Social Services Assistant

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Houston (TX); Remote; USD 42,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking a Social Services Assistant/Whole Health Partner to join an interdisciplinary team focused on empowering Veterans through Whole Health.

The role involves guiding Veterans through orientation, group sessions, and personal health planning within a clinical environment. The position emphasizes collaboration with physicians and other staff, assisting Veterans to access resources, and delivering group and individual health programs across multiple sites,

Qualifications

• Time-In-Grade requirements and federal service rules are described in the announcement.
• English language proficiency is required for direct patient care roles.
• Experience leading groups or activities in community, residential, or educational settings is needed.
• Ability to connect Veterans to resources and support within the Whole Health System.

Responsibilities

• Lead Whole Health Orientation and related group programs.
• Provide information and advocate for Veterans’ health goals.
• Navigate Veterans through the Whole Health system and connect them to services.
• Assist Veterans one-to-one or in groups to explore health goals and actions.
• Deliver group-based curriculum and facilitate visits to community resources.
• Work schedule is Mon-Fri, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm; telework is authorized.

Skills

Time-in-Grade Knowledge

English Proficiency

Group Facilitation

Patient Counseling

Interdisciplinary Collaboration

Education

Graduate-level education or internship in relevant field

Job description

Summary

This position functions as an interdisciplinary team member - assisting physicians and other professional/non-professional personnel in a whole health partnership. Performs a variety of roles both in person and via telehealth - that include welcoming Veterans into the local system - orienting them to Whole Health concepts - offering a variety of points of entry into partnership with the local Whole Health System.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement - 10/13/2026. 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-6 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-5. 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. In addition to meeting the English Language Proficiency requirement - in order to qualify for this position at the GS-6 level - you must possess the following: Specialized Experience: You must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-5) in the Federal Service that has given you the particular knowledge - skills and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of a Social Services Assistant - Whole Health Partner position - and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Qualifying specialized experience includes serving as a group leader in community or residential recreation or training programs; serving as a counselor in a youth summer camp; serving as an instructor in a training program for the development of job skills; performing work that demonstrated the ability to be responsible for and to lead and train members of a job crew; serving as a group activities leader in the Armed Services; serving as a unit leader-monitor-proctor for a dormitory group in a boarding school or other residential facility; serving as an aid or assistant to professional or specialist staff in such fields as personnel (private or government) - employment guidance in a vocational or academic institution - social service - or manpower development; serving as an aid or assistant to professional or associate staff engaged in work of a social services nature in private - public welfare - government program - or community organizations - or in voluntary activities; serving as an aid or assistant to professional or specialist staff working with individuals who are addicted to or abuse alcohol and/or drugs. NOTE: Experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title - duties - month and year start/end dates AND hours worked per week. OR - Education: Successfully completed at least one-half year of graduate level education (9 semester hours above a Bachelor's degree) or an internship in course matter that must include courses directly related to the work of the Lead Social Services Assistant - Lead Whole Health Partner position. This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. OR - Combination: Equivalent combinations of successfully completed graduate level education and specialized experience - as described above - which meet the total experience requirements for this grade level. The education portion must include graduate courses directly related to the work of the Lead Social Services Assistant - Lead Whole Health Partner position. This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. Physical Requirements: The work will involve using a laptop computer at docking stations in staff cubicles/office space - outpatient treatment rooms - and group/conference rooms. The work will involve walking around to different workspaces within the clinic and thus conveying a patient centered environment where providers go to the patient. The physical demands include presenting oneself in an energetic way to create positive attitudes about health and well-being for Veterans - families - VA employees - and stakeholders. The position is responsible for participating in and facilitating group-based and individual classes for Veteran patients and must be able to move from site to site to facilitate such classes. Some of the work will be performed in a healthcare clinic setting in an adequately lighted and climate-controlled office. Portions of the work will involve going to community organizations on behalf of Veterans for the purpose of connecting Veterans to VA and non-VA services which support Veterans' established health goals and behaviors. Whole Heath Partners may be located at a main facility campus - at CBOCs - embedded in the community (e.g. vet centers - YMCAs - community centers - etc.) and ensuring the delivery of Group Based Curriculum and individual exploration of goals for health and well-being. Additional Tele-health/CVT delivery of sessions may be required. 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/.

Duties

• The Social Services Assistant - Whole Health Partner position functions as an interdisciplinary team member - assisting physicians and other professional/non-professional personnel in a whole health partnership
• They perform a wide range of tasks to assist Veterans and peers of all ages - from young adult to old age
• They possess knowledge of internal and external resources to support the Veteran journey through the Whole Health System and connects Veterans to the best options to support their health and well-being while establishing an on-going relationship
• The Social Services Assistant - Whole Health Partner leads Whole Health Orientation - Introduction to Whole Health - and Taking Charge of My Life and Health Groups following subsequent educational trainings
• Major duties include - but are not limited to: Provides information and advocates for Veterans' personal health goals and plan - and shared goals with clinical care team
• Functions as the steward of how to navigate the whole health system and orient Veterans new to the program about the services - hours - locations - staff - tools - resources - and other pertinent information
• Assists the Veterans to explore core elements of personal health planning - exploration of what matters to the Veteran - self-assessment using the components of health and well-being - identification of goals and potential actions in self-care areas - and identification of support and follow-up to implement a plan
• Assists Veterans in this exploration through one-to-one or group sessions
• Facilitates group programs aimed at exploring the components of health and well-being - informs Veterans about community and mutual supports and how to use these to support health and well-being goals
• Performs other duties as assigned
• Work Schedule: Monday to Friday from 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
• (Subject to change based on needs of the Facility) Telework: Authorized for telework
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Position Description/PD#: Social Services Assistant/PD99907S Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized