Supervisory Social Worker

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; City of Long Beach (NY); On-site; USD 75,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' Long Beach Health Care System seeks a Social Work Supervisor for the Homeless Veterans Grant and Per Diem Program.

The incumbent supervises staff, supports hiring, orientation, consultation, and performance evaluations, and coordinates with VA services and community partners to deliver housing and supportive services. Qualifications include a Master’s degree in Social Work from CSWE-accredited school, U.S.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Social Work from CSWE-accredited program
• U.S. citizenship and English proficiency
• Licensure at advanced practice level with ability to supervise licensure

Responsibilities

• Supervise staff and conduct performance evaluations.
• Support hiring, orientation and staff development.
• Coordinate VA services with community partners and grants for housing and services.
• Ensure provision of clinical social work services and supervise staff in clinical tasks.

Skills

Staff supervision

Clinical social work

Organizational skills

Staff development

Interpersonal relationships

Education

Master's in Social Work (CSWE-accredited)

Job description

The Social Work Supervisor serves the Veterans Health Administration's Long Beach Health Care System within the Healthcare for Homeless Veterans Grant and Per Diem Program. Incumbent supervises staff, supports hiring, orientation, consultation, and performance evaluations, and coordinates with VA services and community partners. The program provides supportive housing and services through community grants and oversees 205 beds for homeless Veterans.

Basic Requirements

• Citizenship: Must be a citizen of the United States
• 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: Must 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. Note: 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: Must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the advanced practice level which included an advanced generalist or clinical examination, unless they are grandfathered by the state in which they are licensed to practice at the advanced practice level (except for licenses issued in California, which administers its own clinical examination for advanced practice) and they must be able to provide supervision for licensure.

May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).

Grade Determinations

In addition to the basic requirements stated above, the following qualification criteria must be met for each grade. The candidate's qualifications must clearly demonstrate the level of competence required for the grade.

• Experience. You must possess one year of experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level. Experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment, demonstrating progressively more professional competency. Assessing and documenting identified behaviors or symptoms of abuse, neglect, exploitation and/or intimate partner violence; use of clinical social work skills; maintaining patient privacy and confidentiality per policies, handbooks or directives; acting as an advocate with appropriate community service providers and agencies when it serves the best interest of the patient and family members/caregiver; independently assessing the psychosocial functioning and needs of patients and their family members, identifying the patient's strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and psychosocial acuity.
• Licensure/Certification. Individuals assigned as Supervisory Social Workers must be licensed or certified at the advanced practice level, and must be able to provide supervision for licensure.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

In addition to the experience above, candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

• Ability to independently organize work, set priorities, and meet multiple deadlines.
• Knowledge of supervisory duties which includes clinical supervision, consultation, negotiation with other departments and quality improvement.
• Ability to ensure provision of clinical social work services.
• Ability to provide staff training and development.
• Skill in interpersonal relationships in dealing with employees, team leaders, and managers.

Preferred Experience:

A qualified GPD Supervisor brings advanced clinical and leadership abilities to effectively support veterans experiencing homelessness. Clinical expertise includes comprehensive case management, conducting biopsychosocial assessments, developing individualized care plans, and providing ongoing support. The supervisor is skilled in crisis intervention, suicide risk assessment, trauma-informed care, motivational interviewing, and group facilitation. Proficiency in clinical documentation, care coordination, and risk assessment ensures high-quality services tailored to veterans complex needs.

Leadership strengths encompass program oversight, staff supervision, and performance management, fostering a collaborative and positive team environment. The supervisor is experienced in quality improvement initiatives, strategic planning, and interpreting VA policies while ensuring program compliance and efficient use of resources. Data-driven decision making guides continuous improvement, while strong community collaboration builds key partnerships. Effective in change management and promoting professional development, the GPD Supervisor is dedicated to achieving optimal outcomes for veterans by integrating best practices and evidence-based approaches into all aspects of service delivery.

Reference:

For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Physical Requirements:

Must be in overall good health, able to sit at a desk working at a computer, engage in light to moderate physical activity including sitting, walking, bending, and carrying supplies. Applicants must be able to perform primarily light and sedentary duties with occasionally moderate physical demands, exercise patience, and control emotions, with reasonable accommodation, if necessary, without endangering the health and safety of the applicant or others.