Social Worker (Health Care for Homeless Veterans) - EDRP Approved

Social Worker (Health Care for Homeless Veterans) - EDRP Approved

Department: Department of Veterans Affairs

Location(s): Dallas, Texas

Salary Range: $86625 - $136259 Per Year

Job Summary: Health Care for Homeless Veterans (HCHV) is an intensive case management program for Chronically Homeless Veterans aimed at conducting street outreach to Veterans who are either homeless or experiencing housing instability. The Social Worker Works within the HCHV program. The HCHV Social Worker supports the program by providing early engagement and ensuring continuity of care for Veterans between the different programs within the Comprehensive Homeless Center Programs.

Major Duties:

• Duties include but are not limited to: Screening/Assessment The Social Worker completes psychosocial assessments of the Veteran and when possible, obtains input from the interdisciplinary team, the Veteran and as available the Veteran's family, caregiver and/or significant other for collaboration of a service plan. The incumbent completes the intake/brief psychosocial assessments to assess the needs of the Veteran, the willingness of the Veteran to participate in various services, and options for care coordination. The Service Plan created highlights the Veteran's strengths, limitations, internal/external supports, and service needs to optimize the Veteran's functional status, safely maintain the Veteran's current resources and assist the Veteran's return to an independent community living setting. Treatment/Care Planning The incumbent develops individualized service plans and sets achievable treatment/care goals with the Veteran. The incumbent includes psychosocial problems in the service plans. The incumbent provides ongoing assessments and updating the Veteran's individualized service plan. Referral to Service Providers The incumbent uses VA and community-based resources to provide for the Veteran's needs. The incumbent collaborates with other service providers in reassessing the Veteran's need for institutional and community-based benefits, services, and programs. The incumbent educates the Veteran, and as appropriate the Veteran's family, caregiver and/or significant other about available services. Resource Development The incumbent updates and maintains a resource file of VA and community-based social service programs. The incumbent provides the Veteran general information about VA entitlements, benefits, and services, especially those relating to special programs, service connected compensation, and non-service-connected pension. The incumbent facilitates referrals based upon the Veterans needs and eligibility. Advocacy The incumbent advocates for the Veteran and as appropriate the Veteran's family, caregiver, and/or significant other. The incumbent educates the Veteran, the Veteran's family, caregiver and/or significant other about methods of self-advocacy and encourage the Veteran, the Veteran's family, caregiver and/or significant other to advocate on their own behalf to foster a sense of independence and empowerment. Crisis Intervention The incumbent assesses for crisis intervention as required to assist the Veteran, then connects the Veteran with the appropriate mental health provider for further evaluation, assistance, and intervention. Patient Education/Health Promotion and Prevention The incumbent provides education related to the Veteran's VA entitlements, eligibility, services, and programs, as well as housing and other community resources for medical and mental health needs. The incumbent will refer the Veteran and as appropriate Veteran's family, caregiver and significant other to the appropriate program interdisciplinary team members, VA services or programs, or external programs for identified education needs. Coordination of Non-Institutional and Institutional Services The incumbent provides referrals and consults for VA services and community-based services in collaboration with the interdisciplinary team members. The incumbent is responsible for the coordination of referrals. This includes reviewing the progress notes from the other providers to accurately determine the strengths and limitations of each Veteran being referred for VA programs and non-VA alternatives. The incumbent will educate the Veteran about all options available. The incumbent will adhere to the Veteran's or as appropriate and within legal authority, the Veteran's family, caregiver, or significant other's option preference. Administrative Responsibilities The incumbent will enter all Veteran contacts in the electronic record using appropriate formats and templates. This information will be entered in a complete, confidential, and professional manner to ensure information on the Veteran is available as appropriate to other VA staff. Education/Training It is the responsibility of the incumbent to further her/his own professional growth through education, appropriate to the area of assignment and to maintain licensure required for practice of social work within the VA Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade). Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 54437-F; 54438-F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Qualifications: 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 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 http://www.cswe.org/Accreditation to verify that the social work degree meets the accreditation standards for a masters of social work. Licensure 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. Current state requirements may be found by going to http://vaww.va.gov/OHRM/T38Hybrid/. Exception. VHA may waive the licensure or certification requirement for persons who are otherwise qualified, pending completion of state prerequisites for licensure/certification examinations. This exception only applies at the GS-9 grade level. For the GS-11 grade level and above, the candidate must be licensed or certified. For appointments at the GS-9 grade level, VHA social workers who are not licensed or certified at the time of appointment must become licensed or certified at the independent, master's level within three years of their appointment as a social worker. Failure to Obtain License or Certification. In all cases, social workers must actively pursue meeting state prerequisites for licensure or certification starting from the date of their appointment. Failure to become licensed or certified within the prescribed amount of time will result in removal from the GS-0185 social worker series and may result in termination of employment. Note: 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. 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). Grade Determinations: Social Worker, GS-9 Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the basic requirements above, to qualify for the GS-09, you must demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: (a) Ability to utilize a Veteran centric approach when providing interventions and counseling for Veterans, their family members, caregivers, and survivors. (b) 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. (c) 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. (d) Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients, staff, and representatives of community agencies. (e) 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. Social Worker, GS-11 GS-11 Licensure Requirement: You must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level. GS-11 Experience or Education Requirement: In addition to meeting the basic requirements, to qualify for the GS-11, you must possess 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. Examples of specialized experience include but are not limited to: Working under close supervision in program areas that do not require specialized knowledge or experience. Identifying behaviors or symptoms of abuse, neglect or exploitation; providing education on advance directives and advanced care planning; providing social work case management; acting as an patient/family member/caregiver advocate with community service providers/agencies; assessing the psychosocial functioning and needs of patients and their family members. In collaboration with the patient, family, and interdisciplinary treatment teams, identifying strengths, weaknesses, coping skills and psychosocial acuity. Maintaining a current network of internal and external resources to educate the patient and/or family members/caregivers and assist with appropriate referrals. -OR- 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. In addition to the experience above, candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of community resources, how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services, and ability to coordinate services. (b) Skill in independently conducting psychosocial assessments and treatment interventions to a wide variety of individuals from various socio-economic, educational, and other backgrounds. (c) 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. (d) 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. (e) 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: Working with homeless: in the community, under bridges, at shelters, and in encampments Assessments: Mental Health, Psychosocial Completion of Clinical Reminders Case Management Brief Supportive Psychotherapy, Psychotherapeutic Intervention, and Evidence Based Psychotherapy Completion of C-SSRS, CSRE, and Safety Plans

How to Apply: All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the full questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 05/01/2026 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12946424. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire. Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package. NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

Application Deadline: 2026-05-01