Social Worker

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Renton (WA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking a Social Worker for HUD-VASH case management in Renton, WA. The role focuses on psychosocial assessments, treatment planning, and coordinating community-based services for Veterans.

Responsibilities include individual, family, and group counseling, crisis intervention, and collaboration with VA programs. Eligible for EDRP; standard federal benefits apply. Mon-Fri, in-office setting with potential telework options as allowed.

Qualifications

• US Citizenship (per VA policy)
• English proficiency for professional practice
• Master's degree in social work (CSWE-accredited)
• Licensure or certification to independently practice social work at the MSW level

Responsibilities

• Provide independent case management for Veterans in HUD-VASH.
• Offer individual, family, and group counseling as part of treatment.
• Conduct psychosocial assessments and develop treatment plans.
• Coordinate referrals to VA programs and community resources.
• Perform crisis intervention and ongoing care coordination.

Skills

Counseling skills

Crisis intervention

Case management

Communication skills

Education

Master's degree in social work (CSWE accredited)

Job description

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.

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.

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: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized 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
• At the time of appointment - the supervisor - chief social work or social work executive will provide the unlicensed/uncertified social worker with the written requirements for licensure or certification - including the time by which the license or certification must be obtained and the consequences for not becoming licensed or certified by the deadline
• 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
• Loss of Licensure or Certification: Once licensed or certified - social workers must maintain a full - valid - and unrestricted independent license or certification to remain qualified for employment
• Loss of licensure or certification will result in removal from the GS-0185 social worker series and may result in termination of employment
• Driver's License: Incidental operators are employees - other than those occupying a position officially classified as a motor vehicle operator - who are required to operate a Government-owned or leased motor vehicle to properly carry out their assigned duties
• To qualify as an incidental operator - an employee must possess a valid State license - have a safe driving record - and demonstrate that he or she is medically qualified to operate the appropriate motor vehicle safely
• Grade Determinations: Social Worker GS-9:Experience - Education - and Licensure: None beyond the basic requirements.*In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Ability to work with Veterans and family members from various socioeconomic - cultural - ethnic - educational - and other diversified backgrounds utilizing counseling skills
• 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
• 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
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients - staff - and representatives of community agencies
• 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:Experience and Licensure: Appointment to the GS-11 grade level requires completion of 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
• OREducation: A doctoral degree in social work from a school of social work.*In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Knowledge of community resources - how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services - and ability to coordinate services
• Skill in independently conducting psychosocial assessments and treatment interventions to a wide variety of individuals from various socio-economic - cultural - ethnic - educational and other diversified backgrounds
• 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
• 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
• 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
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-09 to GS-11
• There are no physical requirements for this occupation per OCHCO Communications email to VA Handbook 5019 - updated on 4/17/2026.

Duties

• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Duties include but are not limited to: Clinical Responsible for providing independent case management throughout the continuum of care for a caseload of Veterans in the HUD-VASH program
• Provides a full range of clinical services to include case work - individual - family and group counseling - discharge planning - case management and other services as appropriate
• Independently performs case finding functions and outreach - identifying and screening Veterans for current mental health status - housing status - access to resources - and other needs
• Provides independent evidence-based psychotherapeutic interventions - including individual - family - and group psychotherapy
• Incumbent can measure outcomes of these interventions
• Provides a full range of psychological assessment services and diagnoses mental disorders - particularly for complex or unusually difficult patients - many of whom have psychiatric and medical problems
• Evaluates their own practice through case conferences and other organizational means
• Active participant in the development of treatment plans in collaboration with the Veteran/family and the interdisciplinary treatment team
• Coordinates community-based services - including information and referral for additional services from other VA programs - other government programs and community agency programs
• Provides complex crisis intervention - clinical assessment and case management services - seeking to address the cause as well as the presenting complaint
• Provides consultation services to other staff regarding the mental health needs of Veterans and the impact of mental health on health care - adherence to treatment plan and other outcomes
• Administrative: Complies with criminal conflict of interest laws and Executive Branch Standards of conduct to avoid conflicts of interest while serving as the HUD-VASH Case Manager
• Performs accountability functions: 1) documents all contacts - interventions - and activities with patients/families in the electronic medical record
• 2) completes statistical and other reports in accordance with VA Medical Center and respective professional discipline/Service level policies and procedures
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm Compressed/Flexible: May be Authorized
• Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized
• Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized
• EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact [e-mail] - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
• 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)Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on prior [work experience] or military service experience
• 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: May be Authorized
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position.