Social Worker (HUD-VASH)

Veterans Health Administration • Phoenix, AZ

2d • Onsite

About The Position

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.

The Department of Veterans Affairs is implementing a streamlined 30-Day Hiring Model designed to accelerate hiring while maintaining the highest standards of merit-based selection. This improved process reduces traditional hiring timelines by integrating early coordination, faster assessments, and efficient pre-employment actions. Applicants can expect a more transparent, predictable, and efficient hiring journey from announcement to entry on duty.

Expedited Candidate Review: Once the announcement closes, Human Resources will quickly review applications, issue certificates of eligible candidates the day after the announcement closes and refer applicants for hiring manager consideration.
Quick Interviews & References: HR may arrange interviews and will request references within 3-5 days after being referred to the hiring manager.
Streamlined Pre-Employment Requirements: Following a tentative offer, applicants should be prepared to complete required steps, such as fingerprinting and background check, credentialing, and medical examination within 3 days of the offer.
Clear and Timely Communication: Applicants will receive clear communication at key milestones, including referral, tentative offer, and onboarding instructions. After meeting pre-employment requirements, candidates will receive a final job offer and start date. Onboarding tasks may continue after starting, with HR ensuring timely completion for a smooth transition into VA service. If selected, applicants should be prepared to come onboard within 30 days of the announcement closing.

The incumbent is responsible for completing the following duties and/or responsibilities:
Provides case management to a minimum caseload of 25 Veterans in the HUD-VASH Program. Interviews clients, completing psychosocial assessments and treatment plans, and updating as outlined by the program and Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities/The Joint Commission (CARF/TJC) accreditation. Verifies the veteran's homeless status. Ensures that chronically homeless veterans are considered the primary participants for program acceptance. Completes Homeless Operations Management and Evaluation System (HOMES) electronic forms in a timely manner. Conducts site visits of Housing and Urban Development-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) apartments to ensure that veterans reside in safe environments in compliance with local housing codes. Coordinates care, including serving as an advocate on behalf of 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 to avoid conflicts of interest while conducting regular duties. Participates actively in the HUD-VASH Program conference calls and attending training offered by VA Central Office and/or VISN 22. Follows local policy and SOPs for the HUD-VASH Program. Performs accountability functions to document all contacts with patients/facilities in the electronic medical record and the completes any required/requested reports as needed per VAMC and respective professional service policies. Works with VAMC inter-disciplinary teams and community agencies to strive for developing more effective and efficient ways of delivering services to HUD-VASH Program participants. Participates in discharge planning with other disciplines and is responsible for ensuring that discharge plans are executed in a manner that is timely and appropriate. Provides individual, family and group counseling as needed. Provides consultation/education to veterans and their families on community resources, advance directives, and VA benefits. - Acting as a liaison between the VA and community agencies, to include marketing and public relations duties as needed. Provides a full range of social work services within commonly accepted standards of social work practice, which includes case work, individual, family and group counseling, discharge planning, advocacy, case management and other services as appropriate.

Requirements

• 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 identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation/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.
• 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 the CSWE website to verify if that social work degree meets the accreditation standards for a master of social work.
• 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).
• 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.
• Appointment to the GS-11 grade level requires completion of a minimum of one year of post-MSW experience equivalent to the GS-9 grade level in the field of health care or other social work-related settings, (VA or non-VA experience) and licensure or certification in a state at the independent practice level.
• 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.
• The employee must possess a current driver's license and drive a government vehicle in carrying out professional duties when deemed necessary.

Nice To Haves

• Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.

Responsibilities

• Provides case management to a minimum caseload of 25 Veterans in the HUD-VASH Program.
• Interviews clients, completing psychosocial assessments and treatment plans, and updating as outlined by the program and Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities/The Joint Commission (CARF/TJC) accreditation.
• Verifies the veteran's homeless status.
• Ensures that chronically homeless veterans are considered the primary participants for program acceptance.
• Completes Homeless Operations Management and Evaluation System (HOMES) electronic forms in a timely manner.
• Conducts site visits of Housing and Urban Development-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) apartments to ensure that veterans reside in safe environments in compliance with local housing codes.
• Coordinates care, including serving as an advocate on behalf of 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 to avoid conflicts of interest while conducting regular duties.
• Participates actively in the HUD-VASH Program conference calls and attending training offered by VA Central Office and/or VISN 22.
• Follows local policy and SOPs for the HUD-VASH Program.
• Performs accountability functions to document all contacts with patients/facilities in the electronic medical record and the completes any required/requested reports as needed per VAMC and respective professional service policies.
• Works with VAMC inter-disciplinary teams and community agencies to strive for developing more effective and efficient ways of delivering services to HUD-VASH Program participants.
• Participates in discharge planning with other disciplines and is responsible for ensuring that discharge plans are executed in a manner that is timely and appropriate.
• Provides individual, family and group counseling as needed.
• Provides consultation/education to veterans and their families on community resources, advance directives, and VA benefits.
• Acting as a liaison between the VA and community agencies, to include marketing and public relations duties as needed.
• Provides a full range of social work services within commonly accepted standards of social work practice, which includes case work, individual, family and group counseling, discharge planning, advocacy, case management and other services as appropriate.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP)
• A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package.
• As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level