Social Services Assistant

Full Job Description

The position is at the full performance level located in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Health Administration (VHA), at Phoenix VA Healthcare System (PVAHCS) in Social Work Service.

To qualify for this position you must possess at least one of the following: Experience: At least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-6) 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, 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.

Additional specialized experience includes developing internal and external resource/reference material; conducting one-to-one or group sessions; and utilizing strong relational and facilitation skills.

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 (1) full year of graduate level education or an internship in course matter that must include courses directly related to the work of the Social Services Assistant position.

This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation.

OR Combination of Education and Experience: 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 Social Services Assistant position.

This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation.

NOTE: 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 will be rated on the following Competencies as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position: Communications Computer Skills Influencing/Negotiating Interpersonal Skills Manages and Organizes Information Veteran and Customer Focus IMPORTANT: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week.

All experience listed on your resume must include the month and year start/end dates. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities.

Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student; social).

Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment.

You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Physical Requirements: The work is mainly sedentary with occasional carrying of items such as papers and files, boxes of paper 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/.

Major Duties:

***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION*** Principal point of contact for all Veterans seeking social work services at the VA Medical Center and other office locations in the community that house social work programs.

These Veterans and their families are from widely diverse racial/ethnic backgrounds, socioeconomic classes, and special populations including women Veterans, and homeless Veterans.

Makes an assessment of clients needs, identify problems, inform them of the VA services or benefits available, provide supportive counseling, refer them to appropriate programs and resources, and when needed, assist them in linking up with a Social Worker or program that can be of most assistance.

Listens to clients who are often angry and frustrated, they must assess seriousness of disability or crisis, and when appropriate, will report the situation to the appropriate supervisor or Chief, Social Work Service.

Acts as service's liaison with Voluntary Service regarding the disbursement of items for Veterans. This includes periodic financial resources.

Participates in administrative, staff, clinical and in-service meetings of the service and other meetings as directed by the Chief, Social Work.

Participates in programs and meetings conducted or sponsored by the service, as directed by the Chief, Social Work.

Provides administrative support to the following clinical services: Transition and Care Management program, Healthcare for Homeless Veterans program, the Contract Nursing Home program, Community Residential Care program, the Contract Adult Day Health care program, the Contract Homemaker/Home Health aide program, Caregiver Support program, and the Intimate Partner Violence program, and to the main Social Work office and Patient Advocate and Resource Center.

Maintains computer skills on a variety of software programs, including MS Word, MS Excel, MS Access, VISTA, MS Outlook, HOMES, CAT, CMTRA, CARMA VATAS, VBMS and SharePoint.

Performing a wide range of functions involving the review, analysis and evaluation of the full range of health services (functions) provided at this VA Medical Center; such as consults, referrals and performance measures, providing professional support in the analysis, evaluation, and presentation of information and data pertaining to the delivery of healthcare services; conducting reviews and providing data pertaining to a wide range of activities associated with the delivery of healthcare services at medical centers identifying trends, patterns, and other characteristics in data that may provide opportunities for enhancements in policies, procedures, practices and other operation activities to improve on the delivery of health care services.

Prepares a multitude of monthly, bimonthly, quarterly, semi-annually and annual reports which are submitted to the facility leadership, VISN, and VACO.

Will act as a consultant to program team members about administrative matters. Liaison with Fleet Services to manage assigned fleet vehicles, if/as needed and directed by the Chief, Social Work.

Includes communicating with staff in the field and coordinating response for non-emergent incidents/accidents requiring vehicle repair.

Manages vehicle mileage log sheets and receipts for all vehicles and submits monthly reports to Fleet.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; 7:30am - 4:00pm Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized