Summary
This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.
Duties
The Senior Social Worker (HUD-VASH) serves as an advanced practice social worker providing comprehensive case management, clinical services, and program leadership to support Veterans experiencing homelessness. The incumbent collaborates with interdisciplinary teams, community partners, and housing agencies to assist Veterans in obtaining and maintaining permanent housing while promoting recovery, independence, and overall well-being. Duties may include, but not are limited to: Provides advanced clinical case management services to Veterans referred to and enrolled in the HUD-VASH Program. Provide higher-level clinical and administrative review for complex cases seeking admission, offering consultation and collaboration across interdisciplinary teams and partners. Assist in developing, interpreting, and implementing policies and processes that support Veteran engagement and ensure continued eligibility standards throughout all program phases. Utilizes evidence-based clinical interventions to promote Veteran engagement and housing stability. Performs outreach activities to identify, engage, and assist homeless Veterans. Provides crisis intervention, advocacy, resource coordination, and referrals to appropriate medical, mental health, substance use, and community support services. Maintains accurate, timely, and complete documentation within the electronic health record and applicable VA databases, including HOMES. Monitors Veteran progress, evaluates treatment effectiveness, and modifies interventions as clinically appropriate. Provides leadership, mentoring, orientation, coaching, and clinical guidance to staff, trainees, and less experienced social workers. Participates in program development, quality improvement initiatives, committees, workgroups, and community partnerships to improve service delivery. Assists with program administration, including data tracking, voucher utilization, reporting requirements, and compliance with HUD-VASH policies and VHA directives. Represents the VA in community meetings, Continuum of Care activities, and collaborative partnerships to improve services for homeless Veterans. Performs other duties assigned. Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Work Schedule: Monday- Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Compressed/Flexible: Authorized. Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized. Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not authorized. EDRP Authorized: Authorized - Contact Karen Chapman karen.chapman@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions or assistance on how to begin the application process. Learn more. 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). Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year). Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child. Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66. 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) Telework: Ad-Hoc Only. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: F08628 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized. PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not authorized. Notification: These positions are AFGE Bargaining Unit positions. This position is in the Excepted Service. The incumbent may be required to travel to other VA campuses and CBOC's. Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees. This position is covered by locality-based comparability pay. Current and former Federal employees must submit copies of their most recent SF-50, (Notice of Personnel Action). The SF-50 must identify the position title, series, grade, step, tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted). In some cases, more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held. Narrative responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) will be required from the selectee in order to proceed with the appointment. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Will be required to travel to Jamaica Plain VA and in the community across the VA Boston HUD-VASH catchment area.
Requirements
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 (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. 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
Area of Consideration - Eligible applications will be reviewed and referred in the following order: 1. Current permanent VA employees of the facility. 2. All other VA employees. Note: Veterans' Preference is not applicable to VA employees or employees of other Federal agencies. 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.