Social Worker HUD-VASH

Veterans Health Administration • Bedford, MA

6d • Onsite

About The Position

The Social Worker HUD-VASH position is in Social Work Services at VA Bedford Healthcare Systems, located at the Bedford, Massachusetts campus. This is a full-time position at 40 hours per week, with a Monday–Friday schedule from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The HUD-VASH program is a collaboration between the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Department of Veterans Affairs. It combines HUD rental assistance vouchers with VA intensive case management services to help Veterans and their families move from chronic homelessness into permanent, independent housing. The position may require travel to other VA campuses and Community-Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs). The position is not virtual; ad-hoc telework is noted.

The incumbent provides outreach, assessment, treatment planning, housing-placement support, advocacy, case management, care coordination, counseling, therapeutic interventions, home visits, and timely documentation. The vacancy may be filled at GS-09 through GS-11, with GS-11 identified as the full-performance level. Applicants must meet VHA social worker education and state licensure or certification requirements, as well as the applicable grade-level qualifications. The position requires a master's degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited school. GS-11 candidates must also meet specified post-MSW experience and independent licensure/certification requirements, unless qualifying doctoral education substitutes for the experience requirement.

The position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to individual eligibility and application requirements. Approval, award amount (up to $200,000), and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA program office. Recruitment/relocation incentives and permanent change-of-station relocation assistance are not authorized. The federal benefits described include paid leave and holidays, possible paid parental leave, possible childcare subsidy for eligible employees, federal pension and 401(k), and federal insurance programs.

Requirements

• Be a U.S. citizen, subject to the stated exception for non-citizen appointments when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Be proficient in spoken and written English.
• Hold a master's degree in social work from a school fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE); a doctoral degree cannot substitute for the master's degree requirement.
• Be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level. The licensure/certification exception pending completion of state prerequisites applies only at GS-9; GS-11 candidates must be licensed or certified.
• For GS-11 appointment, have at least one year of post-MSW experience equivalent to GS-9 in health care or another social-work-related setting and independent-practice state licensure/certification, or meet the stated doctoral-degree substitution for the experience requirement.
• Demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities required for the applicable grade, including Veteran-centered counseling and interventions; psychosocial assessment and treatment planning; treatment modalities; effective communication and working relationships; and knowledge of medical and mental-health diagnoses, disabilities, treatment procedures, medications, and terminology.
• For GS-11, demonstrate knowledge of community resources and referrals, independent psychosocial assessment and intervention skills, treatment planning knowledge, ability to implement treatment modalities independently, and ability to provide consultation to new social workers, graduate students, and other staff.
• Meet pre-employment requirements, including background/security investigation, onboarding, acceptable identification, and a pre-employment physical examination.
• Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program as required for VA Health Care Personnel.
• Serve a one- or two-year trial period, as applicable.
• Submit all application requirements detailed in the announcement's Required Documents section.

Nice To Haves

• A doctoral degree in social work may substitute for the required year of professional social work experience at GS-11, provided the other basic requirements are met.
• Applicants may qualify under the grandfathering provision if they are current VHA employees in this occupation and meet its criteria.

Responsibilities

• Provide outreach services to engage homeless Veterans.
• Conduct interviews and assessments for program enrollment and treatment planning.
• Use Housing First and evidence-based practice models.
• Assist Veterans with housing placement and the HUD-VASH voucher process.
• Advocate for Veterans with landlords, public housing authorities, and community providers.
• Support Veterans in achieving goals to improve quality of life.
• Provide case management and care coordination, including referrals.
• Deliver counseling and therapeutic interventions.
• Conduct home visits to support housing stability and community integration.
• Document Veteran contacts and interventions accurately and in a timely manner.
• Assume other related duties.
• Travel to other VA campuses and CBOCs if required.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), with a potential award of up to $200,000 and an eligibility period of one to five years, subject to approval and eligibility requirements.
• 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year, consisting of 13–26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, and 11 paid federal holidays.
• Potential credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work or military service, subject to approval.
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months of employment, in connection with birth, adoption, or foster-care placement of a child.
• Potential childcare subsidy after 60 days of employment for eligible full-time employees with total family income below $144,000; up to 25% of eligible childcare costs, subject to a monthly maximum of $416.66.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting and federal 401(k), with VA contributions of up to 5%.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance; many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement.
• Competitive salary and regular salary increases; a higher step rate may be considered based on higher or unique qualifications or VA special needs.

What This Job Offers

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