicensure or certification in a state at the independent practice level.

~AND~

• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
  • Knowledge of community resources, how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services, and ability to coordinate services.
  • Skill in independently conducting psychosocial assessments and treatment interventions to a wide variety of individuals from various socio-economic, cultural, ethnic, educational and other diversified backgrounds.
  • Knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities and treatment procedures (i.e. acute, chronic and traumatic illnesses/injuries, common medications and their effects/side effects, and medical terminology) to formulate a treatment plan.
  • Skill in independently implementing different treatment modalities in working with individuals, families, and groups who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric, medical, and social problems to achieve treatment goals.
  • Ability to provide consultation services to new social workers, social work graduate students, and other staff about the psychosocial needs of patients and the impact of psychosocial problems on health care and compliance with treatment.

Preferred Experience:

• Experience in performing assessments, treatment planning, care coordination, crisis interventions, and advocacy.
• Experience working with client populations experiencing homelessness.
• Able to work independently providing psychosocial support to client population with highly complex health and/or mental health problems.
• Experience in locating and obtaining community resources and assisting with linkage to appropriate referrals.
• Ability to drive a government vehicle and have a valid drivers license.
• Ability to communicate effectively both in writing and orally.

References: VA Qualifications Standards - Office of the Chief Human Capital Officer (OCHCO)

The full Performance level of the GS-0185 Social Worker job series is GS-11. The actual grade at which a candidate may be selected for this vacancy is either the GS-09 or the GS-11 grade level.

How you will be evaluated

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

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

Area of Consideration - Eligible applications will be reviewed and referred in the following order:

1. Current permanent Orlando VA employees,
2. Current Permanent Department of Veterans Affairs employees,
3. Other current permanent federal employees,
4. All other applicants

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.

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

• Resume, required. - Your resume must include the following information for each job listed: Job title, Grade Level (for Federal positions), Duties (be as detailed as possible and ensure they demonstrate how you meet the specialized experience and/or Knowledge, Skills and Abilities required for the position Month & Year start/end dates (e.g. June 2007 to April 2008), Full-time or part-time status (include hours worked per week). Failure to provide this may result in an ineligible rating.
• If you are a current or former federal employee, you must submit a copy of a current and/or highest grade held SF-50 - Notification of Personnel Action (Not an award SF50).
• Copy of licensure (if licensed).
• Transcripts.

Special Note for Applications: To complete your application, please use the following link https://vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Resume.docx to download the standard Clinical Resume Document. This one-page document does not need to be modified and must be uploaded into the two-page restricted 'Resume' document upload field.

Next steps