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Posted: January 5, 2026 (10 days ago)

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Senior Social Worker (HUD- VASH)

Veterans Health Administration

Department of Veterans Affairs

Recent

Location

Salary

$132,107 - $171,746

per year

Closes

January 15, 2026

GS-1 Pay Grade

Base salary range: $21,996 - $27,534

Typical requirements: No experience required. High school diploma or equivalent.

Note: Actual salary includes locality pay (15-40%+ depending on location).

Job Description

Summary

This job is for a senior social worker who helps homeless veterans find and keep housing through a special program, while providing counseling and support to improve their lives.

It involves working closely with patients, teams, and community resources in a VA clinic.

A good fit would be an experienced social worker passionate about veterans' care, with strong skills in therapy and case management.

Key Requirements

  • Master's degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited school
  • Licensed or certified at the advanced practice level for independent social work
  • At least two years of post-licensure experience in specialized social work, including one year at GS-11 equivalent
  • Proficiency in spoken and written English
  • Valid driver's license for transporting patients
  • Demonstrated skills in specialized interventions, psychosocial assessments, and treatment modalities
  • Ability to provide consultation, supervision, and develop policies in social work practice

Full Job Description

This Senior Case Manager has experience that demonstrates possession of advanced practice skills and judgment.

At least two years should be in an area of specialized practice in the Senior Social Worker's professional discipline.

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.

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.

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.

English Language Proficiency: Social workers must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j, this part.

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: GS-12 Senior Social Worker Experience/Education: The candidate must have at least two years of experience post advanced practice clinical licensure and should be in a specialized area of social work practice of which, one year must be equivalent to the GS-11 grade level.

Senior social workers have experience that demonstrates possession of advanced practice skills and judgment. Senior social workers are experts in their specialized area of practice.

Senior social workers may have certification or other post-masters training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university that includes a defined curriculum/course of study and internship or equivalent supervised professional experience in a specialty.

Licensure/Certification: Senior social workers must be licensed or certified by a state 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.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Skill in a range of specialized interventions and treatment modalities used in specialty treatment programs or with special patient populations.

This includes individual, group, and/or family counseling or psychotherapy and advanced level psychosocial and/or case management.

Ability to incorporate complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice.

Knowledge in developing and implementing methods for measuring effectiveness of social work practice and services in the specialty area, utilizing outcome evaluations to improve treatment services and to design system changes.

Ability to provide specialized consultation to colleagues and students on the psychosocial treatment of patients in the service delivery area, as well as role modeling effective social work practice skills.

Ability to expand clinical knowledge in the social work profession, and to write policies, procedures, and/or practice guidelines pertaining to the service delivery area.

Driver's Licensure: This position involves periodically transporting patients and requires a valid driver's license.

In addition, as per Incidental Drivers Policy PS-05-80, employee's driver's record will be reviewed regular through the CA DMV Employer Pull Notice (EPN) Program.

References: VA Handbook 5005/120, Part II, Appendix G39, Social Worker Qualification Standard, GS-0185, Veterans Health Administration, dated September 10, 2019.

The full performance level of this vacancy is 12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is a GS-12.

Physical Requirements: This position requires light lifting, use of fingers, walking, standing, ability to distinguish basic colors, ability to distinguish shades of colors, hearing (Aid permitted), and operation of a motor vehicle.

See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Services. Major Duties:

See below links for the rewards of being an employee of the Department of Veteran Affairs: Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Social-Worker-Career-Flyer.pdf Duties for the position may include but are not limited to: The Senior Social Workers verifies the Veteran's Status, Eligibility for VA medical care, and eligibility of program participation.

The Senior Social Worker is responsible for ensuring that homeless Veterans are considered as primary participants for program acceptance.

The Senior Social Worker will conduct psychosocial assessments to determine needs of Veterans and family members.

The Senior Social Worker is an active participant in the treatment planning process with other disciplines.

Work Schedule: Full Time; Varying Schedule; Subject to change to meet the needs of the Agency Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) Authorized: This position is eligible for 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 your start date.

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.

Former participants are ineligible to apply for the EDRP incentive. Contact VHA.ELRSProgramSupport@va.gov for questions or assistance.

Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of existing pay, 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: Telework may be ad-hoc eligible for this position Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: 00201-F Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

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Posted on USAJOBS: 1/5/2026 | Added to FreshGovJobs: 1/5/2026

Source: USAJOBS | ID: CBSW-12858199-26-SRH