Social Worker (Program Coordinator) CRRC Team Lead

30 Day Hiring Model

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.

What Applicants Can Expect

• 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.

VA Careers - Licensed Clinical Social Worker: Senior Social Worker duties and responsibilities include but not limited to the following:

• The Community Resource and Referral Center (CRRC) incumbent at the Phoenix VA Health Care System (PVAHCS) identifies and engages Veterans who are not only homeless or marginally housed and who underutilize VA services but Veterans who are also housed.
• The incumbent provides Veterans with a range of social work services including assessment clinical treatment case management advocacy and service coordination and linkage with VA and community services.
• The incumbent functions as a CRRC Team Lead and resource to Social Workers Peer Supports and administrative staff. Incumbent will have responsibility for coordinating the daily functions of the CRRC as it pertains to ensuring Veterans at risk of or currently experiencing homelessness are engaged by CRRC Social Workers and Peer Supports in a timely manner while ensuring the most vulnerable veterans are prioritized.
• The incumbent possesses knowledge and is sensitive to the needs of the homeless population.
• Has working knowledge and experience in the use of medical mental health and substance abuse treatment modalities.
• Is able to complete a comprehensive psychosocial assessment to identify strengths needs social support systems disabilities and barriers to accessing housing and available treatment options.
• Has general knowledge of Veterans benefits and services related to special programs service-connected compensation non-service connected pensions and benefits that are available on the federal and state levels and through city/county social services.
• The incumbent is sensitive to the needs of homeless Veterans and their families realizing that homelessness creates added stress for Veterans and their loved ones.
• The incumbent is aware of the special challenges in working with Veterans with co-morbid physical mental health and substance abuse diagnoses and works well with this Veteran population.
• The incumbent is responsible for outreach to homeless Veterans and can work confidently with city/county agencies to increase resources for street homeless or marginally housed Veterans. The goal is to increase stability in Veterans lives and assist Veterans in returning to independent healthy productive lifestyles.
• The incumbent is familiar with community resources and is able to assist and refer Veterans to appropriate community service providers.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Compressed/Flexible:Not Authorized
Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized
EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more
Telework: Available on an Ad-Hoc basis only.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000

• 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.

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 determining if your employment advances the public interest we may consider:

• 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.

Upon completion of your trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification in writing that your continued employment advances the public interest.

To qualify for this position applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

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.
• Education: Have 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. A doctoral degree in social work may not be substituted for the masters degree in social work.
• Licensure/Certification: Social Worker (Program Coordinator) must be licensed or certified by a state at the advanced practice level which included an advanced generalist or clinical examination unless they are grandfathered by the state in which they are licensed to practice at the advanced practice level (except for licenses issued in California which administers its own clinical examination for advanced practice) and they must be able to provide supervision for licensure.
• English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f).

Grandfathering Provision: 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 and meet the criteria). (1) 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. For employees who do not meet all of the basic requirements in this standard but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it the following provisions apply: (2) 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. (3) Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. (4) Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all of the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation. (5) If an employee who was retained in an occupation listed in 38 U.S.C. 7401(3) under this provision leaves that occupation the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation.

Grade Determinations:
Social Worker (Program Coordinator) GS
Experience: The candidate must possess One year of experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level. Experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment demonstrating progressively more professional competency. Candidate may have certification or other post-masters degree training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university that includes a defined curriculum/course of study and internship or equivalent supervised professional experience.

In addition to the experience above candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

• Knowledge of program coordination and administration which includes consultation negotiation and monitoring.
• Knowledge and ability to write policies procedures and/or practice guidelines for the program.
• Ability to supervise multidisciplinary staff assigned to the program.
• Skill in organizing work setting priorities meeting multiple deadlines and evaluating assigned program area(s).
• Ability to provide training orientation and guidance within clinical practice.

Preferred Experience: Previous experience with VA Homeless programs.

Physical Requirements: Traveling throughout the medical center and the community is required as is performing activities involving sitting walking and standing bending and carrying such items as books papers and carrying out responsibilities it will be necessary for the incumbent to travel into the community where he/she conducts interviews with the veterans their families representatives of community health and welfare agencies and law enforcement agencies.