Social Worker (HUDVASH) EDRP, RecRelo Incentive Authorized

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

The Social Worker is assigned to the Housing and Urban Development-VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) Program within Social Work Service at the West Texas VA Health Care System (WTVAHCS). HUD-VASH is an intensive case management program that combines Housing Choice Voucher rental assistance provided through the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) with VA supportive services to assist Veterans experiencing homelessness in obtaining and maintaining permanent housing.

The incumbent provides comprehensive clinical case management and supportive services to Veterans enrolled in HUD-VASH. Services are delivered in VA facilities and community settings including Veterans residences shelters transitional housing programs Public Housing Authorities and other community locations as clinically indicated.

The incumbent manages a caseload of Veterans with complex biopsychosocial needs including chronic homelessness serious mental illness substance use disorders chronic medical conditions legal involvement financial instability functional impairment and limited social supports. The incumbent exercises independent clinical judgment in assessment treatment planning intervention care coordination crisis management and housing stabilization activities.

The incumbent functions as an integral member of an interdisciplinary treatment team and collaborates with Veterans landlords Public Housing Authorities VA programs community agencies Continuums of Care and other stakeholders to promote housing retention recovery community integration and improved quality of life.

Practice is guided by Housing First principles recovery-oriented care trauma-informed care harm reduction strategies Veteran-centered care applicable VHA directives HUD-VASH operating requirements Social Work Service standards of practice accreditation standards and local policy.

The incumbent exercises independent professional judgment in carrying out responsibilities and may provide consultation and guidance to less experienced staff trainees and interdisciplinary team members regarding housing stabilization community resources and HUD-VASH processes.

Duties are continued in the Education Section.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8 AM - 4:30 PM
Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Authorized

Recruitment Incentives. Recruitment incentives may be authorized to full-time part time or intermittent individuals in their first appointment as a Federal employee or to a newly appointed former Federal employee with at least a 90-day break in service

Relocation Incentives. Relocation incentives may be authorized to full-time Federal employees who must change worksites and physically relocate to a different geographic area when the approving official determines that without the incentive it would be difficult to fill the position with a high-quality candidate.

• 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 ( Effective May 7 2025 drivers licenses or state-issued identification 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.

• 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.

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: You must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f)
• Education: You must possess a masters 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. Note: A doctoral degree in Social Work may NOT be substituted for the masters degree in Social Work.
• License or Certification* - You must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the masters degree level.
  *Exception - For assignments at the GS-9 level VHA may waive the licensure or certification requirement for persons who are otherwise qualified pending completion of state prerequisites for licensure/certification examinations. VHA social workers who are not licensed or certified at the time of appointment must become licensed or certified at the independent masters level within three years of their appointment as a social worker.

• Ability to utilize a Veteran centric approach when providing interventions and counseling for Veterans their family members caregivers and survivors.
• 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.

• 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 educational and other 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.

• Experience in crisis intervention case management resources community referrals and discharge planning.
• Knowledge and understanding of homelessness shelter utilization housing rules and regulations.
• Experience with working in high stress atmosphere with the ability to adapt and adjust to daily schedule changes with a positive professional attitude.
• Knowledge of addressing and assessing complicated psychosocial problems with those experiencing crisis to include provision of short-term solution-focused counseling.
• Advance clinical knowledge with ability to provide consultation of psychosocial needs and concerns to masters level and advance standing professionals. (LCSW Certification is not required).
• Certification in case management is preferred not required.