Social Worker Associate

Not Required

Duties

Major Duties: The Social Work Associate (SWA) provides non-clinical support to Veterans and significant others, serving as a primary point of contact for those seeking information, assistance with benefits, or access to community and VA services. Responds to referrals from Social Workers and other interdisciplinary staff, returning calls, meeting with Veterans, and addressing identified non-clinical needs such as transportation coordination, assistance with Medicaid and other benefit applications, and support in accessing housing, food, clothing, lodging, or other community resources. The SWA conducts interviews in person, by telephone, or in community settings to gather background information and clarify service needs. Helps Veterans understand available agency and community resources, explains how to access them, and makes appropriate referrals to additional sources of assistance. While performing these duties, will evaluate the nature and urgency of each situation and promptly notifies appropriate clinical staff when potentially serious behavioral, emotional, or safety concerns are identified, including threats of harm, acute distress, suspected intoxication, or disruptive behaviors. Independently monitors for delays or barriers in service delivery, identifies obstacles, and takes appropriate action to resolve issues and facilitate timely access to needed services or benefits. Organizes and maintains administrative, resource, and training materials, ensuring that manuals, program handbooks, directories, and related documents are current and well organized. Research, compiles, and provides information as requested on topics such as transportation, housing, and identification documents. The position includes responsibility for accurately tracking and entering guardianship documentation and Advance Directive paperwork into the electronic medical record, ensuring compliance with facility procedures and regulatory requirements. As service needs allow, the SWA may be assigned to support any area within Social Work Service to ensure continuity. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 7:30-4:00 OR 8:00 to 4:30 Telework: Ad-Hoc telework may be authorized at Supervisors discretion. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Social Worker Associate/PD44079-0 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being.

Requirements

You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 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) As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period 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 probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 06/15/2026. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-8 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-7. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY: In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. You must be proficient in basic written and spoken English in order to meet the requirements of this position. -AND- BASIC EDUCATION REQUIREMENT: Bachelor's or higher degree from an accredited college or university in major fields of study such as: social welfare, sociology, psychology, public administration, philosophy, education, anthropology, history, economics and/or English. NOTE: You must submit a copy of your transcript with your application. Education cannot be credited without documentation. -AND- VALID DRIVER'S LICENSE: A current, valid State issued motor vehicle operator's license. (We can not accept photos, Driver's license will be verified at the interview.)-AND- SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Do you have two (2) years of experience, which must have included one (1) year in a medical setting as a social welfare worker or social work assistant in a voluntary, public, social, or health agency. This experience must be equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-7) in Federal service. Qualifying specialized experience for this position is Conducting interviews, assisting customers in completing applications, explaining programs and regulations, and resolving complaints. Refers clients to community programs, benefits, and programs to obtain assistance with housing, finances, transportation or other psychosocial needs. Basic knowledge of eligibility to community resources to include local, State and Federal benefits Able to do medical record documentation and records management and procedures to select, assemble and distribute reports concerning assigned topics of a technical or administrative nature. Works with Microsoft office programs including Word and Excel.(EXPERIENCE MUST BE SUPPORTED BY YOUR RESUME.) NOTE: Your experience must be fully documented in your resume and must include job title, duties, month and year start/end dates AND hours worked per week. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Education

A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on 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/.

Other Information

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. Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. The Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well-qualified: applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in most of the required competencies of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.