Social Worker -HUD VASH

Summary

The Social Worker will serve as a primary point of contact partnering with the local Public Housing Authorities, provide comprehensive social work services to homeless Veterans and their families enrolled in the Housing and Urban Development-VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program, ensure the Veteran’s care is appropriately coordinated with the VA Medical Facility, community health or mental health providers, and agencies that serve homeless populations.

Duties

• Telework: Available – Per Agency Policy and Service Approval on and Ad Hoc Basis Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
• Functional Statement #:30126F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Pay: Competitive salary, annual performance bonus, regular salary increases Paid Time Off: 50-55 days of paid time off per year (26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year and possible 5 day paid absence for CME) Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Licensure: 1 full and unrestricted license from any US State or territory CME: Possible $1,000 per year reimbursement (must be full-time with board certification) Malpractice: Free liability protection with tail coverage provided Contract: No Physician Employment Contract and no significant restriction on moonlighting The Social Worker -HUD VASH is responsible for providing independent case management for a caseload of Veterans in the HUD-VASH program and for reviewing agreements between Section 8, landlords, Public Housing Authorities and the VA in establishing appropriate referral sites for HUD-VASH placements.
• The primary place of work is in the community setting, away from VA Medical Center locations.
• The incumbent is expected to perform their duties mostly independently, in a community- based setting, working with homeless veterans at locations such as inside their HUD-VASH housing after placement.
• Clinical and Administrative responsibilities include but are not limited to the following duties: Transporting veterans on their caseload to various locations in the community, such as the Public Housing Authority, bill payment centers, in order to assist the veterans with learning independent living skills to help maintain their permanent housing.
• All transportation will be conducted in a GSA Government Vehicle.
• Provides housing search, case management, and services for a caseload of Veterans in the Housing and Urban Development – Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program.
• Reviewing agreements between Veteran participants and landlords, Public Housing Authorities and the VA in establishing appropriate referral sites for HUD-VASH placements.
• Performs site visits to rental properties, apartments, and houses to ensure they are safe environments and in compliance with local housing codes and housing quality standards (HQS).
• Coordinate care including serving as an advocate on behalf of the Veterans to ensure comprehensive service delivery, and linking and referring Veterans to the VA Medical Center, VA Regional Offices, and community agencies.
• Participate in HUD-VASH conference calls and attends training offered by the HUD-VASH Program.
• Participates in program planning and development, advising the HUD-VASH Supervisor of shifting trends with housing stock, housing agencies, caseloads, and identifying the need for and making recommendations on program procedure or policy changes based upon work experiences.
• Documents all contacts with patients/families in the electronic medical record.
• Collaborates with VA Medical Center multi-disciplinary teams and community agencies to strive for developing more effective and efficient ways of delivering housing services and resources to HUD-VASH Program Veterans.
• Participates in HUD-VASH discharge planning with other disciplines Provides individual, family, and group counseling, consultation/education to Veterans and families on community housing resources, advance directives, and VA benefits.
• Act as a consultant to other team/staff members and community providers on issues related to local housing resources.
• Act as liaison between VA and landlords, property managers, Housing Authorities, and community housing resources, to include furniture banks, thrift shops, and other relevant resources.
• Provides clinical case management to HUD-VASH Veterans and their families throughout the continuum of care.
• Collaborates with other housing service providers, housing specialists, and housing locators to address issues of homelessness and housing for Veterans in the HUD-VASH program.
• Provides housing resource education and facilitate patient/family housing support as appropriate.
• This may include housing resource support groups.
• Maintains relevant data and statistical compilations to comply with JCAHO, CARF, VA, and medical center policy and procedures.
• Work Schedule: Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 4:30 pm, Occasional weekend and holiday coverage required within the Social Work Service (Note: Work schedules are determined and approved by the supervisor.
• The incumbent may be required to work various shifts on a permanent or temporary basis based on facility/patient care needs).

Requirements

You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.

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 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. In 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.

Education

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education.

For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

How You Will Be Evaluated

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully.

Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate’s abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position. It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment. Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

Required Documents

• To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes: Special Note for Applications: To complete your application, please use the following link https://vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Resume.docx to download the standard Clinical Resume Document.
• This one-page document does not need to be modified and must be uploaded into the two-page restricted 'Resume' document upload field.
• Your full resume/CV may be uploaded without page limitation into the 'Other' document upload field.
• NOTE: Incomplete packets will not be considered.
• Failure to submit the required documentation may make you ineligible for this position.
• The following documents are required from all applicants: Résumé / CV: For each job/position listed, you must include a job title, detailed duties, month and year for each start/end date and if full-time or part-time status with the number of hours worked each week.
• Responses to the questionnaire License: Must provide a copy of your Nurse Practitioner license.
• Board Certification: Must provide a copy of your NP board certification(s) as required above for this position.
• Transcript(s): Must provide a copy of all nursing education transcripts The following additional supporting documents may be submitted, if applicable: SF-50: All VA/Federal employees should submit a copy of your most recent SF-50 (that is not an award SF-50) that shows you're a current, permanent VA/Federal employee.
• You may get your SF-50 directly from your eOPF.
• VA employees may go to: https://eopf.opm.gov/va/.
• Other Federal employees must contact your current HR Office for assistance assessing your eOPF/personnel folder.